LENNOX THE GREY STEALS OLD DOMINION DERBY IN PHOTO FINISH

NEW KENT, Va. (Sept. 7, 2026) — Willow Pond Stable’s Lennox the Grey stole the Grade 3 $500,000 Old Dominion Derby on the front end, then found more when The Big Con surged past him along the rail, fighting back to prevail by a nose in a dramatic photo finish Monday at Colonial Downs.

Making his third start of both the Colonial meet and his 3-year-old campaign, Lennox the Grey completed 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:49.77 for trainer Arnaud Delacour and jockey Mychel Sanchez.

Lennox the Grey broke sharply and was allowed to dictate terms through fractions of :24.57 and :50.80, with Chambersville stalking just to his outside. The Big Con crossed over to the rail and settled in mid-pack before beginning to advance inside, splitting rivals around the far turn.

Sanchez brought Lennox the Grey off the rail midway down the stretch to meet the challenge of Chambersville, with the two brushing as they straightened for home. That opened a path inside for The Big Con, who surged through along the rail and briefly headed Lennox the Grey. Once Lennox the Grey saw his new challenger, he responded, battling back through the final yards to get his nose down first.

The Big Con was second, with Chambersville third. Grade 2 Secretariat Stakes winner and post-time favorite Supercharger rallied to finish fourth.

“Arnaud and I talked about the race a little bit, and after a couple of the speed horses scratched, we didn’t want to change the horse too much,” Sanchez said. “If somebody wanted to go, they could go. He broke so fast and so sharp that I just let him take me to the lead. He fought hard all the way to the wire. When the horse on the inside looked like he was going to go by me for a bit, my horse fought back. We’re very proud of him.”

The victory rewarded Delacour’s patient approach with Lennox the Grey, who was making his third start since returning from a layoff. The colt finished second behind fellow Old Dominion Derby entrant Dr. Agne in his seasonal debut at Colonial after doing too much early, according to Delacour, before improving when allowed to settle behind a faster pace in his next start.

Lennox the Grey returned $11.40, $5.60 and $4.80. The Big Con paid $4.80 and $3.40, while Chambersville returned $4.60 to show.

Lennox the Grey improved his career record to 5-3-1-0 with earnings of $391,398.

Additional Quotes

Jorge Ruiz, jockey of place-finisher The Big Con:
“He got into a great spot. We were worried he might be a little too strong early, but today he relaxed so nicely for me. At the quarter pole I was loaded and thought he was going to win, but the other horse was just too tough at the wire.”

Emmanuel Esquivel, jockey of third-place finisher Chambersville:
“I knew if I got the trip I wanted, we could win the race. I knew Mychel was going to go to the lead on Lennox the Grey, and I set up right next to him. We got the trip we wanted, but Lennox the Grey ran a great race, too.”

Axel Concepcion, jockey of post-time favorite Supercharger:
“He broke really well and I was able to save some ground, but they went so slow in front of me. They didn’t come back to me, but he gave me everything he had down the lane.”