Lonesome Road, Carmelina Headline Virginia-Restricted Handicaps Friday at Colonial Downs
Posted on March 9th, 2026
NEW KENT, VA. (March 7, 2026) — Two $150,000 Virginia-restricted handicaps highlight Friday’s card at Colonial Downs during Virginia Derby week, led by rising star Lonesome Road — a half-brother to G1 winner Mindframe — in the Boston Handicap and multiple stakes winner Carmelina in its sister race, the Stellar Wind Handicap.
The Virginia Derby week meet runs March 12-14 at Colonial Downs and culminates with Saturday’s stakes program headlined by the $500,000 New Kent County Virginia Derby and the $250,000 New Kent County Virginia Oaks.
The $150,000 Boston Handicap, is contested at seven furlongs for horses 4 years old and up registered as Virginia-bred, -sired or -certified. Larry Johnson’s homebred Lonesome Road headlines the field of seven males. The 4-year-old emerged as a rising star after switching from turf to dirt late in 2025, winning his Dec. 26 debut on the surface at Laurel Park by 8 1/2 lengths. He followed with another dominant performance Jan. 23 at Laurel, controlling the pace in a one-mile allowance before widening to win by 6 1/4 lengths as the 3-5 favorite. The effort earned a 98 Beyer Speed Figure. Lonesome Road breaks from post 4 under Mychel Sanchez.
The $150,000 Stellar Wind Handicap is contested at six furlongs for fillies and mares 4 years old and up registered as Virginia-bred, -sired or -certified.
Leading the field of eight fillies and mares, Carmelina is a consistent Mid-Atlantic stakes performer trained by Robert “Butch” Reid Jr. and owned by Cash Is King and LC Racing. The Pennsylvania-bred mare has earned more than $500,000 through early 2026 while compiling a resume that includes multiple stakes victories. Among her highlights are wins in the Unique Bella Stakes at Parx Racing in 2025 and the local Penny Chenery Stakes in 2024. Earlier, Carmelina captured the Keswick Stakes. Angel Adorno has the mount on Carmelina, who will leave from post 6.
Scheduled as Race 6, the Stellar Wind Handicap opens Friday’s feature action, followed by the Boston Handicap. First post for the eight-race program is 12:30 p.m. ET.
The complete field for the Boston Handicap from the rail out with jockey and trainer:
- Great Heavens (Johan Torrealba, Jose Magana)
- Falcon Blue (Jose Montano, Kevin Joy)
- Chipotle (Raul Mena, Michael Gorham)
- Lonesome Road (Mychel Sanchez, Mike Trombetta)
- Bold Diversion (Isaias Villalobos, John Shankle)
- Private Desire (Jaime Torres, Tom Morley)
- Illuminare (Rajiv Maragh, Todd Pletcher)
The complete field for the Stellar Wind Handicap from the rail out with jockey and trainer:
- Kissedbyanangel (J.G. Torrealba, Joanne Shankle)
- Shkhara Fire (Jevian Toledo, Brittany Russell)
- Sporting Lady (Martin Chuan, Keri Brion)
- Mila Candy (Silvestre Gonzalez, Ilkay Kantarmaci)
- Conquerthosewecan (Sheldon Russell, Brittany Russell)
- Carmelina (Angel Adorno, Butch Reid Jr.)
- Roman Grace (Rajiv Maragh, Amelia Green)
- Talk to the Judge (Forest Boyce, Lacey Gaudet)


















