Prep winners win three straight in the Mountain Racing Series

(WOODSTOCK, VA) April 29, 2024 —  In a series of $25,000 finals on Saturday at Shenandoah Downs, Pam Wagner's K J Todd (Trixton), Charles Myers' Hillbillyclassygirl (Racing Hill), and Scott Woogen & Brenda Messenger's KJ Hunter (Huntsville) all made it to the harness racing winners circle after winning their prep races in the Mountain Racing Series a week ago.

My Quick Moni (International Moni) by Anne McDonald, who outperformed in her preparation and took third place, was the only Saturday finals winner who had not won a week before. Virginia-Certified 4- and 5-year-old horses who took part in the Virginia Harness Horse Association's residency program a few years prior to starting competitions were eligible to compete in the Mountain four-pack.

In the Alleghany Trot Final, driver Fern Paquet Jr. led a perfectly timed move aboard K J Todd in the last turn against five other horses and geldings. Similar to how he did on Saturday, the 4-year-old gelding won his prep on April 20 by ten lengths after trotting near the back of the race and pushing after the third marker. In the final straightaway of the Finals, K J Todd overtook Jane Dunavant's Big Daddy D, who had bounced back nicely from two earlier breaks, to cross 2-3/4 lengths the best in 1:59.0. KJ Devil, owned by Scott Woogen, came in second, while K J Phillip, another Woogen stallion, placed third.

After winning her Blue Ridge Pacing Prep by 1-3/4 lengths, Hillbillyclassygirl crushed the field on Saturday, winning by 10 lengths as a 1-9 favourite. After gaining a lead of three lengths at the third marker, the 4-year-old mare easily won the race and crossed the half-up by 1.5 lengths. The 21-year-old Christian Myers led her to a final time of 1:55 1/5, which was a pleasant improvement over her 1:57.0 performance from the previous week. Second place went to Ken Weckstein and Brenda Messenger's Brendas Delight, while third place went to Mark Gray's Dancing Beach Girl.

In the Blue Ridge Pace Final for horses and geldings, KJ Hunter, owned by Woogen and Brenda Messenger, finished three lengths ahead of the field. With his fourth victory in his past five starts, the overwhelming favourite did not let anyone down. With the exception of quarter panel two, where KJ Hunting put his head in front and cut that mark, the 5-year-old gelding led at every stanza. KJ Hunter achieved his 23rd career victory, crossing in 1:55 3/5. For trainer Gary Messenger, Fern Paquet Jr. drove.

My Fast In the Alleghany Trot Final for mares, Moni finished in 2:01 2/5, going wire-to-wire with trainer Mark Gray in the sulky. After a string of recent breaks, the 4-year-old had to qualify at Rosecroft throughout the week. Despite this, she stayed flat for both laps and beat Robert White's Antares Star by a distance of 4-1/2 lengths. Joan Deer, played by Tracy Bradshaw, came in third.

At the Shenandoah spring meet on Sunday, Caviart Stoney (Captaintreacherous), owned by Lawrence & Derrick Cooper, and Checkme (Check Six), owned by Eric Thompson, were victorious in their third consecutive race. On a bright, 87-degree afternoon, the former set a new personal best when he finished just a nose behind Cole Olsen's Volleyball Beach as it turned to head home. He subsequently passed the lead stepper and held off a closing Cirrus de Vie at the finish line in 1:53 3/5. Leading the charge was reinsman Billy Carter, who had four victories on the card. In a conditioned pace, Archie Burford guided the latter to a new life mark as well, crossing in 1:56 1/5. In his two prior appearances, the 4-year-old gelding crossed first in 1:57 3/5 and 1:57 1/5.

Although they haven't been consecutive, Spencer Goldin's Lucky Streak (Luck Be Withyou) won his third race of the meet on Sunday. In the afternoon final, the 4-year-old gelding set a new life mark of 1:53.0 and wired the field. Eric Davis drove the winner, who is trained by Alexandra Goldin. Thus far this spring, Lucky Streak has three victories and a second in Woodstock.

On Saturday, May 4, Shenandoah Downs will host a race at a unique time of 2:05 PM. The track will host a "Derby at the Downs" Party with a schedule of exhibition miniature horse races, one of which will be a race between Billy and William Carter, father and son. Through May 19, the spring season is still in effect.