(WOODSTOCK, VA — 9/21/19) —- Daily Sports, Al-Mar Reba Babe and R N Nate all scored wins in a trio of co-featured events Saturday at Shenandoah Downs as fall continued in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. All three races had purses of $7,000.
Daily Sports led the entire way in an Open Mares Pace but had to fend off fast closing Swinging Jenny at the finish to win by one-half length. The 4-year-old Sportswriter mare equaled her lifetime mark of 1:54 3/5 over the Woodstock half mile oval while earning her tenth career triumph. Driver John Wagner, who also owns the victor, and trainer Arlene Cameron, both had three wins on the Saturday card. Place At The Beach was third.
Gerald Longo’s Al-Mar Reba Babe won for the third time in four starts in the Open Trot. Runner-up Mighty Nick led through the first three markers while Longo’s trotter moved from fifth at the half to a nose back at the head of the stretch. The 7-year-old Sos Lunar Eclipse mare, who shipped in from Running Aces, crossed two the best in 1:59 4/5. Lodi Bank Robber was third.
Track record holder, fan favorite and betting choice John’s Dream brought a four race win streak into the Open Handicap but Roger Hammer’s R N Nate was not the least bit intimidated. The 7-year-old Nuclear Breeze gelding was a head behind in third coming out of the final turn then battled with John’s Dream to the wire. Hammer’s pacer beat the favorite by one-half length in 1:54.0, fastest mile of the meet. Ideal Ice finished third.
In Friday’s feature, a $4500 conditioned pace, Corey Kreiser’s Cookies Empire collected her second straight win at Shenandoah, getting the best of Marvalous Marg by a length in 1:57 3/5. The winner took over from the runner-up at the quarter pole then maintained the top spot. The 3-year-old Pet Rock filly got her 15th career win from 38 starts. Trinitysfancyfilly rook third.
Krieser, who entered weekend action atop the trainer standings with four wins, added another four to his tally. The 25-year-old also scored Friday with Oneeyedpirate then on Saturday with App Hanover and Matter Of Lindy.
Arlene Cameron had a training triple on Saturday courtesy of Rissy’s All In, Willie Joe Hill and Daily Sports. John Wagner drove all three to victory.
For the two-day weekend, Shenandoah hosted 23 total races. The first of three “VHHA Own a Horse For a Day” promotions took place Saturday. Eight contestants each “owned” a horse in the $4,000 fourth race and kept the purse money their horse earned. Craig Likens, who “owned” Ideal Gemini, took home the winner’s share of $2,000. The remaining seven shared the $2,000 balance in descending order.
Racing resumes on Friday September 27th at 3:30 PM. Next Saturday’s card features a series of wiener dog races which will take place after the last horse race. Details are at shenandoahdowns.com.
