:26.2 last quarter wins it for Stately's Hoss

Read Racing’s Stately’s Hoss exploded down the center of the long Colonial Downs stretch to win Tuesday's $22,400 Virginia Aged Breeders Pace by a neck over Cool Flying Fun.

Stately’s Hoss was content to rate patiently in sixth down the backstretch for trainer-driver Dean Collins while Racing Naked and Cool Flying Fun dueled for the lead through relatively slow fractions.

Racing Naked was quickest off the gate and led through an opening quarter in :27.1 before Cool Flying Fun rushed up to take command before the field hit the turn. Cool Flying Fun got the half in :55.4 as Racing Naked was content with a pocket trip around the turn and Drivin’ Miss Rudee tracked in third along the rail. 

Collins sent Stately’s Hoss first-over on the turn to slowly close the gap on the frontsteppers but the 3-year-old The Panderosa horse was still fifth, three lengths behind Cool Flying Fun after three-quarters in 1:24.2.

Stately’s Hoss leveled off beautifully once tipped wide in the stretch and was steadily gaining throughout the 1,300-foot stretch drive. Cool Flying Fun had plenty left after the tepid early fractions and Racing Naked found an opening on the rail to make it a three-horse scrum in the final sixteenth.

Stately’s Hoss finished with a :26.2 final quarter to prevail by a neck over Cool Flying Fun with Racing Naked just a half-length back in third after a mile in 1:51.2.

The Virginia Aged Breeders was Stately’s Hoss’ 13th win from 61 lifetime starts. 

Lye Creek Betty dominated Tuesday’s secondary feature, a $10,000 mares winners-over handicap pace, with a 3 1/4-length win in 1:52.1.  Lye Creek Betty was the highlight of five-win night for driver Chris Page. (Colonial Downs)

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