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Twelve races, with a total 73 horses entered, fill Saturday's card including a pair of non-betting events at 11:45 AM and 12 Noon, followed by ten wagering races that start at 12:30 PM. A trio of last year's Virginia-bred divisional champs, who won as 2 year olds, are back to defend their titles as 3 year olds. Herman Hagerman's Blueridge Pushy headlines the filly pace while Brian Burton's Riggy is favored in the colt/gelding pace, and Charlie Dunavant's Kiss My Cart draws most attention in the filly trot.
The top three finishers from 2014's freshmen filly pace all return to renew their rivalry in the competitive kickoff race. Blueridge Pushy, who scored a 1:55 4/5 win at Northfield in August, is early favorite while Freddy Darby's Loves You Baby is the second choice. Trainer Scott Warnick's Here Comes Lucy, third last year, is the third selection. Loves You Baby, who has started just once in 2015, lost her 2 year old prep by just a neck and the championship by a length. Here Comes Lucy on the other hand, has had an active 3 year old campaign, earning $21,927 from 10 starts.
Riggy had been aggressively tabbed as 4-5 early pick in the colt/gelding pace while Chuck Perry's Majestos is not far behind at 3-2. Riggy is coming in fresh off back-to-back 2nd place finishes at Rosecroft in 1:55 1/5 and 1:55 2/5 while Majestos has been racing consistently during the summer and early fall at the Ocean Downs and Harrington half mile ovals.
Both of Saturday's trotting preps feature three horse fields and will be non-betting events. Kiss My Cat, who won the filly title last year by 5 3/4 lengths over Elma Lou in 2:04 4/5, squares off against the runner-up again while trainer Mark Gray has a pair in the Virginia-bred male counterpart with I Am Delightful and Flaming Caviar.
There are 10 races scheduled on Sunday — one non-bettor and nine on the wagering card, which begins at 1:00 PM. The Virginia-bred 2 year old filly pace, with a field of seven, should be intriguing since five of the entrants will be making their first lifetime start.
The colt/gelding trot features six horses including Neil Damron's Sweeten Me Up and Renfrow Hauser's Speedy Taxi. The former brings a hefty bankroll of $61,110 into Oak Ridge while the latter had a respectable second at the Red Mile September 13th in 1:59 1/5.
The remaining preps each sport a three horse field. The filly trot, scheduled as the early non-bettor, has a pair of Dunavant trainees — Cicada's Song and Devlin — while the colt pace features a Perry trainee — John's Dream, who has earned a pair of runner-ups in three lifetime starts.
Gates open at 11 AM both days and admission is $5 (kids 12 & under are free). Oak Ridge is located off Route 29 in Arrington, halfway between Charlottesville and Lynchburg. The family friendly weekend will feature children's activities between and after the races.
