John’s Dream Scores 35th Win at Shenandoah Downs, Headlining Virginia Breeder’s Aged Stakes  

John’s Dream captured the $20,000 Virginia Breeders Fund aged male pace at Shenandoah Downs Saturday — one of four Breeders race divisions on the program — and reached the winners circle for the 35^th time in Virginia. The 13-year-old Dream Away gelding won his 56^th race overall, which pushed his career earnings to $427,692.

Royal Beep Beep (#2) drives to the wire adjacent to K J Dash (#5) and Big Daddy D (#4).

John’s Dream wired the seven-horse field in 1:56.0 as the betting choice. Jason Walters’ Playing For Real finished second, 1-1/4 lengths behind, while Dr. Edward Ward’s Caviart Shetland took third.

Driver Chuck Perry’s son, John, took ownership of John’s Dream two weeks ago and became the pacer’s official trainer this week, taking over conditioning duties from Chuck.

In the $20,000 Breeders Fund mare pace, Elwood Tignor and Debbie Mulligan’s Toys Little Tinker came four wide in the final turn, surged past Caviart Rachel, third-place finisher Hillbilly Kisses, and runner-up Kelseys For Real at the head of the stretch, and powered home for a one-length win in 1:55 4/5. William Carter guided the 4-year-old Rusty’s For Real mare for trainer Tignor. A $10,000 pay day increased the winner’s lifetime bankroll to $153,130.

Debbie Warnick’s Royal Beep Beep rallied from fifth at the top of the stretch in the $20,000 horse & gelding trot division and stormed home to snag an upset victory after being sent off at 12-1. The 5-year-old Yankee Royalty gelding was third through the half, then shuffled back to fifth for most of the second half. Driver Eric Davis made up a 2-1/2-length gap turning for home to give the Scott Warnick trainee a first-place check.

Scott Woogen’s K J Dash finished second, and David Dobbelman’s Big Daddy D was third.

Woogen’s K J The Thirteenth won his fourth consecutive race — and third straight in Woodstock — in the $20,0000 aged mare trot. The 4-year-old daughter of II Mago went coast-to-coast in the four-horse kickoff event, though she never led by more than 1-1/2 lengths at any point of call. After posting initial quarter panels of :29.0, :59 3/5 and 1:29 1/5, the Scott Warnick trainee crossed in 1:58.0.

Woogen’s K J Title took second, and Arthur Lisi’s Divoc finished third.

The weekend’s featured $10,000 Open Handicap saw Dan Chansky’s exhilarating pacer Lou’s Starr capture his third straight race at Shenandoah — in track record-tying time. The 4-year-old Sweet Lou horse wired the field for the second straight week, crossing in 1:51 4/5. After authoring fractions of :27 3/5, :55 3/5 and 1:24.0, the Scott Warnick trainee hit the wire in the same time co-record holder Marco Beach did several years ago. Corey Braden has been in the sulky for all three of Lou Starr’s Woodstock wins.

Shenandoah Downs passed the halfway point of its spring racing season. Next weekend’s Saturday and Sunday cards feature Virginia Breeders’ elimination divisional legs for 3-year-old pacers and trotters. Post time each day is 1:05 PM.