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Always A Virgin wins Messenger

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October 27, 2007

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Always A Virgin won his second Triple Crown race, capturing the $725,480 Messenger at Yonkers Raceway Saturday night with a wire-to-wire romp in 1:52. Always A Virgin won the Cane, the first leg of the Triple Crown, in early September and finished third in the second leg, the Little Brown Jug.

�I thought his performance was great,� trainer Joe Holloway said. �We did what we had to do. Brian let him stretch out. He didn�t just win it, he kind of dominated, and that�s what we were looking for. I�m thrilled with him and the Breeders Crown (in November) is next.�

The Messenger victory was made much easier when Always A Virgin drew post one in the open draw earlier in the week. Driver Brian Sears maintained his position and Always A Virgin was never threatened through splits of :28.1, :57.2 and 1:24.3. Kenneth J, considered a 19-1 longshot by the bettors, sat on his back and finished second, but was beaten by several lengths. Watta Hotshot took third.

David Miller made a bid to win with Hot Rod Mindale, making a first-over move going to the half, just as the duo did in the Jug, which resulted in a second-place finish behind Tell All. This time Hot Rod Mindale tired at the three-quarter mark, clogging up the outer flow and forcing Southwind Lynx to go three-wide in the last turn.

Always A Virgin picked up his 12th victory in 18 starts this season and became a millionaire, pushing his 2007 bankroll to $1,010,203. The Western Ideal-sired colt is owned by Bluewood Stable, Roll The Dice Stable and Val D'Or Farms.

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