By Michel Carter, for Shenandoah County Fair

Horses head down the straightaway in action from Woodstock, Virginia on Wednesday. Photo by Andy Huffmeyer.

The conditioned trotting heats were the highlight of they day as both just missed the track record by the slightest of margins.  In the first heat, Pixel Queen (Scott Woogen) set some strong early fractions and just held off a strong closing Speedy Taxi (Charles Perry Jr.).  Pixel Queen closed home in 28 1/5, which was the fastest final 1/4 time of the afternoon over the new Shenandoah oval.  In the 2nd heat, Speedy Taxi would get his revenge just getting up at the wire over Pixel Queen.  Speedy Taxi sat back off the pace and closed turning for home just like he did in heat one, but this time made sure the move was just a bit sooner to score the victory.

A filled grandstand greeted trainers, drivers and horses when County Fair racing kicked off in Woodstock on Wednesday.

Dr. Scott Woogen, President of the Virginia Harness Horsemen’s Association (VHHA), drove a trio of winners Wednesday at Woodstock. Photo bv Andy Huffmeyer.

Congratulations go out to Explore, who won his third straight race at Mountaineer Park yesterday (Monday) and became the first Virginia-bred to score a third bonus for his owner as part of the new HBPA/VTA incentive program that began July 1st.

Explore rolled to an 11 1/4 length victory at Mountaineer August 10th and secured his second straight owners bonus for the LVR Stable. Photo courtesy of Coady Photography.

The 5 year old Stroll gelding (shown here winning the 2nd of his trio on August 10th) was a close second throughout in his $12,000, one mile starter race Monday and at the finish,was a head better. Out of the Giant’s Causeway mare, Elsie Jay, Explore was bred by Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Firestone and is owned by the LVR Stable, Inc.

Explore earned his 4th career win July 18th and first owners bonus at Mountaineer. He was sent off as the betting favorite. Photo by Coady Photography.

Ring Knocker earned a 25% bonus as well by capturing a $42,000 claiming race Monday at Saratoga, her third win of 2016. The 4 year old daughter of Birdstone rallied nicely in the seven horse field for trainer Anthony Dutrow. She was sixth until midway through the turn, went four wide and established the lead at the furlong marker. Bred by Morgan’s Ford Farm and owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, Ring Knocker won her third start of 2016 and bettered her current year bankroll to $81,320. She is also well traveled – each of her last five starts have come at different track.

Morgan’s Ford Farm also bred Super Bird, another Birdstone offspring who won convincingly Thursday at Penn National. The 3 year old colt raced unhurriedly early in the one mile, $19,000 claiming event, went three wide in the far turn, took over by a head at the top of the stretch and won by 6 1/2 lengths in 1:40.18. Out of the Tiznow mare, Thor’s Daughter, the winner has now earned $28,810 in purse monies in 2016.  Owner Robert Lee collected a 25% bonus for the win.

Way Up High collected his first lifetime win Thursday in a $10,000 maiden claiming race at Charles Town. The 4 year old son of Up Periscope stayed close to the leader throughout, racing in second through the head of the stretch. The victor closed the gap in mid-stretch and crossed one-half length over Sovereignty in 1:51.53. Way Up High, who did not race as a 2 or 3 year old, is owned and was bred by the Vermont Farms

Another five Virginia-bred horses won a race in the Mid-Atlantic region this past week and in doing so, collected an additional 25% owners bonus on top of their purse winnings courtesy of the new HBP/VTA incentive program which began July 1st.

Grace Is Ready, Mr. Magician, Frankin Storm, Titan Alexander and Runninginthevale all earned bonuses while another trio — Compose, Front Nine, and Cherokee Salute — captured races in other parts of the country.

Grace Is Ready (#2 on outside) passed Blavatski (#5 inside) in deep stretch en route a second place finish behind Grogger (whose tail can be seen) in a $29,500 allowance race Friday at Penn National. After further review though, the winner was disqualified for causing interference and as a result, Grace Is Ready got moved up to the win position.

A disqualification of the winner enabled Grace Is Ready to move up to the win position August 19th at Penn National. Photo by B&D Photography.

She is a 3 year old More Than Ready filly who was bred by Quest Realty Trust and is trained by Susan Cooney. In 2016 so far, the winner has earned $42,120 from seven starts. Quest Realty also owns the winner, and will receive that 25% bonus. Photo courtesy of B & D Photography.

Mr. Magician, bred and owned by Larry Johnson, was best in a field of 12 sprinters Friday at Laurel and earned his second career win.

The 4 year old son of Street Magician raced 8th at the 3/8ths mark, was nicely rated along the rail through the turn, then surged between horses in the stretch to win by two over Magnum Opus. The Mike Trombetta trainee finished the $22,000, 5 1/2 furlong waiver claiming race in 1:05.15. Out of the Mr. Greeley mare, Kelly’s Question, Mr. Magician upped his lifetime bankroll to $62,100. Photo courtesy of Jim McCue.

Frankin Storm wired the field in his bonus winning effort Friday at Charles Town. The 3 year old son of Fierce Wind won by 8 3/4 lengths and was anything but the favorite in  the eight horse field. He paid $38.60 to win and covered the 1 1/8 miles claimer in 1:55.53. Out of the Storm Boot mare, Stormy Heroine, the Fred Chinn trainee earned his third lifetime score. He is owned by Diana Chinn and was bred by Susan Minor.

Mr. Magician, owned and bred by Larry Johnson, was best in a $22,000 waiver claiming race at Laurel August 19th. Photo by Jim McCue.

Titan Alexander won by an even larger margin that Frankin Storm, but he had less competition to face. A modest three horse field went to post in the six furlong allowance optional claimer Sunday at Mountaineer. Bred by Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin, the 6 year old Not For Love gelding was last at the quarter, then rolled from that point en route to a 1:11.71 crossing. The ownership group of Catalyst Stables, G2 Associates LLC and Feebs Racing got a bonus on top of the winners’ share of an $18,000 purse.

Runninginthevale beat eight others in a $26,000 starter optional claimer Wednesday at Delaware Park. The Gary Capuano trainee, overlooked at 11-1, has won 3 of 5 since Memorial Day and has earned $53,591 this year alone. The victor was bred and is owned by Mary Slade and was guided up top by Julian Pimentel. The 4 year old gelding is by Fear The Cape out of Polly’s Persuasion by Makin.

Compose contiuned to roll out in the Midwest, reaching the winner’s circle for the 4th time in 6 starts this year. Bred by Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Firestone, the 5 year old daughter of Stephen Got Even raced in second  through the turn of the $12,500, 5 1/2 furlong claiming race, got the lead at the head of the stretch and crossed in front by 1 3/4 lengths. Out of the Broad Brush mare, Conduct, Compose now has 13 “in the money” finishes in 18 lifetime starts.

Front Nine went north of the border to secure his first lifetime win in a $25,400 maiden claiming event at Woodbine. The 3 year old gelding did go gate to wire, but hung on to win by a neck over Conquest Too Smart in the seven furlong test. The winner was bred by Albert Coppola and the Stormy Atlantic Syndicate, and was claimed for $25,000 by the Alpine Stable. Front Nine is by Stormy Atlantic out of York Woods by Mining.

On Wednesday, Cherokee Salute won for the second time in three starts at Louisiana Downs since leaving Oaklawn Park. The 5 year old daughter of Cherokee’s Boy was bred by Melissa Cantacuzene and is trained by Ralph Irwin. The mare dueled inside early in a $22,500, 7 furlong allowance race, remain engaged through the turn and shook loose at the 1/8th pole, completing a gate to wire effort. She has earned $31,425 from five starts this year.

The biggest race horse racing card since Belmont Day is happening this Saturday, August 27th at Saratoga, when six Grade I stakes will go to post including the afternoon headliner — the $1,250,000 Travers Stakes which features a deep 14 horse field.

The six-pack of elite stakes will be run consecutively as races 6-11. Here’s the order:

*$750,000 Personal Ensign Stakes – Race 6 (2:23 PM)

*$500,000 Ballerina Stakes – Race 7 (2:59 PM)

*$500,000 King’s Bishop Stakes – Race 8 (3:35 PM)

*$700,000 Forego Stakes – Race 9 (4:12 PM)

*$1,000,000 Sword Dancer – Race 10 (4:49 PM)

*$1,250,000 Travers Stakes – Race 11 (5:44 PM)

NBC will have a special television broadcast of the Travers from 4:30 – 6:00 PM.

Dannhauser, bred by the Audley Farm and trained by Kathleen O’Connell, will compete Saturday in a $95,000 allowance optional claiming event.

A trio of Virginia-breds will also compete Saturday on the Travers Day card. Dannhauser, an 8 year old horse bred by the Audley Farm, is in a $95,000 allowance optional claimer (Race 5). Lenstar, a 2 year old colt trained by Nick Zito and bred by the Lazy Lane Farms, will vie in a $93,000 maiden special weight event (Race 1). And Skipalute, a 4 year old filly bred by Morgans Ford Farm, is in a $95,000 allowance (Race 4).

The marathon 13 race program begins at 11:35 AM. Virginia residents can bet the action via TVG.com, XPressBet.com and TwinSpires.com.

Harness fans have an enticing Saturday as well with top flight racing at Yonkers. A series of $40,000 elimination divisions for both the Yonkers Trot (3 year old trot) and Messenger Pace (3 year old open pace) will be contested. The $500,000 final for both will go to post the following Saturday, September 3rd.

Have a great and profitable Saturday!

(WOODSTOCK, VA — 8/24/16)—-Finishing touches to an extensive harness track renovation project at the Shenandoah County Fairgrounds in Woodstock, Virginia are now complete. In recent days, pylons have been placed on the track, safety fencing has been added around the outer perimeter of the half mile oval and camera towers are now in place.

Several horses tested out the new half mile oval at Shenandoah Downs for the first time Wednesday morning and the initial feedback bodes well for the upcoming Fair races and the pari-mutuel meet.

Horses tried out the newly renovated half mile oval in Woodstock Wednesday morning.

“We were pleasantly surprised,” said Track Supervisor J.D. Thomas, who oversaw the $700,000 renovation along with consultant Greg Coon. “I didn’t think it would be as tight as it is. We’ll get a couple more horses on the track again tomorrow but overall, I’m very pleased.”

Locally based trainers Betsy Brown and Alvin Lineweaver guided Irish Blessing and Pistol Pete’s Dragon respectively during the morning test. “It’s exciting to see these improvements,” said Brown, who has been competing at the Shenandoah County Fair races since 1990. “The horses could get hold of the track very easily. The surface was great; it wasn’t too soft and it wasn’t too hard.”

Brown said she went two miles in 2:00.0 or better with two different horses including a trotter named Calcutta, who unofficially covered a mile in 1:59 1/5. “I’ve raced at a lot of tracks around the country and this is as nice a half mile track as I’ve been on.”  

The track at Shenandoah County Fairgrounds when the renovation began.

The 99th Shenandoah County Fair races will be held August 31 – September 3 at 1 PM each afternoon. The inaugural pari-mutuel meet, known as Shenandoah Downs, begins September 10th and continues every Saturday & Sunday at 1 PM through October 9th.

Opening weekend features the $320,000 Virginia Harness Breeder’s Championships, where top 2 & 3 year old Virginia-bred pacers and trotters of both sexes will compete in a series of title races worth a combined $320,000. Four sophomore divisional championships will go to post on Saturday while a four-pack of freshmen title events will be held Sunday. Both opening weekend days will feature free admission, a food truck festival, plus the first 500 fans each day 18 and older will receive a free $2 betting voucher.

For more information, visit www.virginiahorseracing.com and www.shenandoahdowns.com.
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Another summer weekend means another great round of stakes races to watch and wager from tracks around the country.

On Saturday, the Grade 1, $1,000,000 Pacific Classic at Del Mar will pit three powerhouse horses against one another — California Chrome, Beholder and Dortmund. At Saratoga, the undefeated Songbird puts her 9 for 9 streak on the line in the Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama Stakes, which has been won by 21 different Eclipse award winners. Both tracks have attractive under cards as well.

Kaleem Shah’s (of Reston, Virginia) Dortmund and jockey Martin Garcia, right, hold off Firing Line and jockey Gary Stevens to win the Grade III $150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes Saturday, February 7, 2015 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, CA.

Virginia residents can bet the action via one of three on line wagering partner companies — TVG.com (who is sponsor of the Pacific Classic), XPressBet.com and TwinSpires.com.

Here’s the lineup to make sure you don’t miss the key races:

*At Saratoga, the Grade I, $500,00 Fourstardave Stakes is Race 9 at 5:40 PM and the Alabama is Race 10 at 6:18 PM.

*At Del Mar, the Grade I, $300,000 Del Mar Oaks is Race 6 at 7:43 PM, the Grade 2, $250,000 Del Mar Handicap is Race 8 at 8:43 PM and the Pacific Classic is Race 9 at 9:15 PM.

There is plenty of harness stakes action on Saturday too. Mohegan Sun Pocono has a stakes filled bonanza featuring the $500,000 Battle of Brandywine (3 Year Old Open Pace), $500,000 The Colonial (3 Year Old Open Trot), and $350,000 Valley Forge (3 Year Old Filly Pace). On Sunday, the Red Mile hosts 8 Kentucky Sire Stakes races, each worth $175,000.

Long On Value wins the Jamestown Stakes at Colonial Downs as a 2 year old in 2013. Courtesy of Coady Photography.

Virginia-bred horses have a busy weekend too. Long On Value, fresh off a win in the Lucky Coin Stakes, looks to make it two straight at Saratoga in Saturday’s $100,000 Troy Stakes (on the Alabama under card). The 5 year old son of Value Plus was bred by the Snow Lantern Thoroughbreds and has earned $111,920 this year already.

35 Virginia-breds are competing in overnight races in the Mid-Atlantic region between Friday and Sunday this weekend. All are eligible for a 25% bonus if they win, courtesy of the new HBPA/VTA incentive program which began July 1st. 17 are eligible Friday, 10 on Saturday and 8 on Sunday.

Finally, next Saturday (August 27th) is Travers Stakes Day at Saratoga which features the annual Mid-Summer Derby and a total of six Grade I stakes races!

Richmond, VA—8/18/16) —- The Virginia Racing Commission gave unanimous approval at its Thursday (August 18) meeting to bring pari-mutuel harness racing back to the Commonwealth this fall at Shenandoah Downs. The limited license request was submitted by the Virginia Downs Foundation. The Virginia Equine Alliance (VEA) will provide race office personnel and conduct the races, and the Virginia Harness Horsemen’s Association (VHHA) will provide $800,000 from its purse account to fund the races.

Harness racing took place at the Oak Ridge Estate in Nelson County last year.

In the request presentation Thursday, VEA Executive Director Jeb Hannum noted ten days of racing will occur this fall over five consecutive weekends from September 10 – October 9, and races will be held every Saturday and Sunday at 1:00 PM. An extensive $700,000-plus track renovation project reached the completion stage this past week and everyone is looking forward to getting horses on the track for the upcoming meet.

Mr. Hannum also noted the weather challenges workers faced early in the renovation process when an unusually wet spring caused delays. Despite those issues, work was completed on schedule. He extended special thanks to Dr. Scott Woogen, President of the VHHA, Tom Eshelman, GM of the Shenandoah County Fair, and David Lermond, Executive Secretary of the VRC.

Shenandoah Downs recently underwent a renovation to widen track and bank the turns.

Dr. Woogen also thanked all parties for their cooperation in the ambitious project. “Shenandoah Downs is a track that Virginians should be proud of and it will be one of the finest half mile ovals for racing in the country.” The VHHA President added he was thrilled at the response horsemen have shown in support of the track and he is expecting a full barn/stable area.

“This is a very significant day,” added D.G. Van Clief, Chairman of the Virginia Racing Commission. “The Commission approved a new racetrack and meet today along with a slate of racing officials. This is a big step forward as we rebuild the Virginia racing industry.”

Perfect Trace was one of six Virginia-bred horses to score an owners bonus in the past ten day period by winning an overnite race in the Mid-Atlantic region. The 4 year old daughter of Pleasantly Perfect captured a $22,000, 5 1/2 furlong claiming race August 6th at Laurel. Jockey Horacio Karamanos led the gate to wire effort in a large twelve horse field. The Reid Nagle trainee was bred by Larry Johnson and is owned by Big Lick Farm. Perfect Trace, who is out of Traceable by Forest Wildcat, won her first start since breaking her maiden August 8th of last year.

Jockey Horacio Karamanos led Perfect Trace to victory at Laurel August 6th. Photo by Jim McCue.

Really Boppin continued a solid 2016 campaign by winning a $12,500 claiming race at Charles Town the same day and collected his 6th “in the money” finish in 8 starts this year. The 5 year old Bop gelding was bred by Jackie Hinson and is owned by the Vermont Farm, who earned the additional 25% bonus. Sent off as the heavy betting choice in a field of five, Really Boppin was a head behind at the quarter, gained control just past that marker and crossed 1 1/2 lengths over Stray Cat Jack in :52.92. The winner was claimed though for $7,000 by Kevin Joy, who will also train.

Really Boppin’s win at Charles Town August 6th gave owner Vermont Farm a 25% bonus as part of the new VTA/HBPA incentive program. Photo by Coady Photography.

Bird Call, a 4 year old Birdstone gelding who didn’t race as a 2 or 3 year old, connected at Delaware Park August 10th in gate to wire fashion for his first lifetime win. Out of the Secret Hello mare, Silent Greeting, the winner covered the five furlong, $17,000 maiden claiming race in :58.07 and crossed 1 1/2 lengths to the better. Jockey Alex Citron was up top for Trainer James Lawrence II. Lawrence Stable owns Bird Call, and received the 25% bonus on top of purse earnings for the win.

Gem, bred by William Mott and Morgans Ford Farm, rallied from fifth in a $27,000 maiden claiming race August 13th at Laurel to also earn her first lifetime win. The 3 year daughter of Elusive Quality beat six others and won the 1 1/16th miles test by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:45.99. The Michael Trombetta trainee, sent off as the betting favorite, raced in fifth through three fractions before angling out four wide in the turn. Gem, who is out of Skipstone by Montbrook, was sixth in last fall’s Jamestown Stakes and fifth in the Nellie Mae Cox Stakes, held earlier this summer.  Morgans Ford Farm also owns the victor, and collected a 25% owners bonus for the win.

The Mike Trombetta trained Gem got her first lifetime win August 13th at Laurel. Photo by Jim McCue.

Porte Cochere and Explore, the other two Virginia-bred bonus winning horses from this past week, are the only two horses to have earned a second bonus for their owners since the incentive program began July 1st . A story has already been written on those successes.

Porte Cochere won her second straight race and second straight bonus, courtesy of the new VTA/HBPA incentive program. Photo by Jim McCue.

Third Brigade and Hard Enough are at different points in their careers, but both were victorious last week at tracks several thousand miles apart. The former, a 3 year old son of Exchange Rate, won his second straight race in a one mile, $26,000 claiming event at Del Mar while the latter, a 6 year old son of Hard Spun, saw his bankroll surge over the $350,000 mark with a one mile claiming race triumph at Thistledown.

Third Brigade, bred by the William Backer Revocable Trust, completed a wire to wire trip as betting favorite in 1:36.43, though he was claimed by Robertino Diodoro and Charles Garvey for $25,000. The winner is out of Bitter Lemon by Lemon Drop Kid. Hard Enough, bred by Larry Johnson, trailed through the half in a field of seven, circled outside in the far turn and powered home to win by a comfortable four length margin in 1:45.99. Out of the Mr. Greeley mare, Grecian Wings, Hard Enough earned his ninth career win from 48 starts.

Congratulations to Porte Cochere and Explore, the first Virginia-bred horses to win a second bonus for their owners since the new HBPA/VTA incentive program began July 1st.

Porte Cochere captured a $28,000 starter optional claiming sprint Friday at Laurel while Explore romped to an 11 1/4 length victory Wednesday in a $6,600 claiming event at Mountaineer Park. The former was bred by Legacy Farm & Larry Johnson and is owned by the Sheffield Stable while the latter was bred by Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Firestone and is owned by LVR Stable, Inc.

Porte Cochere won her second straight race and second straight bonus, courtesy of the new VTA/HBPA incentive program. Photo by Jim McCue.

Porte Cochere is a 3 year old daughter of Street Sense who has bankrolled $37,590 so far in 2016. She competed at the 5 1/2 furlong distance against five other sprinters and jockey Edgar Prado guided her to a three length win over Fiveoclocksomewhere in 1:05.90. Out of the Partner’s Hero mare, Wonderous Woman,

Porte Cochere has won two straight. Her first bonus winning race came on July 3rd at Laurel.

Explore rolled to an 11 1/4 length victory at Mountaineer August 10th and secured his second straight owners bonus for the LVR Stable. Photo courtesy of Coady Photography.

Explore is a 5 year old son of Stroll who rolled over six horses in a dazzling gate to wire effort. The Louis Ruberto Jr. trainee covered the one mile distance in 1:39.73 as a heavy betting favorite. He dictated the tempo from the start, led by 1 1/2 at the half and by four at the top of the stretch. Like Porte Cochere, Explore has won two straight — his first bonus earning trip came July 18 at Mountaineer. He is out of Elsie Jay by Giant’s Causeway and has won $86,771 in purse monies.

Below are the yearlings that were either Virginia-bred, owned or consigned at the Fasig-Tipton select sales at Saratoga. Congratulations to all the Virginians involved.

Hip #11 – Louisa Lenehan’s Curlin colt out of Dress The Part sold for $240,000 to Lothenbach Stables, Inc.

Hip #38 Louisa Lenehan’s filly by Animal Kingdom out of Garden District was a $45,000 rna.

Hip #53 – Virginia-bred Paynter colt out of Hottie Dancer sold to Saratoga Seven Racing Partners for $255,000.

Hip #63 – Louisa Lenehan’s Uncle Mo colt out of Jody Slew sold to Crupi’s New Castle, agent for $550,000.

Hip #170 – Smitten Farm’s First Samurai out of Talent sold to Quarter Pole Enterprises, LLC for $105,000

Hip #202 – Andrew Motion consigned this Ghostzapper filly out of Amber Grace for Chapel Hill LLC. She was sold to Steven Carr DVM for $285,000 and will be broken by Paula Parsons in Middleburg.

Hip #204 – Smitten Farm’s Bodemeister filly out of Art Show was purchased by Mike Ryan, agent for $90,000.

Hip 235 – Sold to It’s All About The Girls for $105,000, this Virginia-bred Congrats filly out of Chemise was bred by The Corner Farm and John Behrendt

Two other fillies with Virginia connections were sold at the Saratoga Select sales.  Susie and Pug Hart bred Hip #96, an Eskendereya filly out of Miz United States that was purchased for $225,000 by Frankie Brothers agent for Starlight.

Their NY bred filly by The Factor out of Head Strong Beauty (below) was sold to Patricia Schuler for $230,000 and will return to Virginia where she will be broken at Braeburn Training Center.

Congratulations to everyone involved.