McLenaghan, Altig take USHDC events

Woodstock, VA…October 12, 2024…Shenandoah Downs hosted a pair of United States Drivers Club (USHDC) events on Saturday with Stacey McLenaghan and Kevin Altig each reaching the harness racing winner’s circle.

McLenaghan gave Etbaur (Captaintreacherous) picture perfect rating in scoring a handy 1:57.3 win, taking charge shortly off the wings and gliding through rated panels of :28.1 and :58.3 before leaving no doubt about the outcome thereafter with a :59 final half to score by three lengths over Tipperary Hill, handled by Dr. Scott Woogen.

There was a dead-heat for third between Pacific Stride, driven by Dylan Fagan, and Street Beats, with Adrian Wisher, Jr. in the sulky.

Hey Siri picked up the nickel in the field of eight for

Said McLenaghan after the race, “Once I got to the front, I was able to tap the breaks a bit in the second quarter and my horse just accelerated on his own and kept a steady, sharp pace to the wire.

“He’s got some good blood, you know, (Captaintreacherous our of a Western Hanover mare), so this mile really didn’t surprise me…and he’s mine and that makes it a very special occasion.”

The win was the fourth in 30 starts for the five-year-old gelding and pushed his 2024 earnings to $24,159. This win—his 14th lifetime—vaulted his career bankroll over the $100,000 plateau, now at $102,629.

For owner-trainer-driver McLenaghan, it was her 14th win this semester boosting her UDRS to .335.

The winner paid $3.60 as the 4 to 5 favorite.

Kevin Altig upset the applecart with his charge, Classic (Sweet Lou), in the other USHDC event, smartly avoiding a war up front—:26.4 and :55.2 before circling up into contention during the third quarter and rolling on to a five length win in 1:56.2.

Cheyenne Ryan Lee, handled by Dylan Fagan was second while the early sizzler, Singforyoursupper, driven by Brain Tomlinson, held on for third.

Stellar BB was fourth for Adrian Wisher, Jr. while Seize Control, overcoming the outside eight post, rallied for fifth for Michael Dailey.

Classic, an eight-year-old gelded son of Sweet Lou, won for the second time this year and 24th time career-wise, lifting his lifetime bankroll to $144,268.

The winner, trained by Billy Carter for owner Mason Shaw, paid $66.80 to his faithful as driver Kevin Altig earned his fifth win of the year.

The USHDC membership donates 100% of all driver earnings in these amateur events with a funds earmarked for charitable distribution—which has amounted to over $325,000 since the Club’s inception.

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

by John Berry, for the USHDC