CLN SEASON TITLES COME DOWN TO WIRE

(Amy Petty Photo)

(Edited from CLN) Colonial Downs ushered out its fifteenth annual Thoroughbred race meet Sunday afternoon with a twelve race card  that saw the battle for top trainer go down to the wire and race for leading owner end up in a deadlock.

Heading into the day, Ferris Allen stood atop the trainer standings with 23 wins, while Mike Pino and Dane Kobiskie were two back with 21 each. PTK, LLC, whose ownership group is led by VTA member Paula Haughey of Charlottesville,  had a three-win margin over owner David Ross, 21-18.

The first two races Sunday proved a sign of things to come.

Leading rider Sheldon Russell directed Southern Sebring and King’s Coronation to victory in both ends of the early double for the Pino-Ross trainer-owner combo. Both horses were heavily favored and came on strong in the stretch to win by 1¼ lengths and six lengths respectively.

Jockey Eric Camacho, who had a pair of wins on closing day, guided the Pino-Ross mare Fancy Footsteps to the winners circle in the eighth after a thrilling stretch drive with Ten Missions and Opening Movement. Sent off as the second choice in an eleven horse turf sprint, Fancy Footsteps sat fourth thru the first half before going outside in the turn to gain striking position.

SHELDON RUSSELL, TYLER PICKLESIMER and SARA ROOK (Coady)

That win clinched the trainer’s title for Pino, his first ever at Colonial Downs, and gave Ross a come-from-behind share of the leading owner title. None of the other trainer or owner challengers, Allen, Kobiskie or PTK, LLC got a win in the finale. Ham Smith, leading trainer in 2010 and 2009, ended up fourth with 12 wins.

Twenty-three-year-old Sheldon Russell earned his first riding title at Colonial Downs, finishing with 40 wins. After capturing titles at the Laurel winter and Pimlico spring meets, he completed a hat trick by leading gate-to-wire at the New Kent summer stand. Malcolm Franklin, strong over the last several weeks, finished second with 28 while apprentice Sarah Rook took third with 25.  

Rook was awarded with top apprentice honors. She was strong from the outset and ended up winning the last race of the meet atop Yesterday, who thundered past five horses in the stretch to triumph. “I had only been racing for a month before coming to Colonial,” said Rook, “So the meet here has really exceeded my expectations. I had hopes of course, but am thrilled to get this recognition and to finish third in the standings.”