Colonial's day of champs

Live racing in the Old Dominion will conclude for the year with Virginia harness racing’s biggest day, the Harness Day of Champions, on Saturday afternoon. Undefeated filly Justasplashofwhite’s quest to add yet another stakes victory to her unblemished record and top trotter Lolique’s assault on one of Colonial’s toughest track records should ensure an exciting coda to the 2006 season at the one-turn mile.

Justasplashofwhite will take on six rivals in the $43,300 two-year-old filly pace. The Shotgun Scott filly survived her toughest test yet in the elimination last week, beating NF Debutante by three-quarters of a length. Justasplashofwhite was stuck in fourth behind a slow pace but proved the best in the stretch over a sloppy track. Justasplashofwhite has won all eight of her races, including the $47,000 Maryland Sire Stakes final, for trainer Jeffrey Long and owners Charlene, S. Danyell and Carlie Long, and Leslie Regan. Regular pilot Victor Kirby will direct Justasplashofwhite from post four on Saturday.

Lolique won the 3-year-old colt and gelding trot elimination by 20 lengths and looms such a heavy favorite that the $39,400 final will be a non-betting race and contested at 12:30 p.m. before the pari-mutuel card begins. Lolique finished fourth, just six lengths behind Vivid Photo, in the $100,000 Patriot Invitational here on Oct. 13. Lolique has won nine of 17 races and banked $135,575 this season for owners Pamela Wagner and Scott Woogen. John Wagner will drive the Tagliabue gelding.

The most competitive final on paper is the $47,200 two-year-old colt and gelding pace. Kelley Rogers’ Hi Dollar Cam is the tepid 3-1 morning line favorite in the 10-horse field. Hi Dollar Cam captured the fastest of the two eliminations by 3 ¾ lengths and is favorably drawn in post six. Gerald D. Kelly’s Southern Myles won the other elimination and comes into the final riding a five-race win streak highlighted by an easy score in the $46,600 Maryland Sire Stakes final. Southern Myles will start from post nine.

Saturday’s card also features five more rich Virginia Breeders finals and a tough $12,500 Filly and Mare Open Pace in which Horse of the Meet Ashland Blue will take on nine rivals. Track record-setter Shady Matilda and Lye Creek Betty, the only horse to beat Ashland Blue this season at Colonial, will make this a difficult test.

Saturday’s 14-race card will also decide a tight race for leading driver. Corey Braden has led for the entire meet and comes into the final day with 57 wins. Two-time defending champion Jim Marohn Jr. won three races on Thursday to narrow the gap to just two wins. Braden has 13 drives on Saturday and Marohn has 11. (Colonial Downs)

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