by Darrell Wood, for Shenandoah Downs

Shenandoah County, VA — A four-pack of $40,000 Virginia Breeders Championship races in the 2-year-old division were contested Saturday (Sept. 15) as part of opening day festivities at Shenandoah Downs. A total of fifteen races were carded as the half-mile oval opened its second season of pari-mutuel harness racing.

Jimmy Viars’ Lemonaideshine made a big three-wide move at the half, charged to the front and never looked back in capturing the colt/gelding pace championship. The Badlands Hanover gelding crossed the line in 1:56.3 and remained undefeated in four career starts. He won a pair at the Shenandoah County Fair meet over the same oval two weeks prior — a 1:59.2 effort in the Breeder’s prep and a 2:05.1 clocking in a 2-year-old race with an off track.

Driver Chuck Perry directed the effort for owner Susan Viars of Tazewell, VA. Stacy McLenaghan’s Canadian Chrome was second and E-Z Pass B finished third.

Trainer Amanada Jackson was all smiles as her Hillbillyheartache prevailed in the filly pacing division. The daughter of Nuclear Breeze won her prep by a neck over Cold N’ Chilly, and the pair finished one-two again Saturday with a bigger cushion between winner and runner-up.

Driver Frank Milby guided the winning filly to a two length triumph in 2:01.4. Jan Nofsinger’s One Proud Diamond finished third.

Freddie K won his prep in the colt/gelding trot division by eight lengths and won the title, but in tighter fashion. Charlie Dunavant’s freshman champ wired the field, but had to fend off a pesky Uncle Ike in deep stretch. Betsy Brown’s runner-up was second throughout and came up three-quarters of a length shy at the finish.

Frank Milby drove the winner in both the prep and title match with respective times of 2:07 and 2:04.1. Lukin North finished third for trainer Renfrow Hauser.

Elwood Tignor’s Lorriella came outside of Sand Inmy Trousers at the quarter mark, took control in the second turn and coasted home to a 3-1/4 length win in the filly trot championship. The Four Starz filly crossed the half in 1:01.1 and prevailed in 2:05.2.

Jason Green piloted the winner.

Lorriella also took the prep by six lengths in 2:07. Scott Warnick’s Sand Inmy Trousers was second and Shez In Orbit took third.

A $7,000 Open Handicap Pace was the featured non-Breeder’s race and had a five-horse field including Shenandoah track record holder John’s Dream (1:52.1) and Baby Kitty, who was fresh off a 1:50.4 winning mile at Pocono Downs Sept. 9.

Eric Foster’s Baby Kitty got the best of Chuck Perry’s John’s Dream Saturday, winning by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:53.3.

John’s Dream was making his first appearance since authoring his record breaker in Breeder’s company on opening day of the 2016 meet.

Racing at Shenandoah Downs continues every Saturday and Sunday afternoon through Oct. 15. Parking and admission are free every day. The live video feed of all the racing action is available at shenandoahdowns.com and at virginiahorseracing.com.