Always A Virgin, Running Book Score

Driver Brian Sears will have two winners to choose from when he picks his mount for next Saturday night’s $1 million Meadowlands Pace final. Tonight Sears won both eliminations, the first with Always A Virgin in 1:50 and then the second in a 1:48.1 shocker with 40-1 Running Book.

In the first elim, Sears waited until after the :26.2 opening quarter before moving New Jersey Sire Stakes champion Always A Virgin first over down the back stretch. By the :54.4 half Sears and the Western Ideal colt were on top with Art Rooney Memorial winner Southwind Lynx and Tim Tetrick at his back and 70-1 Trueys Legacy and Michael Vanderkemp on his outside.

Always A Virgin passed the three quarters in 1:23.2 and with a :26.4 final panel opend up in the early stage of the home stretch. Always A Virgin cruised to the finish with Southwind Linx closing to be second followed by Pandoras Sox, Trueys Legacy and North America Cup winner Tell All rounded out the five qualifiers for the final.

Always A Virgin is owned by Bluewood Stable, Roll The Dice Stable and Val D’Or Farms, and trained by Joe Holloway , who skipped the North America Cup with this horse to get ready for the Meadowlands Pace.

“Just my own personal opinion, I thought it was tough to do both,” said Holloway. "Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. We just chose this way." Holloway said Always A Virgin is “by far the best chance” he’s had to win the Meadowlands Pace.

In the second elim, Sears worked out a pocket trip with Running Book behind Sutter Hanover, who took the field—single file—to the half in :54. At the 1:21.2 three quarters Sears pulled the son of Real Desire and at the top of the lane swept past Sutter Hanover and stormed to victory. Hoosier Cup winner Artriverderci and John Campbell were second followed by Sutter Hanover, Kenneth J and Watta Hotshot.

Running Book came into the elims winless in five starts this year for owner Antonio Chiaravalle and trainer Bill Elliott.

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