Long, Woogen star at Shenandoah

Shenandoah, W.V….October 22, 2023…The limelight belonged to 19-year-old Wyatt Long and Dr. Scott Woogen at Shenandoah Downs on Saturday, October 21, as the U.S. Harness Driver’s Club had a trio of races on their excellent 13 race harness racing program.

Wyatt Long, who won a week ago with Rollatown in a “NW $1,501” conditioned event last week, stepped up in class himself and guided Righthererightnow (Rockin Image) to a win in the “NW4,001” pace on Saturday, giving the five-year-old gelding very smart handling and rocketing home fastest of all to score in 1:56.1.

Long was patient in the early stages as a battle ensured through quick panels of :27.2 and :56.1 over a track labeled “good” and was still biding his time next to last with the eventual winner past the third station in 1:26.

After finding some room to roam, Long sent Righthererightnow kicking home fastest of all to score by 1 1/2 lengths over I’ve Got Hootspa, handled by John McNeil III.

Cole On The Beach was third for Kubi Erzene, another half-length away, while Carlas Mach A was next for Yogi Sheridan. KJ Erich picked up the nickel with Scott Woogen handling the lines.

The winner earned his third success of the year in 27 starts to send his 2023 bounty over the $25,000 mark by $25. He’s banked $93,665 career wise with 18 wins.

Trained by Eric Davis for Joseph Pisarski, Righthererightnow was fourth choice on the tote-board and paid $18.60 to win.

Wyatt Long, by the way, now has 20 lifetime wins—19th this year, pushing his “batting average” up close to .300.

Scott Woogen had yet another driving double—his fourth in five weeks in USHDC events—and scored with Moneyorroses (Cougar Hall) and the veteran pacer Freak On A Leash (World Of Rocknroll).

Moneyorroses  scored in 1:57 as the three-to-five ($3.20) choice in the betting, cutting the mustard with this five-year-old gelding to score over Team Captain, handled by Wyatt Long, with Infinite Warrior, teaming up with Justin Griffith, third. Machet Time, with Kubi Erzene in the sulky was fourth while Art’s Beach was next for Yogi Sheridan.

Monerorroses is owned and trained by Eric Davis with this third success of the season  pushing his seasonal earnings to $23,690 and $106,874 lifetime.

Woogen then came back to the winner’s circle with Freak On A Leash after a 1:56.1 mile—his margin a length over Allieverdreamof, driven by Yogi Sheridan with Need Arocket next for John McNeil III. Art Nukem, handled by Stacey McLengahan was fourth with Texas Terror N picking up the nickel for Kubi Erzene.

Freak On A Leash earned his fourth success of the year in 30 starts—37th lifetime—to send his 2023 earnings to $17,207 and $156,010 lifetime on the strength of 37 wins in 161 career starts.

He’s trained and owned by Lawrence Cooper and paid $9.00 as second choice in the betting.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by John Berry, for the USHDC