Virginia Breeders Championship Series Opens at Shenandoah Downs with Impressive Performances

In The Worst Way extends winning streak to five as young trotters and pacers compete for spots in the $400,000 Day of Champions on October 31.

The 29th annual Virginia Breeders Championship Series got underway at Shenandoah Downs in Woodstock over the October 17–18 weekend, with six divisions of two-year-old trotters and pacers competing in preparation for the $400,000 Day of Champions on October 31.

The opening weekend featured several dominant performances, including a fifth consecutive victory by In The Worst Way, an 18-length romp by Caviart Caleb, and another impressive showing by undefeated-at-Shenandoah trotting filly Dance With Jenni.

Driver Corey Braden leads In The Worst Way to his fifth straight victory (Quenton Egan photo).

The championship series continues next weekend with a second round of prep races and eliminations, setting the stage for one of the biggest days of the Shenandoah Downs fall racing season.

In The Worst Way Extends Winning Streak

Hagerman Racing’s two-year-old trotting gelding In The Worst Way continued his winning ways Saturday, October 17, capturing a $10,000 Virginia Breeders prep division in 2:01 4/5.

Driver Corey Braden guided the son of Mach II past Areallyfastcar shortly after the opening quarter and never looked back, leading the remainder of the mile.

Trained by Herman Hagerman, In The Worst Way arrived in Virginia after a commanding victory in the $100,000 Maryland Sire Stakes on October 11, winning by nine lengths.

Saturday’s triumph marked his fifth straight victory and further established him as a strong contender heading into the championship finals.

William Roberts and Graham Grace Stables’ Youcancallmeroy finished second, while Caviart Farms’ Call Me Ovi took third.

In the two-year-old filly trot division, Tremaine Harding’s Dance With Jenni continued her success at the Woodstock oval with another convincing victory.

The daughter of Armed Dangerously had previously swept her Virginia Sire Stakes prep and final by leading from start to finish. This time, she used a different approach.

With Billy Carter driving for trainer Michael Whitaker, Dance With Jenni settled into the pocket behind the leader before moving to the outside on the final turn. She powered through the stretch to win by 6¼ lengths in 2:03 4/5.

All six of her career starts have taken place at Shenandoah Downs, where she has become a familiar name among racing fans.

Rudy Hostetler’s Aren’t I Pretty finished second, followed by Queen Jessica, owned by Tremaine Harding and Cornelius Martin.

Caviart Caleb Dominates Sunday Pacing Action

Sunday’s October 18 program shifted the spotlight to two-year-old pacers, with Caviart Farms’ Caviart Caleb delivering one of the weekend’s most impressive performances.

Competing in the first of two male pacing elimination divisions, the Papi Rob Hanover gelding took command early and never faced a serious challenge.

Driver Troy Beyer guided the Jim Campbell trainee through fractions of 29 3/5, 59 1/5, and 1:28 3/5.

Caviart Caleb held a 10-length advantage entering the stretch and continued pulling away, crossing the finish line 18 lengths ahead of runner-up Big Mac Dylan in 1:56 1/5.

Debbie Warnick’s Meadowland Park finished third.

Richard Havens’ Blue Jay’s Watchin won the second male pacing division, rebounding from an eighth-place finish at Harrington with a strong wire-to-wire victory.

Starting from the outside eighth post, driver Tony Morgan sent the son of He’s Watching to the front and maintained control through fractions of :28, :57, and 1:27.

Blue Jay’s Watchin completed the mile in 1:57 2/5, finishing 2½ lengths ahead of Ohh Hey Bud, owned by Joe Chinando.

Scott Woogen’s KJ Atlas took third.

Trained by Dan Gassien, Blue Jay’s Watchin has now won three of his first five career starts.

Oops All Berries and Denim N Pearls Win Filly Divisions

The two-year-old pacing fillies also ran Sunday strongly.

Ramona Gillespie’s Oops All Berries controlled the first filly division from start to finish, winning in 1:59 4/5.

The daughter of Captain Crunch posted fractions of 29 3/5, 1:00 2/5, and 1:30 2/5 while maintaining a narrow advantage through much of the race.

The Janet Davis trainee found another gear in the stretch, extending her lead to 3½ lengths at the finish.

J M B Ventures’ If I Win Uwin finished second, while Hagerman Racing’s All That Rusty took third.

In the second filly division, Jason Skinner’s Denim N Pearls delivered another powerful performance, winning by 9¾ lengths in 1:58.

The daughter of Perfect Sting passed early leader Nurse Nippy before the three-quarter pole and quickly opened an eight-length lead entering the stretch.

From there, she cruised home comfortably.

Denim N Pearls has finished among the top three in all eight of her career starts, displaying remarkable consistency for a young pacer.

Nineteen-year-old driver Ryder Skinner has been in the driver’s seat for every race.

Dark Sunkist, owned by Ellen Warren and Bob Krenitsky, finished second, while John Pyott’s Nurse Nippy held on for third.

Championship Racing Continues October 24

The Virginia Breeders Championship Series returns to Shenandoah Downs on Saturday, October 24, with the second round of prep races and eliminations.

The track will also host its annual Pink Power Day, bringing a special theme to the afternoon’s racing program.

The series concludes Saturday, October 31, with the $400,000 Day of Champions, featuring Virginia’s top young harness racing talent competing for championship honors.

Shenandoah Downs is located at the Shenandoah County Fairgrounds in Woodstock. Fall season racing continues on Saturdays and Sundays, with a 1:05 p.m. post time.

For additional information about the racing schedule, Pink Power Day, and championship events, visit shenandoahdowns.com.