Marco Beach Breaks Track Record at Shenandoah Downs with a 1:51 4/5 Mile

Alexandra Goldin’s pacer Marco Beach not only wired the field in Sunday’s $8,000 feature at Shenandoah Downs, but he shattered the previous track record by two-fifths of a second when he crossed three lengths the best in 1:51 4/5. The track’s previous mark of 1:52 1/5 was authored by John’s Dream in 2016 — Shenandoah’s initial season — and was equaled earlier this meet by Aflame Hanover.

Marco Beach established a new track record at Shenandoah Downs when he crossed in 1:51 4/5 Sunday afternoon (Quenton Egan photo).

Eric Davis drove Goldin’s 8-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding and was one of four wins he had on the ten-race program. Marco Beach left from outside post five and maintained a 1½ length cushion on the front end through the first three-quarter panels, which were cut in:27 3/5, 56.0, and 1:23 4/5. Davis opened up by two at the top of the stretch and held off a rally by Cole Olsen’s Lyons Stealth, who finished second. Olsen’s Volley Ball Beach was third.

The victory was Marco Beach’s 26^th lifetime score, pushing his career bankroll to $285,240. The pacer had previously won in 1:51 2 at Rosecroft in January and in 1:50 2/5, a lifetime best, at the Meadowlands last year.

Davis, who surged into third place in the driver standings behind Fern Paquet, Jr. and Corey Braden with a solid afternoon, also connected Sunday with Scott Woogen’s KJ Devil, P T Stables’s Make Some Waves and Spencer Goldin’s Lucky Streak, who won his third straight in Woodstock and fourth of the meet.

Week four competition in the U.S. Harness Drivers Club continued Saturday with a pair of races. Stacey McLenaghan, second in the overall trainer standings, maintained her lead in the Club standings with a win aboard her gelding pacer Etbauer, who prevailed for the second straight week. Reinsman Jack Mcneil took over second place in the Series with a win aboard Ben Mcneil’s I’ve Got Hootspa. Heading into action this Saturday, McLenaghan has 46 points, while McNeil is four back with 42. A series of checks will be presented to local non-profits this weekend because of the Series – where drivers donate their share of monies earned to charity.

Only two weekends remain in the Shenandoah Downs spring season. Action will continue on Saturday, May 11, and Sunday, May 12, with cards on both days at 1:05 PM. The Woodstock Oval will host Foiled Again’s 20th Birthday Party on Saturday. Join the celebration as harness racing’s richest horse turns 20 years old. Retired for six years now, the legendary son of Dragon Again bankrolled $7.6 million from a stellar career in which he won 109 races from 331 starts. Win number 104 came at Shenandoah Downs on September 29, 2018. Foiled Again will be on site, and fans can take their picture with the legend, sing Happy Birthday, and get a slice of birthday cake. Fans can also enjoy live music all afternoon with The Skillbillys. More details are at shenandoahdowns.com.