Four USHDC divisions at Shenandoah Downs

Shenandoah, West Virgini – October 29, 2023 – Riddle…How can there be 15 winners on a 14-race program without a “dead-heat?”

Shenandoah Downs Director of Racing Dee Lineweaver made it happen on Saturday, October 28 with the other “winner” being the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame with the track and U.S. Harness Driver’s Club teaming up making a contribution to our sports iconic museum located in Goshen, New York.

As for the racing, the USHDC was featured in four races at Shenandoah Downs on Saturday and stardom was shared between a quartet of amateur driver as Scott Woogen, Mark Sheridan, Stacey McLenaghan and John McNeil III all reached the winner’s circle.

Doc Woogen kicked off the festivities by guiding the favored Moneyorroses (Cougar Hall) to victory in a sharp 1:54.4, holding off the fastest closing Need Arocket, piloted by John McNeil III by three-parts-of-a-length. Art’s Beach, with Mark Sheridan in the sulky, was third while a “bottled-up” Art Nukem finished fourth for Stacey McLenaghan, Infinite Warrior picked up the nickel just another nose back in fifth for Sierra Seidner.

Woogen sent the 4 to 5 tote board choice winging from the get-go but it took a full opening quarter in :28.1 to take the lead. From there, a :27.4 second panel brought the reader half way home in a sizzling :56 with a :29.1 third panel enabling the leader to stretch out to a 3 1/2 length advantage. That lead began to melt a bit as Need Arocket was reaching his bets stride but he ran out of racetrack enabling Moneyorroses to reach the winner’s circle for Owner-trainer Eric Davis.

The win was the fourth in 37 starts for Moneyorroses—all within the last month at Shenandoah Downs—with the winning time a seasonal best for the five-year-old gelding, sending his 2023 earnings to $26,690 and $109,874 lifetime.

The winner paid $3.80 to his multitude of faithful.

Mark Sheridan reached the winner’s next after an all-out brawl during much of the mile as six-year-old mare Dandy Idea (Mach Three) had to slug it out every stride to score a tight photo finish win over Hulou, driven by Stacey McLenaghan with the final time 1:54.4

Cole On The Beach was third for Kubi Erzene while Adele’s Big Party finished fourth for Wyatt Long. Brydown Chase earned the final award got Sierra Seidner.

This was a classic duel that developed shortly after the wings opened as Dandy Idea and Hulou were one-two leaving the gate and were that way through an opening panel in :28.1 Shortly thereafter, Hulou was out looking for the top spot with these two slugging it out trading noses and necks on the lead through a half in :58 with the duel continuing through hot :27.3 third quarter. On the lane, neither would concede an inch but the photo finish showed Dandy Idea winning by a head.

Trained by Bryson Dunning for Mykashemydiamondmyariel, Dandy Idea pushed his scorecard to 5-5-4 in 31 starts, good for $36,084 this semester and $110,249 lifetime with he, too, taking a seasonal best record with this win.

Off at 16 to 1, Dandy Idea rewarded his fandom with a $34.40 mutuel.

Stacey McLenaghan was next to visit the charred circle after giving picture perfect, patient handling to Jackie’s Express (Roll With Joe) to score a half-length in 1:55.3 over the pacesetting Antaeus, driven by Robert McNeight. I’ve Got Hootspa, threatening on the outside much of the way, finished third for John McNeil iii while Lenda Hand Man was next for Doc Woogen. Righthererightnow  was able to manage the final award for Wyatt Long.

Away alertly from the inside post, Jackie’s Express fought off Antaeus through that :28.3 opening marker before finally yielding to let I’ve Got Hootspa put the pressure on the leader through subsequent panels of :57.2 and 1:26.2. When the leader finally put that threat to rest, it opened the door for Jackie’s Express, who found room to roam and get up in the final few strides.

Owned and trained by Colby Hubble, Jackie’s Express won for the fourth tie third time in 33 starts with earnings for the year vaulting to $37,747 and $151,455 lifetime.

The winner paid $5.60 as second choice in the betting.

Finally, Mister Miami (So Surreal), driven by John McNeill III, scored a popular victory in the USHDC finale, fighting off continual pressure the final 5/8ths of the mile before rolling on to a 2 1/4 length win, sealing the issue with a :28.1 finale in 1:56.

Team Captain, with Wyatt Long handling the lines, was next in a brave performance, while Hey Siri was third for Stacey McLenaghan. Allieverdreamedof was fourth for Mark Sheridan while Pacific Stride was fifth for Sierra Seidner.

The winner, alert from when the wings folded, took charge immediately and took the field to the quarter in :28.2. Looking for a breather, company arrived in the form of Team Captain at the half in :58.3 with the pace accelerating past the third station in 1:27.4 with Mister Miami and Team Captain looking each other in the eye. Turning for home, Mister Miami edged clear, justifying his 1 to 5 tote-board number.

Trained by McNeill III for Joseph Harrington, Mr. Miami paid $2.60 to win in winning his second race of the year in 14 starts.

Among the amateur drivers Scott Woogen is the USHDC leader at Shenandoah with 13 wins.

The UDHDC has been active with the track in making donations to many charitable organizations with their Club total well in excess of $300,000.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting Results

by John Berry, for the USHDC