Woodstock, VA – Frank Chick’s Caviart Daisy put a stamp on her three-leg Virginia Breeders Fund series, capturing a $107,800 championship in the sophomore filly/mare pacing division Saturday (May 23) at Shenandoah Downs. The Sweet Lou filly crossed in 1:53.1 over a sloppy track, equaling the divisional record mark she set two weeks ago.
Driver Tony Morgan led the winning effort Saturday for trainer Jamie Sullivan. At the quarter fraction – with Caviart Daisy a head behind Caviart Santa Fe – the eventual winner surged past the leader and took control for the balance. After second and third panels of :55.3 and 1:24, Caviart Daisy opened a five-length lead at the top of the stretch and crossed 3-1/4 lengths the best. Judy Collins’s Caviart Santa Fe was second and Hagerman Racing’s More Than Better finished third.
With the win, Caviart Daisy’s bankroll increased to $281,260.
“She’s really nice, a real professional and she does everything right,” said driver Morgan. “From the first day I got behind her, she has been really fast and a really nice individual. She makes me look good. She can go faster than she went today.”
Morgan also piloted colt/gelding pace winner Caviart Cadet to the winner’s circle in his $109,300 title match. Owned by William Hartt, the Tall Dark Stranger gelding came three-wide from third heading into the final turn and staged his comeback among a full field of eight. The Britney Dillon trainee maneuvered into second behind last year’s 2-year-old divisional champ Caviart Trenton at the top of the straightaway and powered home by to win by three in 1:53.2.
The win was Caviart Cadet’s fourth lifetime score and second in the series. From 13 career starts, he now has 10 “in-the-money” finishes. Ramona Gillespie’s Caviart Trenton finished second and Lawrence Cooper’s Caviart Hartley was third.
Scott Woogen’s Caviart Gemma scored the most dramatic of the afternoon’s Breeders wins, surging past Cherry’s Girl just before the wire to upset in the $111,100 3-year-old filly trot. Fern Paquet Jr., the meet’s leading reinsman, authored a perfectly-timed move that enabled his filly to cross a neck in front in 1:58 after trotting second throughout the mile.
Favored Cherry’s Girl, driven by Anthony MacDonald, cut the first three panels in :28.1, :58.1 and 1:28.1 before finishing a close second. Tim Betts and Shanamphilankilou Inc.’s Honoluggo stormed from behind in deep stretch to snag third.
Tremaine Harding’s Harding Boy wired the field in a drama-free sophomore colt/gelding trot which carried a $111,700 purse. The Gregory Pecs gelding departed from the rail with Paquet Jr. in the bike, went to the front and never looked back, opening up by five at the top of the stretch and coasting home to a one-length win in 2:00.3. Long time Shenandoah conditioner Mike Whitaker trains Harding Boy, who increased his bankroll to $108,660 with the win.
Cindy Lou Goo, who has the same owners as Honolugoo, finished second and Lisa Martin and Kathy Schoeffel’s Seminole Breeze took third.
Shenandoah Downs will host Virginia Sire Stake and Virginia Breeders Fund events for two-year-olds during the fall meet, which runs from September 19 – November 1.
Hardware was distributed Sunday to top performers during the spring meet. Leading driver honors went to Fern Paquet Jr., who finished with 24 wins after a spirited battle with Corey Braden, who had 21. Scott Warnick captured leading trainer honors from 18 wins during the meet while Bryson Dunning was runner-up with 16. Dan Chanksy’s Lou’s Starr was named “Horse of the Meet” after going 5-for-5 in Open Handicap company. The talented pacer is trained by Warnick.