Notorious Bigslick proves Virginia is for Horse Lovers

Notorious Bigslick seemed to put a hammerlock on the Virginia is for Horse Lovers late closing series with a sizzling win in a division of the second leg on Saturday night (September 22) at Colonial Downs.

Notorious Bigslick won his division of the first leg in frontstepping fashion last Saturday and trainer-driver Dean Collins stuck with the successful formula, sending the 3-year-old Precious Bunny gelding straight to the front once again.

Notorious Bigslick paced the opening quarter in :26.4 to take command and simply kept pouring on the speed through a half in :54.3 to enter the turn with a 1-1/4 length lead over Gravitas.

Collins blew the race wide open on the turn, opening up a three length lead through a blistering third quarter in :27.1. Notorious Bigslick turned for home after the three-quarters in 1:21.4 with every right to tire down the daunting 1,300-foot stretch, but he was able to summon another burst of speed to extend his lead to six lengths at the eighth pole.

S F Decathlon launched a strong rally in deep stretch as Collins geared down Notorious Bigslick, but the race was long decided and Notorious Bigslick cruised to the wire to win by 3-3/4 lengths in 1:52. Broule Hanover was another three-quarters of a length back in third.

Collins won three races on the card to extend his meet-leading total to nine wins over the first five programs. David Ingraham is second with five. Collins also tops the trainer standings with eight wins.

Quick Arrow N won the other division of the Virginia is for Horse Lovers' second leg in 1:52.3.

The series continues with a third leg on Saturday, September 29, and concludes on Saturday, October 6. (Colonial)

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