(WOODSTOCK, VA —8/29/19) —- Roger Hammer’s R N Nate established a new Shenandoah County Fair track record today (Thursday) of 1:55 3/5 in the second division of the $3,000 Aldine Jenkins Memorial Open Pace. The previous mark of 1:57.0 was established in 2017 by Chuck Perry’s PL Dragon. The purse amount was the highest in fair history.
R N Nate is a 7-year-old Nuclear Breeze gelding that came into the race with $229,307 in earnings. He recorded a 1:54 2/5 mark last fall at the Shenandoah Downs pari-mutuel meet and breezed coast-to-coast today in early fractions of :28 2/5, :57 2/5 and 1:26 4/5. R N Nate crossed six lengths in front of Scott Woogen’s Pier Ho Temptation. Lima Illusion was third.
John’s Dream finishing time of 1:56 4/5 established a track record in the first Jenkins division, though the mark lasted all of 15 minutes. Owner/trainer/driver Chuck Perry guided the winning effort against four others by wiring the field in fractions of :28 3/5, :59.0 and 1:28 2/5 and crossing 1 1/2 lengths the best.
The 102nd edition of County Fair races began Wednesday and through two cards now, Hammer has four wins followed by 23-year-old Sierra Graham who has three. Hammer’s hat trick opening day included wins with Linda’s Will, Blow Back and Jukebox Hero. Graham scored both Wednesday and today with Rock On Dock and again later in today’s card with Milly B Gone. Racing continues Friday and Saturday with cards at 12 Noon.
