Woodstock, VA —- Shenandoah Downs will kick off the 29th edition of the Virginia Breeders Championships Series for 2-year-old pacers & trotters of both sexes this weekend. Six prep and elimination races are slated between the two days. A second round of eliminations will be held next weekend in advance of the $400,000 “Day of Champions” card which on October 31 — which will feature $100,000 final legs in all four divisions.
This Saturday’s (Oct. 17) card showcases trotters — with full fields of eight competing in the seventh (colts) and in the ninth (fillies) races. Herman Hagerman’s In The Worst Way is early favorite in the male division and is fresh off a sweep of the Maryland Sire Stake series at Rosecroft. The II Mago gelding dominated the $100,000 final, crossing nine lengths the best in 2:00 4/5. Dylan Havens’ Andy’s Disaster, also in the race, swept his recent Virginia Sire Stakes category and completed the $102,425 final nine lengths the best in 2:03.0.
Ready Set Goo is favored early in the filly division. Recent back-to-back fifth place finishes were preceded by a stellar 1:55 4/5 winning mile at The Meadows September 16. The daughter of Googoo Gaagaa will be driven by trainer Scott Betts and is 3-for-7 to date. Tremaine Harding’s Dance With Jenni is second early pick on the heels of a successful Virginia Sire Stake triumph (2:02 3/5) in the $103,150 final two weeks ago. Billy Carter will be in the sulky for trainer Michael Whitaker.
Sunday’s (Oct. 18) program features four divisions of freshman pacers — two for fillies & two for colts. The first filly pace division is headlined by If I Win Uwin — who tops the group of young ladies in earnings with $88,675. The daughter of Dapper Dude came from way behind to capture the $100,000 Maryland Sire Stake final at Rosecroft last Sunday where she crossed in 1:57 1/5. Brandon Givens will drive for trainer Les Givens. John Pyott’s Nurse Nippy, winner of her recent Virginia Sire Stake divisional title, headlines the second division. The Doctor Butch filly wired the field in both her Sire Stake prep (2:01 1/5) and final (2:00.0). William Carter will pilot for trainer Bryson Dunning.
Caviart Farms’ Caviart Caleb is two starts removed from a stellar 1:53 3/5 winning effort at Harrah’s Philadelphia on September 18. The Papi Rob Hanover gelding is a 6-5 early favorite and will be driven by Troy Beyer for Hall of Fame conditioner Jim Campbell. Jonda Smith’s impressive Doctor Butch gelding Ballarddrgoldfngr, favored in his Sunday division, powered home in the Virginia Sire Stake final in 1:57 2/5. Driver/trainer Archie Buford has campaigned the pacer all year, including a 1:54 3/5 winning mile at Oak Grove.
Post time both days is 1:05 PM. Fifteen race cards will be programmed both Saturday and Sunday. The 11th annual fall meet in Woodstock continues thru November 1. Free past performance programs and tip sheets are available at shenandoahdowns.com under the “Wagering” header. Live harness action is streamed via the website as well.