by Darrell Wood

New Kent, VA — Eloise Eden wired the field and scored a convincing 6-1/2 length win in Saturday’s $5,000 Virginia-bred 2-Year-Old Filly Trot, which served as a prep for next Sunday’s $50,000 (est.) finale at Colonial Downs.

Coady photography

Eloise Eden cruised to a 1:56.4 score in a Virginia-bred 2-year-old filly trot at Colonial Downs.

Dan O’Mara guided the Ken Warkentin filly for trainer Joann Perry and owner Mark Bowser of Charlottesville. Eloise Eden, fresh off a pair of qualifying wins at Vernon Downs, cut fractions of :28, :57.4 and 1:27.3 before cruising home in 1:56.4. Maker’s Guide was second and Beep Beep Bye Bye was third.

Jane Dunavant’s Candid Photo had a similar wire-to-wire effort in the 2-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trot, but he dominated as four of the six entrants had breaking issues. The Classic Photo gelding cut panels of :28.3, :59.2 and 1:29.3 before he coasted across the finish line in 1:59.1, 16 lengths over runner-up Dusty’s Superstar. Co-owned by Dunavant and Katherine Smith of Glen Allen, Candid Photo was coming off a convincing 6 length win at Colonial in 1:57.3. Chris Page guided the winner in both races.

The fillies were faster than the colts and geldings in the freshman pacing preps as well. Morgan Hagerman’s Blueridge Adalia edged Miss Sowo in the filly prep in 1:55.1 while Amanda Jackson’s Hillbilly Mountain Breeze took advantage of a perfect pocket trip to capture the colt & gelding pace in 1:56.1.

The 3-year-old divisions will compete Sunday beginning at 1 PM. All eight Virginia-bred championship titles will be decided in next Sunday’s $400,000 “Day of Champions” showcase event.