by Kyle Fitzgerald, for Colonial Downs

New Kent, VA — Windswept Stable’s Miss Fairfax tied her own track and world record on Monday, trotting the mile in 1:55 to win the $9,000 opening leg of the Ed Taylor Memorial late closing series at Colonial Downs.

Miss Fairfax set the track record of 1:55 for four-year-old trotting mares last Sunday in the Virginia Breeders Aged Trot.

On Monday, Miss Fairfax was set up by a quick early pace. The Taglibue mare raced well off the pace in sixth as Tom Bruce set hot opening fractions of :26.4 and :55.2. Miss Fairfax and driver Tom Jackson picked up ground around the turn and were poised to strike on the outside at the top of the lane.

Tom Bruce was still in charge as the field started the 1,300 foot stretch drive, but Miss Fairfax was flying on the outside. Miss Fairfax passed Tom Bruce around the eighth pole and drew off to a two length victory. Tom Bruce held gamely for second, three-quarters of a length better than a late closing Royal Photo.

The win was Miss Fairfax’s fifth of 2004 for trainer Gary Cameron.

The second and third legs of the Ed Taylor Memorial will be contested the next two Mondays at Colonial. The one and one-quarter mile final is set for Monday, November 22.

Colonial will be dark the next three days and will resume racing on Friday with a 7:00 p.m. post time.