JUST A TOUCH, DETERMINED KINGDOM CHASE MILLION-DOLLAR MILESTONES IN COLONIAL CUP, DA HOSS ON CLOSING DAY

Punch Line stakes hero Determined Kingdom can go over the $1 million in career earnings on Labor Day in the $150,000 Da Hoss Stakes. (Photo credit: Coady Media)

Just a Touch heads a field of nine in Monday’s closing day $150,000 Colonial Cup. (Photo caption: Coady Media)

NEW KENT, Va. (Sept. 1, 2026) — Just a Touch will look to move closer to the $1 million mark when he heads a field of nine older males in the $150,000 Colonial Cup at 1½ miles on turf, while Virginia-bred fan favorite Determined Kingdom will have an opportunity to surpass $1 million in career earnings against 11 older rivals in the $150,000 Da Hoss Stakes, a 5½-furlong turf sprint that serves as the final race of Colonial Downs’ 2026 meet.

The fully subscribed Old Dominion Derby headlines Monday’s Labor Day card, which features six turf stakes worth a combined $1.3 million in purses, including the 1 1/8-mile $250,000 Old Dominion Oaks, which drew 11 3-year-old fillies. The supporting lineup also includes a pair of juvenile stakes: the $125,000 Kitten’s Joy at 1 1/16 miles and the $125,000 Exacta Systems Rosie’s Stakes at 5½ furlongs.

Just a Touch, trained by Brad Cox, enters the Colonial Cup with $903,408 in career earnings. The son of Justify was second in both the Grade 3 Gotham and Grade 1 Blue Grass as a 3-year-old before competing in the Kentucky Derby. He has found new life on turf this season, winning a Keeneland allowance before capturing the $200,000 Cape Henlopen Stakes at Delaware Park by 3½ lengths at the same 1½-mile distance as the Colonial Cup. He most recently ran in the Grade 2 United Nations at Monmouth Park.

Graham Motion will send out a pair of stakes-tested challengers in Soleil Volant and Hardspun Reason. Soleil Volant finished second behind Just a Touch in the Cape Henlopen before competing in the Grade 2 Bowling Green at Saratoga, while Hardspun Reason brings multiple stakes placings into the race. Write Off Jerry, trained by Jamie Ness, adds proven stamina after winning consecutive turf races at Churchill Downs this spring, including a 1 3/8-mile allowance.

The closing-day finale could provide a milestone moment for Determined Kingdom, three-time defending leading trainer Michael Trombetta and the Estate of R. Larry Johnson. The 7-year-old enters the Da Hoss less than $4,000 shy of $1 million in career earnings and has built much of his resume over the Colonial turf. A 12-time winner, Determined Kingdom has captured the Punch Line Stakes multiple times as well as the Meadow Stable Handicap. He added another Punch Line victory July 11 before finishing second in the Meadow Stable on Aug. 15. Trombetta enters the final five days of the meet with a three-win lead over Brittany Russell as he pursues a fourth consecutive Colonial Downs training title, while the Estate of R. Larry Johnson is tied with two other owners at six wins, giving Determined Kingdom a chance to strengthen both title bids.

A major obstacle to Determined Kingdom reaching the milestone is Governor Sam, a multiple stakes-winning turf sprinter trained by George Weaver. Governor Sam won four consecutive races as a 2-year-old, including the Tyro and Indian Summer, before finishing third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. He returned to the winner’s circle this season in the Get Serious Stakes at Monmouth Park and most recently finished third in the local $150,000 Van Clief Stakes.

Trainer Mark Casse will be represented by Victory Achieved and Souper Quest. Victory Achieved enters off a runner-up finish in the Van Clief, while Souper Quest captured the Wolf Hill Stakes at Monmouth Park after finishing second to Governor Sam in the Get Serious.

Comprising the final Daily Double of the 2026 meet, the Colonial Cup is Race 10, followed by the Da Hoss as Race 11. First post Monday is 12 p.m. ET.