Jane Dunavant’s Kat’s Fancy got to the front in Saturday’s $89,600 Virginia Breeder’s 3-Year-Old Filly Trot field at Shenandoah Downs, held off challenges from stablemate Peggy’s Girl and betting choice Caviart Glory without ever relinquishing the lead, then surged to a one-half length win in 1:56 1/5. The time established a new track record in that division and new life mark which was three seconds faster than her previous best on a half mile oval.
The 3-year-old Dusty Winner filly authored initial panels of :28 3/5, :58 2/5 and 1:29 1/5 with Cody Poliseno in the sulky. Caviart Farms’ Caviart Glory, a 19-length winner in her lone Breeder’s prep, took over second after the half and threatened the remainder of the race staying within half a length but couldn’t power past the champ. Scott Woogen’s K J The Thirteenth finished third.
Kat’s Fancy, who broke stride early in both eliminations, is trained by Carlo Poliseno. Despite the breaks, the winning filly finished second and fourth in those two early races.
Cary Grady’s HS Jesse caught up with front stepper Mane Man Charlie at the top of the stretch in the $86,600 Colt/Gelding Trot, eased on by and finished 2-1/4 lengths the best in 1:58 3/5. The winner is trained and driver by Jospeh Carroll. HS Jesse broke stride in last year’s freshman finale but stayed flat all the way around in the sophomore tilt.
Elwood Tignor & Deborah Mulligan’s Toys Little Tinker powered forward from third in the final turn and surged past KJ Becky and Proper Lady en route to a 5-1/4 length win in the $91,100 3-Year-Old Filly Pace on Sunday. The Rusty’s For Real filly finished first in an initial prep division in 1:55.0 then took fourth in the second leg. Driver Billy Carter, who also trains the champ, led the 1:55 1/5 winning effort. Now with seven career wins, Toys Little Tinker has earnings of $121,890.
Jane Dunavant’s Proper Lady and Scott Woogen’s KJ Becky dueled through the initial trio of fractions — rarely no more than a nose apart — and hit the panels in :26 3/5, :55.0 and 1:25 1/5. Both scored early leg victories and were the two favorites heading into Sunday’s clash. The former finished second and the latter took third.
In Sunday’s $87,200 colt counterpart, heavily favored Paxamillion authored a near wire-to-wire triumph in 1:54 4/5 though the margin of victory was just a neck — following dominant 5-1/2 and 6-1/4 length scores in the elimination rounds. Driver Tyler Shehan guided the Sweet Lou gelding past front stepping Choices Honor just after the quarter mark then went on to cut fractions of :56 4/5, 1:26.0 and 1:54 4/5 the rest of the way. Trainer Britney Dillion’s champion won for the 8th time in 15 career outs and pushed his lifetime bankroll to $122,668.
Scott Woogen & Brenda Messenger’s Caviart Cash finished second and Lucinda Belcher’s Bday took third.
A 4-pack of $20,000 Virginia Breeder’s Fund Aged Stakes highlighted the weekend under card. Chuck Perry’s John’s Dream — winningest horse in Shenandoah Downs history — wired the field in Sunday’s first pacing division in 1:55 2/5 and earned career win number 50. Ivan Foltz’s Bgoing Away capped off a stellar final month in Woodstock by winning the second division by one-quarter length over Caviart Simon in a new life mark of 1:54 1/5.
Room4040 LLC Stables’ Ellen’s Wish and Scott Woogen’s Geralds A Keeper each won $20,000 trotting divisions on Saturday. The former collected a tight half length win in 1:58 2/5 while the latter wired the field in 1:59 1/5 and crossed 3-1/2 lengths the best. Leading reinsman Fern Paquet Jr. had the winning drive in both.
Virginia Breeder’s 3-Year-Old championship weekend ushered out the 2025 spring racing season in Woodstock. Virginia Breeder’s 2-Year-Old eliminations and finals, in addition to the inaugural Virginia Sired Stakes for freshmen, will take place during the fall meet which runs from September 13 – October 26. Fall meet details and racing applications will be available at shenandoahdowns.com in the coming days.
