BARBADIAN RUNNER, VIBE HEADLINE INAUGURAL YORKTOWN IN COLONIAL DOWNS STAKES DOUBLEHEADER
Posted on July 20th, 2026
Going Steady, shown in June 29 win at Churchill Downs, and Outrageously, shown in a June 28 score at Churchill, headline the $100,000 Love Sign on July 25 at Colonial Downs. Photos: Coady Media
NEW KENT, Va. (July 19, 2026) — Stakes-proven Barbadian Runner and Grade 1-tested Vibe lead an accomplished field in the $100,000 Yorktown Stakes. Colonial Downs will present a pair of stakes races on its nine-race program on Saturday, July 25, highlighted by the inaugural Yorktown and the second running of the $100,000 Love Sign.
The Yorktown, carded as Race 7, drew seven older males to compete at 1 1/8 miles on the main track. The six-furlong Love Sign, for older fillies and mares, attracted eight entrants and will follow as Race 8. First post is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. ET.
With seven stakes titles on his resume, AJ Will Win Stables’ Barbadian Runner enters for trainer Henry Walters after winning five of his past seven starts. Most recently, the 4-year-old scored a nose victory in the Deputed Testamony Stakes at Laurel Park over Yorktown rival Audra. He also won the Maryland Million Classic and Richard W. Small Stakes last fall before finishing second to Grade 2 winner Post Time in the Robert T. Manfuso Stakes. Regular rider Forest Boyce will pilot Barbadian Runner from post 3.
The 4-year-old Vibe enters for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher after facing Grade 1 company in the Metropolitan Handicap at Saratoga. Before that race, he won three consecutive one-mile races, capped by an allowance victory on the Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill Downs. Jorge Ruiz will ride from post 1 for Repole Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds, CJ Stables, Woodford Racing, Lane’s End and Patrick McGee.
Adding to the Yorktown’s depth, Adero enters off a nose loss to Barbadian Runner after an 11¼-length allowance victory at Parx, while multiple stakes-placed Inveigled won his most recent start by 6¼ lengths. Aristotle defeated Stowaway in a June 26 Churchill Downs allowance at the Yorktown distance, and stakes-placed Xcellent Start rounds out the accomplished seven-horse field.
The $100,000 Love Sign Stakes attracted a field of eight fillies and mares for a six-furlong dirt showdown.
The field features several runners entering in strong form, including Going Steady and Outrageously, who finished a neck apart in a Churchill Downs allowance on May 29. Outrageously prevailed that day before returning on June 28 to capture a 6½ -furlong allowance by 2½ lengths. Going Steady followed that race with a rallying victory over seven furlongs at Churchill Downs on June 20.
Going Steady, trained by Robert Medina for Newtown Anner Stud Farm, drew post 2 and will be ridden by Jorge Ruiz. Outrageously, trained by Jordan Blair for Craig Peerenboom, drew post 8 and will be ridden by Jareth Loveberry.
Conquerthosewecan returns to Colonial Downs after winning the Stellar Wind Handicap over the track in March. The Brittany Russell trainee added a two-length allowance victory at Penn National in May. Sheldon Russell will ride from post 4 for Sycamore Hall Thoroughbreds.
Russell also will saddle Bella Italia, who has won three of her past four starts. The lightly raced filly enters off a seven-length allowance victory at Charles Town and will leave from post 6 under Mychel Sanchez for Machmer Hall Thoroughbreds and Schiano Racing Inc.
Colonial Downs has added a Wednesday, July 22, program to make up for last Friday’s cancellation, creating a five-day racing week from Wednesday through Sunday, with first post at 12:30 p.m. ET each day.
