Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Always A Virgin wins Messenger

October 29, 2007

Always A Virgin and driver Brian Sears took the lead from the rail and never looked back, winning the $725,480 Messenger Stakes for 3-year-old pacers by 6-1/2 lengths in 1:52 at Yonkers Raceway Saturday night. The time equaled the stakes record on a half-mile track.

The Messenger is the third jewel in pacing's Triple Crown. Always A Virgin won the first leg, the Cane Pace, and was third in the second leg, the Little Brown Jug.

“He left super,” Sears said. “Kenneth J was on my back and I didn’t want to go any big fractions; that’s a really nice horse to be sitting on your back. I was a little concerned about him, but we got some soft fractions and it worked out. When (Always A Virgin) heard them chasing their horses around the last turn, he just got braver and braver on the front. “It was awesome. It’s a little chilly night, a little windy, and I thought that was a big effort.”

Always A Virgin has won 12 of 18 races this year and increased his season’s earnings to more than $1 million with his Messenger victory. He is owned by Bluewood Stable, Roll The Dice Stable, and Val D’Or Farms.

“I thought his performance was great,” trainer Joe Holloway said. “We did what we had to do. Brian let him stretch out. He didn’t just win it, he kind of dominated, and that’s what we were looking for. I’m thrilled with him and the Breeders Crown (in November) is next.”

Captiva Island, driven by Tony Morgan, won the $312,620 Lady Maud for 3-year-old filly pacers by three-quarter lengths over Elusive Prey in 1:54.3 at Yonkers on Saturday. Current Hanover was third. Captiva Island, sent off at odds of 31-1, chased down leader Isabella Blue Chip in the stretch to pick up her ninth win in 22 races this year. She is owned by Lloyd Arnold and trained by Tim Crissman.