MARQUEE CONTENDERS CONFIRMED FOR COLONIAL DOWNS FESTIVAL OF RACING DAY
Posted on August 1st, 2025
Entries for the 12-race program with an early 12 p.m. ET first post will be drawn on Saturday, Aug. 2.
Trainer Mike McCarthy reports that Duvet Day will enter the Beverly D., going 1-3/16 miles on the turf. Owned by Jane Bacharach, William De Burgh, and Richard Schatz, Duvet Day concluded her 5-year-old campaign with a win in the Cardinal (G3) at Churchill Downs.
“She seems to be in the best form of her career, numbers-wise,” McCarthy said. “It’s a big ask to run in a prestigious race like (the Beverly D.), but it’s always nice to be able to participate in those kinds of races. We’ve lined up John Velazquez to ride.”
After getting her campaign going in the Mint Julep (G3), the Irish-bred mare ran a strong second to Pin Up Betty going nine furlongs in the Anchorage at Churchill Downs.
Also exiting the Mint Julep and Anchorage, Three Diamonds Farm’s Pin Up Betty and Domeyko Taylor’s Charlene’s Dream are likely for the Beverly D. Triumphant in both stakes last June for trainer Mike Maker, Pin Up Betty’s resume also includes the Regret (G3). Trained by Ed Moger Jr., Charlene’s Dream earned her fourth added-money score at Pimlico in the Gallorette (G3) on the Preakness Day undercard.
With $1,086,559 in lifetime earnings, Michael J. Ryan’s Irish-bred Be Your Best likely will be entered in the Beverly D. Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., the 5-year-old has won four of her last five starts, all graded stakes, including last out taking the Gamely (G1) at Santa Anita Park.
Other probables for the Beverly D. include Cayton Park Stud’s South African-bred-Beach Bomb who ran second to She Feels Pretty last out in the New York Stakes (G1) at Saratoga for trainer Graham Motion; and Dave McGinn’s hard-knocking homebred Chick’s Shadow, an 8-year-old trained by Angel Rodriguez who has raced 54 times and has never finished out of the exacta in four local starts.
Trainer Keith Desormeaux confirmed that Giocoso will be entered in the Secretariat, for 3-year-olds at one mile on the turf. Rocker O Ranch’s Not This Time colt finished a game fifth to Zulu Kingdom last out in the American Turf (G1) on the Kentucky Derby 151 undercard. Prior to that, Giocoso ran in three Derby preps, but both of his wins have come on the turf.
“I tried to make a Derby horse out of him, but he’s just not as good on dirt,” Desormeaux said. “He’s ready to go for the second half of the year. He’s always been a high-level horse. I expect a big race out of him in the Secretariat.”
Sporting a resume that includes back-to-back stakes wins in the Woodhaven at Aqueduct and the Penn Mile (G3) at Penn National, D.J. Stable’s Dream On, also a sone of Not This Time, is set to run in the Secretariat. Trainer Mark Casse shipped Dream On to New Kent after his graded stakes score and he has put in three local drills, the last two earning a “bullet” as best of the day at the distance.
After saddling last year’s winner Trikari, trainer Graham Motion will likely enter End of Romance in his bid for consecutive Secretariat titles. The Irish-bred son of Showcasing came to North America with two scores and earned his first stateside victory last out in an allowance at Delaware Park.
Other probable entries for the Secretariat include Adele B. Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm’s Simulate, trained by Bill Mott; Maple Lane Farm’s Cairo Caper, trained by Phil Schoenthal; Colts Neck Stables’ Antisocial, trained by Jorge Duarte Jr.; and Three Diamonds Farm’s Anegada, trained by Mike Maker.
Tickets for the Colonial Downs Festival of Racing can be purchased at www.colonialdowns.com.
Colonial’s races will be prominently featured on FanDuel TV all season long. Additionally, FanDuel TV will be on-site for coverage of the Festival of Racing on August 9.
