Eight Virginia championships to be decided at Colonial Saturday

October 29, 2008

The best Virginia-bred trotters and pacers will settle eight championships in the Virginia Harness Day of Champions on Saturday, the richest day of Standardbred racing in the Old Dominion with $362,150 up for grabs on a 13-race card.

Marita E. Berglund�s Jamas will likely be the heaviest favorite of the day in the $39,300 two-year-old colt and gelding trot. The Dream Vacation colt won the prep by two lengths over The Doctor, who was 28 � lengths clear of the rest of the field. Jamas faces the same three rivals in the Finals for trainer-driver Christopher Freck.

Four Starz Horndog has enjoyed the richest season of any Day of Champions contender with $77,545 gleaned from seven wins in just 12 starts this season. The Four Starzzz Shark filly won the faster 3-year-old filly pace elimination last week as the 1-5 favorite and figures to go favored again against eight rivals Saturday. Erik Schulman trains Four Starz Horndog for owner Four Starzzzz Stable LLC.

Jane P. Dunavant�s Koala Kat should be another strong favorite in the $46,600 three-year-old filly trot. Koala Kat takes a two-race win streak into the Final, including 1 �-length score over Pretty May Flowers in the prep last week. The CR Commando filly is trained by Roland C. Dunavant Jr. of Kenbridge and will be driven by Chris Page.

The most contentious Virginia Breeders final is probably the $45,400 two-year-old colt and gelding pace. William M. Camp Jr. and John W. Sumner�s Slim Justice won the elimination by a nose over Tap Five with Rick�s Crossroads, the 4-5 favorite last week, just three-quarters of length further back in third. Tap Five is the tepid 3-1 morning line favorite for owner-trainer Freddy Darby.

Trainer Manley Brown Jr. has been the dominant force on Day of Champions, winning seven of the last 16 Virginia Breeders finals. Brown is the leading trainer again at Colonial this season but is unlikely to have a single favorite in the 2008 Day of Champions. His best shot this year appears to be in the $47,000 three-year-old colt and gelding trot, where he has five of the eight entrants. Brown�s top contenders are the Terry L. Kibler-owned entry of Seven Bends and Descant, bother runners-up in their respective eliminations last week. Descant was the champion 2 year old last fall.

John F. Swart Jr.�s Andiron Springs is the 2-1 morning favorite off an impressive elimination win in 1:55.1.

Pot Luck Stable�s First Rate will try to cement his status as the best of his generation with a win in the $43,600 three-year-old colt and gelding pace. First Rate won the 2-year-old finals last year and prevailed in a tight photo over Boss Outlaw in the 3-year-old prep last week. The Real Artist gelding is coupled with fellow Samuel Beegle-trained stablemate Liteninstrikestwice, who finished third in the prep.

Both 2-year-old filly finals will be contested as early non-betting races.

The $40,000 two-year-old filly trot will go off at 12:15 p.m. with Babcakes Eden looking to complete a sweep of the division after last week�s 1 �-length win over Luring Nola in the elimination. Thomas Smith trains and drives the Tagliabue filly for owner Edenridge Farms, which also has Eden�s Knotty Girl, the third-place finisher in the prep.

Tidewater Misty would be a heavy favorite in the $43,800 two-year-old filly pace it was a betting race, instead of a non-betting affair scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Tidewater Misty won the prep by 2 � lengths as the 1-9 favorite last week. Trevor Stafford trains the Allamerican Ingot filly for owners David L. Beachler and Annefuria N. Singleton.

The first wagering event Saturday goes to post at 1 p.m. (Colonial Downs)

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