(WOODSTOCK, VA — 10/2/2020) —- Trotters Celebrity Rolex and Paging Doctor Teo each won their third straight race today (Friday) at Shenandoah Downs as the fall meet rolled into its third weekend.
Celebrity Farms’ Celebrity Rolex has dominated in all his Woodstock outings. The four-year-old Trixton gelding, making just his fourth lifetime start, wired the field in a $4,000 conditioned race and won by 8 3/4 lengths. He crossed in 1:57 2/5, one-fifth of a second faster than his previous best which he recorded a week ago. The Jennifer Sansone trainee has led every step of the way in all three starts. His margins of victory have been most impressive — he won by 17 lengths on opening day then by 8 1/4 last week. Fern Paquet Jr. has driven in all three.
Paging Doctor Teo has dominated too and has been in front nearly as often. The five-year-old Calchips Brute gelding won by two lengths today, 5 1/4 a week ago and 7 3/4 lengths on opening day. He finished in 1:58 3/5 today after a pair of 1:58 1/5 efforts. The Neal Ehrhart trainee has been in front at every panel through the run except this afternoon, when he was momentarily second at the top of the stretch just one-quarter length behind Wesley Hanover. The trotter is owned by Virginia Erhardt and was driven by Billy Carter in all three wins.
Fastest mile of the day was authored by Roger Hammer’s Artists Ruffles who won his 25th career race in 1:54 1/5. The six-year-old Real Artist gelding came outside of Next Shot at the first marker, took control in the turn and never looked back. He crossed 3 1/2 lengths the best for his first win of 2020. Vicki Lynn Fair co-owns with Hammer, who drives and trains.
Shenandoah Downs hosts the 23rd annual $363,575 Virginia Breeder’s Champions Day program Saturday beginning at 1 PM. Races are streamed live at shenandoahdowns.com.
