Woodstock, VA — Jonda Smith’s Ballarddrgoldfngr picked up where he left off a week ago in Virginia Sire Stakes competition, capturing the $102,975 divisional final for 2-year-old colt pacers Saturday (Oct. 3) at Shenandoah Downs.
The Archie Buford trainee was fresh off a wire-to-wire effort in his divisional prep Sept. 27 (2:00.1) and wired the field again in the final in 1:57.2. The Doctor Butch gelding got to the front and cut panels of :28.3, :57.3 and 1:27.2 with Buford in the sulky, then crossed 4-1/4 lengths the best over Joe Chindano’s Ohh Hey Bud. Ballarddrgoldfngr is now five for eight with earnings of $93,987. Earlier this year, he powered to a 1:54.3 winning effort at Oak Grove in a $40,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes event. Tracy Bradshaw’s Ain’t No Doctor finished third
John Pyott’s Nurse Nippy also wired the field in the $102,100 freshman filly pace division in just her second career start. The daughter of Doctor Butch, who won her prep in 2:01.1, triggered quarter panels of :29, :59 and 1:29.2 before finishing a comfortable 3-3/4 lengths ahead of runner-up Miss Diagnosed in a time of 2:00. Bryson Dunning trains the winner and Scott Warnick conditions the runner-up. Mike Viars and Pam Horton’s Art Heart Breaker finished third.
Tremaine Harding’s Dance With Jenni headlined the $103,150 freshman filly trot based off a seven-length prep win and did not disappoint. The Armed Dangerously filly led by a one or two-length cushion at every quarter station in the final and cut respective panels in :31, 1:00.4 and 1:31.4 before crossing in 2:02.3. The winner is owned by Tremaine Harding and was driven by Billy Carter. Michael Sherman’s Vee Gee was second and Tremaine Harding and Cornelius Martin’s Queen Jessica finished third.
In the Sire Stakes for 2-year-old male trotters, Dylan Havens’ Andy’s Disaster came from third in the final turn of his $102,425 final, opened up by 2-1/4 lengths at the top of the stretch and held on for a 1-3/4 length victory in 2:03. Trainer/driver Chrissy Johnson led the winning effort aboard the Winning Fireworks gelding who is now five for six in 2026. All five wins have come at the Woodstock oval — two during the recent County Fair meet, one in an overnight race opening weekend, and two in Sire Stake battles the last two weeks. Tracy Bradshaw’s TNT Jabony finished second and Arthur Hauser’s Opie Taylor took third.
Shenandoah Downs continues its fall meet thru Nov. 1 with racing every Saturday and Sunday at 1:05 p.m. — with one exception. This coming Sunday’s card (Oct. 11) will go to post at 11:05 a.m. Details are at shenandoahdowns.com.