Big money earners shine at Shenandoah Downs Saturday; Closing Day is Sunday

Cathy Rutherford directs Just Fred to victory in 1:57 1/5 Saturday at Shenandoah Downs

(WOODSTOCK, VA — 10/14/17)—-A pair of horses who were at or near the $200,000  mark in winnings earned additional bragging rights Saturday at Shenandoah Downs as closing weekend of the second fall harness meet kicked off.

Cathy Rutherford’s Just Fred powered from fourth to first at the quarter mark of his conditioned race and went on to dominate from there. The 9 year old gelding, who won by 12 lengths, had his best performance since winning at the Red Mile August 24th in 1:52 1/5. He entered the race with a bankroll of $203, 181.

Calcutta on the other hand, entered Saturday’s $5,500 fourth race with $199,294 in earnings and needed a first or second place finish to push her bankroll over the $200,000 mark. She led much of the way until Beep Beep Bye Bye challenged her at the top of the stretch and ended up prevailing by one-half length. With the runner-up finish, the 8 year old Tom Ridge mare did reach that mark in earnings in front of the hometown faithful. Both driver/trainer Betsy Brown and owner Terry Kibler are from Woodstock.

 Driver William Carter had three wins while Scott Woogen and Chuck Perry had two apiece on another gorgeous weather race day in the Shenandoah Valley. 

 Reinsman Carter had his best day of the meet, collecting wins aboard Tulsi, A Major Impulse and Victoria’s Munky. Tulsi, who was 0-for-18 entering the day’s kickoff race, wired the field in 1:58 4/5. A Major Impulse, who shipped in from Harrah’s Philadelphia, got his second win of the year by wiring the field as well in 1:55 2/5. Victoria’s Munky captured a thriller in which four pacers finished with one-half lenth of each other. The 5 year old Bettor’s Delight mare was a neck better than Moonshinemonkeys and Place At The Beach.

 Scott Woogen had his best day of the meet as well, connecting with World Peace and Peoplesayimnogood. Both collected their first wins of the meet. The latter had won a pair at the Shenandoah County Fair, which preceded the pari-mutuel campaign. Chuck Perry, who collected his 1000th win last Sunday, scored with Royal Red and Beep Beep Bye Bye.

 For the first time this season, last year’s two “Co-Horses of the Meet” will square off in a grudge match Sunday as Shenandoah Downs presents its last harness racing card of the fall. Last Chance Harvey and B Blissful will duke it out in the fourth race. They are the two favorites, of course, and last met 53 weeks ago on closing day of the first season at Woodstock. Bill Carter will pilot Last Chance Harvey from the rail while Chuck Perry will be aboard 13 year old B Blissful from post 2. The 2017 “Horse of the Meet” will be recognized during the program.