Chris Fatta wins final of distance series at Colonial

Betting favorite Chris Fatta drove past Eagle Lake in deep stretch to capture the $11,050 final leg of the Virginians Pacing Series Wednesday night at Colonial Downs. The race was contested at the distance of 1 ¼ miles, which actually is one complete circuit at Colonial’s large oval. 

Trainer-driver Dustin Ingraham’s pacer was favored based on a second leg triumph in 1:52.1. Though he crossed in 1:52 in the series’ first leg, Chris Fatta left as a trailer in a 12-horse field then and encountered traffic congestion in a respectable fifth-place finish.

On Wednesday though, with an eight-horse field, traffic was no issue for the 4-year-old Quentin Hanover gelding. Eagle Lake, who picked up a first-leg victory, took control of the field from the start and led through the mile, posting fractions of :29, :58.3, 1:27.3 and 1:55.3. Ingraham’s charge, who came outside early down the backstretch, had no trouble in the second tier and after easing past the frontstepper in deep stretch, crossed in 2:23.2, one-half length ahead of Eagle Lake. Rick’s Crossroads finished third.

Chris Fatta, who is owned by Donald Fraser of Freehold, N.J., has made a nice turnaround at the Virginia fall meet. Prior to heading south, he broke stride in back-to-back starts and in a qualifier at Chester, then broke in a qualifying attempt at Colonial.  After staying flat in his next qualifying try, he collected a debut victory in Virginia but with another stumble next out.  He has since stayed on the pacing gait though four straight times. (Colonial Downs)

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