Caviart Farms continued to dominate the Virginia Breeders 3-Year-Old Filly Pacing elimination divisions as Caviart Sophie and Caviart Dawn powered to victories Sunday at Shenandoah Downs. The pair got their pictures taken after wire-to-wire efforts — but they came in different style.
The former engaged with another of Caviart’s sophomore pacers — Caviart Ainsley — in a stretch duel and as they crossed, Caviart Sophie was a neck the best in 1:57 4/5. Driver Anibal Borjas led the winning effort for trainer Tony Alagna. Her first division win a week ago came in 1:56 1/5 but she coasted home in that $8,000 elimination nine lengths the best. Caviart Ainsley won her first leg heat by ten lengths — in 1:57.0 — so Sunday’s close clash was not unexpeected. Alagna trains both who will face each other again in the Breeders Fund final on October 27th. Anne McDonald’s Sweet Pirategirl finished third.
Alagna’s Caviart Dawn, a distant second behind stablemate Caviart Sophie a week ago, breezed to a six-length score Sunday over Steve Wetzel’s Caviart Rachel in the second elimination. Borjas again directed the winning score in 1:55 1/5 — the pacer’s first win in 18 career starts. The runner-up finisher rebounded from a fourth place finish a week prior.
Lawrence Cooper’s Caviart Simon got the best of first leg winner Bgoing Away in the Virginia Breeders 3-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Pace prep on Sunday. The Always B Miki gelding, a Lawrence Cooper trainee who broke in his start a week ago, surged to the front before the half with Archie Burford at the controls, opened up an eight-length cushion at the three-quarter mark and held on to win by three in 1:55 2/5. Tracy Bradshaw’s Bgoing Away took second and John Wagner’s Pete’s For Real was third.
Nanticoke Racing Inc. & Delbert Cain’s Platinum Proposal won her second straight Breeders 3-Year-Old Filly Trot elimination, shaving nearly two seconds off her first leg clocking. Unlike a week prior where she wired the field, The E L Platinum filly had to play catch up with front steppers Gregory’s Princess and Speedy Town in the final quarter but hit the wire a length the best in 2:00 1/5. Her first leg victory came in 2:02.0. Platinum Proposal collected her eighth career win and pushed her impressive bankroll up to $183,915. Marna Shehan’s Speedy Town was second and Jane Dunavant’s Glide Along was third.
In the other Filly Trot, Howard & Linda Dege’s Royal Robin went coast-to-coast to earn her first lifetime win from 13 starts. The daughter of Yankee Royalty had John Wagner in the sulky and improved from a fourth-place finish in her first leg elimination, finishing in 2:02 3/5. William Reynolds trains Royal Robin, who never had a lead of more than 1½ lengths at any point. Jane Dunavant’s Rip Away took the runner-up spot while Arthur Hauser’s Ida Muscles finished third.
In the 3-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Pace eliminations, Dein Spriggs & Barbara Murphy’s Caviart Grady and Debbie Warnick’s Royal Beep Beep each scored wins and advanced to the October 27 final. The former wired the field but battled every step of the way as Kelsey Wagner’s Ronnie Ridge stalked outside within a neck the entire trip. Tyler Shehan piloted the winner for trainer Mike Murphy while John Wagner drove the runner-up. Scott Woogen’s K J Pro finished third. Betting favorite Geralds A Keeper, who is 8-for-9 this year including a dominant first leg win, broke stride and finished a distant fourth.
Royal Beep Beep, who broke stride and finished fifth in his first leg elimination, stayed on gait and prevailed by 1-1/2 lengths over Kelsey Wagner & Scott Woogen’s K J Dash in 2:00 4/5. The victor, who collected career win number eight, was driven by Pat Berry for trainer Jason Skinner while the runner-up was led by Fern Paquet Jr. for trainer John Wagner. Jaypaul Hoover’s Meantrottinmachine was third.
The next two weekends in Woodstock feature two-year-old eliminations which all lead to the $650,000 Virginia Breeders Champions Day card on October 27 when 2-Year-Old, 3-Year-Old and Aged Finals will be contested. Post time this Saturday and Sunday (October 12, 13) is 1:05 PM.
