by Darrell Wood, publicity director, Colonial Downs

New Kent, VA — Colonial Downs will host eight championship races worth a combined $336,300 on Sunday, October 30 in the New Kent oval’s annual Virginia Harness Day of Champions. The eight Virginia Breeders Fund Finals will feature Old Dominion’s best Standardbreds in the richest day of harness racing in Virginia.

The $39,100 three-year-old colt and gelding trot is the clear highlight of the Day of Champions, pitting track and world record holder Farmer Jones against multiple stakes winner Smooth Muscles.

Farmer Jones captured the elimination by a neck over Smooth Muscles after a thrilling head-to-head duel down the entire 1,300 foot Colonial Downs stretch. Farmer Jones stopped the clock in 1:53.4, the fastest trotting mile by a gelding in the history of the one turn mile. Co-owned by Terry Kibler and Pamela Wagner, Farmer Jones has six wins from 11 2005 starts. John Wagner will drive the son of Credit Winner. Trainer Manley Brown, Jr. will also send out Mr Tom and Tennis Ace.

David W. Miller, Jr.’s Smooth Muscles came into the elimination fresh off a win in a division of the Currier & Ives. The Muscles Yankee gelding has earned $93,662 in a stellar sophomore campaign for trainer Dave Rankin and is easily the field’s leading earner with a bankroll of $155,158 compiled from only 24 lifetime starts. Del S. Miller will direct Smooth Muscles from post position one.

Pamela E. Wagner’s entry of Wasador and Color Schemes will likely go favored in the $44,700 two-year-old filly trot. Wasador won the elimination by a half length to set a new lifetime mark of 2:02.2. Color Schemes broke stride behind the gate in the elimination, but is multiple stakes placed and her mark of 1:59.1 is much better than any of her rivals. Syl King, Jr. conditions both fillies.

Richard E. Smith and Ron MacArthur’s Joy Of Trotting might pose the biggest threat to the entry. The Donerail filly closed very strongly for second in the elimination, which was her career debut. MacArthur trains the promising filly and Jonathon Roberts will drive.

Caviart Sydney headlines a strong field for the $42,200 two-year-old filly pace. Caviart Sydney won a division of the $98,500 Bluegrass at 131-1 odds in September. The Dragon Again filly was 4-5 in the elimination last Sunday and won like such a strong favorite should for driver Del S. Miller, prevailing by two and a quarter lengths in 1:55. James Arledge, Jr. trains Caviart Sydney for owner Caviart Farms.

Gold Leaf Stable’s Emotional Balance and Katherine Ann Smith’s Firm Fatale were second and third respectively in the elimination. Emotional Balance produced a strong late rally to just nip Firm Fatale for second. Emotional Balance has been first or second in five of 10 lifetime starts for trainer Syl King, Jr.

Firm Fatale set a strong early pace in the elimination and just missed second by a neck. The Firm Belief filly has finished in the money in six of eight starts for trainer-driver Dean Collins, including multiple placings in the Ohio Sires Stakes.

The $40,000 three-year-old filly pace might be the deepest race of the Virginia Breeders Finals. Blueridge Mosaic will go favored after an exceptional two and three-quarter length win in the elimination. The Real Artist filly set a wicked pace of :25.4 and :53.2 in the elimination en route to a new lifetime mark of 1:52.2. Manley Brown, Jr. trains Blueridge Mosaic for owner Heather B. Ronay.

Drivin’ Miss Rudee and Realistic Ability could both pose serious challenges to Blueridge Mosaic. Drivin’ Miss Rudee and Realistic Ability waged a spectacular stretch duel in last year’s two-year-old filly pace with Drivin’ Miss Rudee a narrow winner. Realistic Ability already has 20 wins in her nascent career and was second in the elimination. Drivin’ Miss Rudee was third in the elimination.

Pamela Wagner has another strong entry in the $47,900 two-year-old colt and gelding pace. Wagner and trainer Manley Brown, Jr. will send out elimination winners Tough Love and Stately’s Hoss and Lookinforagrin, third behind Stately’s Hoss in his elimination. The powerful three-pronged entry will be favored but could face strong challenges from Dewars And Water and Tidewater Ethan, both second in their respective eliminations.

Kelley Rogers’ Done Dreamen will be a strong favorite in the $41,500 two-year-old colt and gelding trot. The Donerail gelding was a powerful three length winner of the elimination as the 3-5 favorite. The Kenneth Schlotzhauer-trainee has raced exclusively in stakes company since July and his 1:59 mark easily tops the field. Challenges could come from Leatherneck Flyer, who closed well for second in the elimination, and Irish Boy, who was third after setting a strong pace in the elimination.

Sophia Stable’s Blueridge D’Bang scored a one and three-quarter length victory as the favorite in the three-year-old colt and gelding pace elimination. Trainer-driver Donald Dancer sent Blueridge D’Bang right to the front and was never challenged after getting away with soft early fractions.

Anthony’s Bliss looms the largest challenger in the $39,000 Final. Anthony’s Bliss won last year’s two-year-old colt and gelding pace and was second in the elimination. Anthony’s Bliss is the field’s leading money earner with an $86,543 lifetime bankroll.

Anne McDonald’s Mountain Breez could be the day’s heaviest favorite in the $41,900 three-year-old filly trot. The S J’s Photo filly won the elimination by six lengths in 1:57.4 to score her seventh win of the year from 28 starts. Moutain Breez will be coupled with her Joseph Offutt-trained stablemate SJ’s Ballerina. Darlene Conway’s Rolo Swirl was second in the elimination and gets the services of leading driver Jim Marohn, Jr.