Chris Pangle’s One Fell Swoop is a perfect 5-for-5 in Virginia
Woodstock, VA – Shenandoah Downs will dole out end-of-season awards Sunday (Oct. 31) for leading driver, leading trainer and Horse of the Meet when the 11th annual fall harness racing campaign comes to a close, and while the first two awards won’t be decided until weekend action ensues, the final one has actually been determined already — and it comes with a storyline that can’t be beat.
Chris Pangle, a local cattleman and business owner, entered the world of harness racing for the first time earlier this year when he purchased three Standardbred horses — the first ones he’s ever owned — at the urging of fellow owner/trainer Steve Wetzel who won the track’s popular “Own a Horse for a Day” contest in 2021. Wetzel was so taken with the “Own a Horse” promotion that he became immersed in the sport as a farm owner and harness horse owner, breeder, trainer and even a “QF” driver — and has since encouraged several friends, including Pangle, to purchase horses and compete at Shenandoah Downs.
“Chris loves the cattle business but I got him a guest pass to spend the afternoon with me in the backstretch of Shenandoah one day during the spring meet,” said Wetzel. “He was fascinated with the experience and afterwards said, ‘l’ve got to get one of these things’.”
In late May, Pangle purchased his first two —- Fear The Beach (from Oscar Johnson) and Longview (from Chuck Perry) — then a month later acquired 3-year-old gelding pacer One Fell Swoop from onGait. The son of Huntsville didn’t race as a freshman, was winless in seven starts as a sophomore and finished no better than fifth in any start. After an initial last place finish at Ocean Downs with Pangle as owner, One Fell Swoop relocated to Shenandoah Downs when the fall meet opened September 19 — and has been perfect since, going 5-for-5, at Pangle’s home track of all things.
With driver/trainer Chuck Perry leading the charge for Pangle in Virginia, One Fell Swoop captured his three most recent starts in wire-to-wire fashion including a dominating 9-length win October 17 in 1:55 4/5.
“After buying his first two horses, Chris asked me to look for another horse,” said Perry. “I told him One Fell Swoop shows speed as long as you don’t give over $10,000 for him. You should be able to get your money back if we get can get him straight. He ended up buying him for $7,200.”
“He is fast,” added Perry. “Two months into the meet, he’s responding. In two more months, we might have an even better horse, you never know. I was confident he’d do well because he was eligible for cheaper classes but knew he’d need to progress and felt he would. I think he could be an open pacer given his speed, but his mind needs to mature. He has major league speed and stamina.”
Can a storybook season continue as the track heads into its closing weekend? Find out in Sunday’s 12th race when One Fell Swoop steps up in class and competes in a $8,500 conditioned pace.
Shenandoah Downs closes out its fall season with a pair of 15-race cards this weekend. Post time Saturday is 1:05 p.m. while Sunday’s start time has been moved up to noon. Details are at shenandoahdowns.com.