DEVAUX, DELACOUR AND THOMAS BRING STAKES FIREPOWER TO COLONIAL CLOSING DAY

Consistent performer Creed’s Vision starts next in the Sept. 7 running of the $150,000 Da Hoss Stakes at Colonial Downs, (Photo credit: Coady Media)

Lennox The Gray, shown winner at Colonial Downs on Aug. 1, steps up to face graded stakes competition in the Grade 3 $500,000 Old Dominion Derby on Sept. 7. (Photo credit: Coady Media)

Grade 2 Secretariat Stakes hero Supercharger looks for a second straight graded stakes score in the Grade 3 $500,000 Old Dominion Derby on Sept. 7 at Colonial Downs. (Photo credit: Coady Media)

Dr. Agne is one of two runners entered by Cherie DeVaux for the Grade 3 $500,000 Old Dominion Derby at Colonial Downs on Sept. 7 (Photo credit: Coady Media)

NEW KENT, Va. (Sept. 3, 2026) — Trainers Cherie DeVaux, Arnaud Delacour and Jonathan Thomas will be well represented on Colonial Downs’ stakes-packed Labor Day finale, with contenders entered in the Grade 3 $500,000 Old Dominion Derby, $150,000 Da Hoss and $125,000 Kitten’s Joy on an 11-race closing-day program featuring six turf stakes worth $1.3 million.

DeVaux will send out Grade 2 Secretariat Stakes winner Supercharger along with Dr. Agne in the Old Dominion Derby. Delacour counters with Lennox the Grey in the local derby and Creed’s Vision in the Da Hoss. Thomas will be represented by Popcorn in the Kitten’s Joy.

A full field of 14 3-year-olds was entered for the 23rd running of the Old Dominion Derby, carded as Race 9 at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

CRK Stable’s Supercharger comes off the biggest win of his career, a half-length score in the Grade 2 Secretariat Stakes. The Constitution colt has won three straight, beginning with a May 9 maiden victory at Churchill Downs and continuing with a June 18 allowance win there.

The 5-2 morning-line favorite drew post 14 and will be ridden by Axel Concepcion.

“The post is what it is,” DeVaux said. “Axel is a very good rider, so hopefully he can work out a trip and save some ground going into the first turn.”

Dr. Agne, listed at 6-1 from post 12, comes off a July 6 allowance victory at Colonial Downs, where he defeated fellow Derby entrant Lennox the Grey at one mile.

“He continues to develop,” DeVaux said. “He’ll need to improve again, but I think the added distance will help him. (Jockey) Jareth (Loveberry) already knows him and has already won aboard him.”

Delacour will send out 15-1 Lennox the Grey from post 4. Making his third start since returning from a layoff, Lennox the Grey finished second to Dr. Agne in his comeback before improving in his next start.

“He did too much early in his first race back and got tired,” Delacour said. “Last time we were able to get him covered up behind a fast pace and he ran very well. He’s been training very well at Colonial, and not having to ship is another plus. We’re happy with him and thought this was a good spot to take a shot.”

Delacour’s closing-day hand extends beyond the Old Dominion Derby. He also will send out Creed’s Vision, 8-1 on the morning line from post 3, in the $150,000 Da Hoss, a 5½-furlong turf sprint carded as Race 11, the final event of the season at the New Kent oval.

Creed’s Vision has never finished out of the money in six starts since joining Delacour’s barn.

“He’s been rock solid since we got him,” Delacour said. “I breezed him several times on the Tapeta at Fair Hill and thought there was a good chance he would handle the turf. Moving him to the grass gave him another dimension.”

Delacour also believes Creed’s Vision had more to give in a recent start against Petcoff.

“You could make a case that he might have won,” Delacour said. “He was stuck on the rail and never got the opening he needed.”

The Da Hoss drew 12 horses, led by 7-5 morning-line favorite Governor Sam from post 8, along with Determined Kingdom, Victory Achieved and Souper Quest.

Thomas, meanwhile, will look to add to a productive summer when he sends out 5-1 Popcorn from post 4 in the $125,000 Kitten’s Joy, carded as Race 7.

Thomas has won the St. Louis Derby with Sharons Beach and the West Virginia Derby with Zihnal this summer.

Popcorn earned his stakes opportunity with a sharp maiden victory in his career debut.

“He broke his maiden very nicely in his debut and has trained well since,” Thomas said. “We’ve always liked him, and we think a mile and a sixteenth will suit him. We’ve also looked at the With Anticipation, but we’re excited about this spot.”

The nine-horse field of juveniles entered for the Kitten’s Joy is headed on the morning line by 6-5 favorite Induction, who drew post 6 for trainer Graham Motion.

The Old Dominion Derby headlines Monday’s six-stakes program, which also includes the $250,000 Old Dominion Oaks, $150,000 Colonial Cup and $125,000 Exacta Systems Rosie’s Stakes. With 11 races carded, first post Monday is 12 p.m. ET.