by Darrell Wood, publicity director, Colonial Downs
New Kent, VA — Colonial Downs carded another series of three-quarter-mile dash races on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 15) and Polo Johnny collected the fastest winning time of the five short distance events.
The 7-year-old Polo Player gelding has taken a liking to Colonial’s one turn mile track configuration, and he collected his third win to complement two runner-up finishes in five starts here this fall. Chris Page, who has been in the sulky for the last pair of victories, earned his second of six driving wins on the afternoon aboard Polo Johnny.
Polo Johnny wired the seven horse field in the Emergency Squad of Virginia’s first leg pacing division, crossing in 1:22.4, 2-1/2 lengths over Backintheday. He cut early fractions of :25.4 and :53.4. The finishing time was four-fifths of a second faster than any of the other “sprint-like” races.
The second fastest was authored by Dick’s Dandy in 1:23.3, driver Page’s fifth win on the card. The 4-year-old On The Attack horse nosed out Prince Of Badlands after a come from behind rally in deep stretch in the Emergency Squad’s second division. The Dick Neff trainee collected his second win of the meet.
Other short distance winners were Hi I’m Johnny Kash (1:24.3), Captain Mo (1:23.4) and Worker C (1:24.4).
Colonial Downs will host a 12-race card on Sunday at 1 p.m.