Stidham Sends Out Virginia Oaks Filly, Favorite in Da Hoss on Virginia Derby Day at Colonial Downs

With six turf stakes totaling $1.3 million in purses scheduled for Saturday’s New Kent County Virginia Derby Day program at Colonial Downs, conditioner Mike Stidham has strong contenders in both the $250,000 Woodford Reserve Virginia Oaks and $150,000 Korbel Da Hoss Stakes. Averaging 10.4 runners across 12 races, first post for the closing day card is 1:00 p.m. ET.

One of 13 fillies in the field, MKW Racing and Breeding’s Distorted d’Oro, a $325,000 Medaglia d’Oro filly out of Virginia Key, will be making her fourth start in the Virginia Oaks. A perfect two-for-two on the grass, the Stidham trainee ran third last out in in an “off the turf” Searching at Laurel Park, her first stakes test.

“Both of her first two turf races were good,” Stidham said. “She’s a game, tough little filly that goes out there and really tries hard no matter what. Even in the dirt race, when it came off, we kept her in because we figured if we can get the black type (we) might as well take it. We did get the black type. Even in that race she dug in and only got a beat a nose for second. She’s game. She’s going to go out there and lay her body down for us. We feel like she is only getting better as she goes. It just depends on if she can take a step forward, which she is going to need to take to be competitive with these.”

Exline-Border Racing, Peter Eurton, Richard Hausman and Stonestreet Stables’ Dream Shake, last out winner of the Van Clief, leads a field of 14 horses entered in Saturday’s $150,000 Korbel Da Hoss Stakes. Trained by Mike Stidham, the 6-year-old’s won the seven-furlong Connaught Cup (G2).

“We were coming off the layoff and we felt he fit in the Van Clief well based off his races at Woodbine last year,” Stidham said. “He had really been training well and he went out there and showed himself off.”

Prior to his winning rally at 8-1 in the Van Clief, the 6-year-old had never been tested at the 5½-furlong Da Hoss distance. Dream Shake was tabbed as the 7-2 morning line favorite.

“Out of that race we felt like there was no reason not to come right back in the Da Hoss,” Stidham said. “On the same track he seemed to handle well and back at the distance he was trying for the first time (in the Van Clief) and handled so well.”

Ben Curtis gets the call for both stakes mounts, as well as on Pink Oak Stud’s Marshall, Stidham’s entry in Race 4. The 2-year-old colt by the Galileo mare Durga Devi is a first-time starter who will be tested going 1-1/16 miles on the turf.

“He is a big, well-bred horse,” Stidham said. “Obviously the Justifys have really been running well on the grass. We’re excited about getting him started.”

Going into the final two days of racing, Stidham, Curtis, and Godolphin, for whom Stidham has won five races this meet, are currently at the top of their respective standings, though Stidham is tied at 13 wins with Mike Trombetta and Godolphin is tied at 6 with Larry Johnson.

“It’s something that’s only kind of for bragging rights,” Stidham said. “Win, lose or draw we’ve had a great meet and that’s what we came here to do. If we can win the title that would just be the cherry on top. Hopefully it can be the trifecta. It’s fun.”

Virginia Derby Day Wagering Menu

Colonial Downs’ Virginia Derby Day wagering menu includes an All Stakes Pick 4, Pick 5, and Pick 6, each ending with the Grade 3 $500,000 Virginia Derby. In total, there will be three 50-cent Pick 5’s (12% takeout), beginning with Race 1, Race 6 (All Stakes), and with Race 8. Across the 12-race program, there will be three 50-cent Pick 4’s – the first begins on Race 2, one covering the last four races, and the All Stakes Pick 4 kicks off with race 7 (the $125,000 Kitten’s Joy). The $1 Old Dominion Pick 6 (15% takeout) begins in Race 5 with the $150,000 Colonial Cup. Saturday is closing day and there will be Mandatory Payouts in all wagers.