$363,575 In Purse Monies Distributed Over 8 Breeders Races
(WOODSTOCK, VA — 10/5/2020) —- Nvrfearlloydishere dominated the $46,800 Virginia Breeders 3-Year-Old Colt Pace Saturday at Shenandoah Downs as eight divisional titles were contested on a picture-perfect fall afternoon in Woodstock. A total of $363,575 in combined purse monies was awarded.
The 3-year-old Rusty’s All In gelding won his eighth in a row and competed in the final much like he did in the prep a week earlier when he wired the field. Eddie Davis Jr. drove Nvrfearlloydishere in the eight-horse gathering and at the three-quarters mark, already had a seven-length cushion. The Arlene Cameron trainee hit that fraction in 1:24 1/5, opened up by ten at the top of the stretch and crossed twelve lengths ahead of runner-up K J Michael in 1:52 4/5. The finishing time established a new life mark for the winner and was just three-fifths of a second off the track record time set by John’s Dream in 2016.
Nvrfearlloydishere is owned/bred by Pam Wagner and has won 14 of his 18 lifetime starts. During his current winning streak, the dynamic pacer has led at every quarter fraction. He swept the recent Maryland Sire Stake series at Ocean Downs and completed his Shenandoah prep in 1:56 4/5.
The Cameron and Wagner trainer-owner duo connected three other times in Breeders races Saturday. Madisonsallin went gate-to-wire in the $45,575 2-Year-Old Filly Pace while Trents A Lock prevailed in the $45,675 2-Year-Old Colt Trot and Cate’s A Keeper took honors in the $43,800 3-Year-Old Filly Trot.
Madisonsallin, fresh off an eight-length win in her prep a week earlier, got to the front ahead of stablemate Kelseys For Real and maintained a 1 1/2 length lead twice around the oval. The Rusty’s All In filly crossed in 1:57 2/5, over two seconds faster than the prior Saturday’s 1:59 3/5. Eddie Davis Jr. drove in the winning effort.
Trents A Lock went outside of front stepping stablemate K J Wallace at the half, powered to the front shortly after and never looked back en route to a 2:04 1/5 victory in his freshmen title bout. The consistent Lockkeeper gelding won his third straight and in six life starts, has finished second or better in each. John Wagner was in the sulky. K J Wallace, co-owned by Wagner with Dr. Scott Woogen, was the runner-up.
Eddie Davis kept Cate’s A Keeper in the pocket behind stablemate K J Deb through the top of the stretch, surged past the filly midway through final straightaway and captured championship honors in her title clash. A daughter of Lockkeeper as well, Cate’s A Keeper finished in 1:58 3/5, 3 1/2 lengths over K J Deb. She won for the ninth time and pushed her bankroll to $107,873.
Caviart Skipper kicked off Breeders action Saturday with the most exciting finish of the eight, beating Harveys All In by a nose in the $46,925 2-Year-Old Colt Pace. Tyler Shehan directed the winning effort in 1:57 3/5 while the runner-up cut initial panels in :29 1/5, :59 2/5 and 1:28 3/5. Fourth through the half, Caviart Skipper improved before the third fraction then met up with Harveys All In for a great stretch duel. Marna Shehan trains the winner for the Caviart Farms of Vienna.
Hillbilly Kisses went off stride at the start of the $43,400 3-Year-Old Filly Pace but rebounded in time to get her picture taken. After the early break, reinsman Frank Milby guided Amanda Jackson’s trainee into striking position turning for home, but was still fourth. She rallied late and passed Breeze Away B — who went off stride — Fire Me Up and runner-up Caviart Caroline to win by one length in 1:56 4/5. The victor is owned by Hillbilly Haven Farms in Burkeville. Hillbilly Kisses finished second in the prep to Breeze Away B, who had won nine of 15 coming into the final.
2019 2-Year-Old Colt Trot Champion Air Time shook off bridesmaid status as a 3-year-old and got to the winners circle, wiring a field that included stablemates Chauffer and Riddle Me This. The 1:59 2/5 effort was authored by Art Stafford for trainer Carlo Poliseno and owner Jane Dunavant of Kenbridge, who got first place share of a $45,300 purse. The Dusty Winner gelding won his fourth straight race ,crossing 1 1/2 lengths in front of Arthur Lisi’s Rocky Bomber. Dunavant’s Chauffer, last year’s champ, took third.
Pride of Windswept captured the $45,300 2-Year-Old Filly Trot quite easily as four of the six participants broke stride and were distanced at the finish. The Shaun Callahan trainee won the Maryland Sire Stake final in her most prior start and was never challenged Saturday. The Charlie De Vie filly crossed in 2:03.0 with Frank Milby in the bike. The winner, now 4-for-5 in her young career, is owned by John & Sarah Swart of Oakton. Debbie Warnick’s Armed Senorita finished second and Arthur Hauser’s Ollie El was third.
A slate of Virginia Breeders Aged Stakes will highlight this Saturday’s card (October 10) at Shenandoah. Two more weekends remain in the current fall season. Post time on Friday is 2 PM and Saturday’s first post is at 1:00 PM.
