by Ellen Harvey, Harness Racing Communications

East Rutherford, NJ — Always A Virgin (Brian Sears) was the winner of the first $121,000 division of the Oliver Wendell Holmes, in a time of 1:49.1. It was the fifth win in nine 2007 starts for the New Jersey Sires Stake champion.

Always A Virgin is owned by Bluewood Stable, Roll The Dice Stable and Val D’Or Farms and is trained by Joe Holloway. The son of Western Ideal had been on a form spree of late, winning a 3-year-old open on July 28 in a career best 1:48.4 after an untimely break in the stretch as the favorite in the Meadowlands Pace on July 14.

USTA Photo

Always A Virgin (Brian Sears) won the first $121,000 division of the Oliver Wendell Holmes in a time of 1:49.1.

Artriverderci (John Campbell) was first to the lead at the :26.3 quarter mile, followed by Running Book (Mark MacDonald), Kinetic Yankee (Andy Miller) and Sutter Hanover (David Miller). Always A Virgin was fifth past the quarter-mile. That group stayed in line to the :54.2 half, when Sutter Hanover moved off the rail three-wide and Always A Virgin was behind him. Running Book made a move for the lead at the 1:22.1 three-quarters, but was repelled by Artriverderci, still in the lead.

As the field straightened for home, Always A Virgin was on the move in the middle of the track, passing horses en route to the lead, under mild urging from Sears to win by 1-3/4 lengths. Kinetic Yankee was second and Artriverderci was third, followed by Sutter Hanover and Running Book.

“He was going into the Pace as good as he is now, we just had some misfortune that night,” said driver Brian Sears. “We’re looking at the Adios (at The Meadows on August 11, for his next start). He was hitting on all four cylinders. I was second-over all of the third quarter. He had pace when I tipped him, he came strong just when I wanted. We missed a big check that night (Meadowlands Pace) and we’ve got a lot of work to do to make up for it.”

“He’s a terrific horse and we’re thrilled to have him,” said co-owner Mitchel Skolnick of Bluewood Stable. “Mr. (Joe) Hurley, the breeder, was kind enough to allow us to purchase into him (this spring) and we’ve been with him since. I believe Joe will send him to The Adios.”