TROMBETTA TRIPLES AS DETERMINED KINGDOM CAPTURES RECORD FOURTH PUNCH LINE
Posted on July 13th, 2026
The Estate of R. Larry Johnson’s Determined Kingdom won the $125,000 Punch Line Stakes for the fourth time on July 11, 2026 at Colonial Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)
Determined Kingdom (Photo by Coady Media)
NEW KENT, Va. (July 11, 2026) — Trainer Mike Trombetta won three of Saturday’s four $125,000 stakes at Colonial Downs, highlighted by the Estate of R. Larry Johnson’s Determined Kingdom becoming the first four-time winner of the Punch Line. Trombetta also saddled the Estate of R. Larry Johnson’s homebred Noquestionaboutit to defend her title in the Glenn Petty and Day At The Races’ Pont Aven to victory in the Star De Naskra, while Cathy Denelsbeck and Kelly Deiter’s Irish Jig captured the Miss Disco.
Determined Kingdom delivered another dominant performance in the Punch Line, setting the pace throughout before drawing clear to defeat Saxton by two lengths in 1:01.67 going 5½ furlongs over the outer turf course. War Humor, who applied early pressure, finished third.
Ridden by Mychel Sanchez, the 1-2 favorite returned $3, $2.10 and $2.10.
Bred in Virginia by Audley Farm, the 7-year-old improved to 12 wins from 35 starts and increased his career earnings to $966,680.
“We played the break but I knew I was on the best horse so I let him roll,” Sanchez said. “He came into the race training really well, so we were confident.”
Noquestionaboutit successfully defended her Glenn Petty title, stalking Quadra before taking command at the top of the stretch and drawing away to a ¾-length victory over Chickahominy. Carolina Sun finished third.
Jorge Ruiz guided the Mike Trombetta trainee to a winning time of 1:03.16 for 5½ furlongs over the inner turf course. Sent off as the 6-5 favorite, the Virginia-bred 4-year-old returned $4.60, $2.80 and $2.10.
“She broke really good and though my filly has speed, I gave her a stalking trip and it worked out,” Ruiz said. “She loves it here.”
Day At The Races’ Pont Aven rallied from near the back of the field to edge Close the Gate by a nose in the Star De Naskra. Sanchez guided the son of Blofeld around rivals on the far turn before taking the lead at the eighth pole and holding off Close the Gate’s determined late run. Magic Wallet finished third.
The Trombetta trainee covered seven furlongs in 1:21.86 and paid $16.80, $7 and $3.80.
“They broke fast like we thought they would and we set up near the back to make our move,” Sanchez said. “He’s a fighter. He dug in late. It was a really good finish.”
Trainer Kelly Deiter scored the first stakes race on Saturday’s card as Irish Jig slipped through along the rail to defeat Slewperstitus by a nose in the Miss Disco.
Owned by Cathy Denelsbeck and Deiter and ridden by Sonny Leon, Irish Jig saved ground throughout before finding room entering the stretch, surging past Just Philtored and holding off Slewperstitus’s late rally. Just Philtored finished third.
Earning her first stakes victory in just her fourth career start, Irish Jig completed seven furlongs in 1:21.99 and returned $12, $3.80 and $2.40.
“She broke sharp today,” Leon said. “She used to break slow. The added distance helped her a lot. This is a nice, classy filly.”
The live racing week continues Sunday and Monday at Colonial Downs with 12:30 p.m. ET first posts on both days.
