JUST A TOUCH SHOWS HEART IN COLONIAL CUP; SPIRITED SOL SPRINGS DA HOSS UPSET

Spirited Sol posted a 25-1 upset victory in the $150,000 Da Hoss Stakes on Sept. 7 at Colonial Downs. (credit: Coady Media)

Just a Touch held on by a head to win the $150,000 Colonial Cup on Sept. 7 at Colonial Downs. (credit: Coady Media)

NEW KENT, Va. (Sept. 7, 2026) — Just a Touch showed his class and determination to hold on by a head in the $150,000 Colonial Cup, while 25-1 longshot Spirited Sol came from last with a furious late run to upset the $150,000 Da Hoss as older horses took center stage in the final two stakes of Colonial Downs’ six-stakes Old Dominion Derby Day program on Labor Day.

The two victories came in contrasting fashion. Just a Touch, the 3-5 favorite, was forced to dig in through the final yards of the 1½-mile Colonial Cup to deny Carcano, while Spirited Sol saved his best for last, splitting rivals in the stretch to spring the upset in the 5½-furlong Da Hoss and close out the 2026 Colonial Downs meet.

Qatar Racing LLC and Marc Detampel’s Just a Touch settled in third behind a pair of longshot leaders before advancing sharply around the final turn under Florent Geroux. The son of Justify darted to the front with Carcano following his move, setting up a battle between the pair through the stretch. Carcano continued to press Just a Touch through the final yards, but the 3-5 favorite dug in to fend off his challenger by a head.

“He gets over the turf very nicely,” Geroux said. “He’s always been a very impressive horse in the morning, and we knew he had this kind of ability in him. He showed it in some very big races, especially when he ran second in the Blue Grass. We thought we had something special then. At the end of the day, he’s matured very nicely, and it looks like he’s found a new home on the turf.”

Trained by Brad Cox, Just a Touch completed 1½ miles on turf in 2:26.66 and returned $3.40, $3.40 and $2.60. The victory gave Cox and Geroux their second win together on the Labor Day card.

Just a Touch entered the Colonial Cup having already proven himself at the distance with a 3½-length victory in the $200,000 Cape Henlopen Stakes at Delaware Park earlier this season. After beginning his career on dirt, where he finished second in both the Grade 3 Gotham and Grade 1 Blue Grass and competed in the Kentucky Derby, Just a Touch has found new life since switching to turf this year.

The Colonial Cup win improved his career record to 15-6-5-1 and boosted his earnings to $993,408, leaving him just shy of the $1 million mark.

Spirited Sol came from the back of the pack and finished with a fury to spring a 25-1 upset in the $150,000 Da Hoss, the final race of Colonial Downs’ 2026 meet.

Trained by Kimberly DePasquale and ridden by Martina Rojas, Spirited Sol was taken back to last after breaking too sharply in his previous start. Settling much better this time, he saved ground along the inside while Souper Quest set opening fractions of :22.53 and :44.73 with Governor Sam stalking from the outside. Spirited Sol remained near the rear as the field turned for home before finding room between rivals in the stretch. Once clear, he accelerated sharply and surged through late to score the upset.

Souper Quest held second after setting the pace, while Creed’s Vision rallied up the rail for third.

“He ran huge, but the spot really opened up for us today,” Rojas said. “We took him right back to last this time. Last time we broke a little too sharp, but today he relaxed really nicely for me. I saved ground inside, waited for the hole to open, and when it did, he was full of run through the stretch.”

Spirited Sol completed 5½ furlongs on turf in 1:01.67 and returned $53.20, $15.40 and $8.00.

His upset in the Da Hoss put the finishing touch on Colonial Downs’ Old Dominion Derby Day program and brought the 2026 meet to a close.