Rick's Crossroads leads to victory

Rick’s Crossroads shook off a rocky start in Saturday’s (Oct. 31) $4,000 Virginia Breeder’s prep race at Colonial Downs, then came back to win by a neck after a thrilling comeback in the stretch.

A large nine-horse field of sophomore colt and gelding pacers prepped for next Saturday’s “Day of Champions” card, and Rick’s Crossroads Halloween night prep could not have started any worse. The 3-year-old Dream Away gelding broke stride at the start and was buried almost 13 lengths behind at the opening quarter.

Charlie Meador cut the opening panel in 26.3 over a "good" track, then continued his assault with a 56 half and a 1:26.1 third quarter. Driver Jason MacDougall rallied Rick’s Crossroads though to within five lengths of the leader coming out of the turn, then stormed past seven frontsteppers in the stretch to nip fast closing Nicota by a neck at the wire in 1:55.2.

Rick’s Crossroads, who earned his first win of 2009, is trained by Fran Raia II for the Richie Pat Bonvie Stable of Florida. Betting favorite Richie’s Place took third.

In other Virginia-bred 3-year-old action, Charlie Dunavant’s Blue Motorcycle captured the colt & gelding trot in 2:00, John Wagner’s Sadie Eden took the filly trot in 1:59 and Don Milby’s Tidewater Misty won the filly pace in 1:54.4.

All 2- and 3-year-old divisions will be decided in next Saturday’s “Day of Champions” card at Colonial. The track will host a 10-race card Sunday afternoon beginning at 1:00 p.m.(Colonial)

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