Fields Taking Shape for New Kent County Virginia Derby Day at Colonial Downs
Posted on August 30th, 2024
New Kent, Va (Aug. 30, 2024) — The fields for the six turf stakes slated for New Kent County Virginia Derby Day at Colonial Downs on Saturday, Sept. 7 have started to take shape. The closing day program is seeded with $1.3 million in stakes purses.
Written for 1 1/8 miles over the Secretariat Turf Course, probables for the Grade 3 $500,000 New Kent County Virginia Derby include St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, Steven Duncker, and Vicarage Stable’s Gotham (G3) winner Deterministic, who since moving to the turf has finished second in the Manila (G3) and third in the Saratoga Derby Invitational (G2) for trainer Christophe Clement; Granpollo Stable’s Grand Mo the First who triumphed in the Bear’s Den for trainer Victor Barbosa Jr. in his first try back on turf after the Kentucky Derby; and the third-place finisher from the Secretariat (G2), Gary Barber’s In a Jam who took the Not Surprising in June for trainer Mark Casse.
Also on the list is an impressive allowance winner at Churchill Downs for trainer Cherie DeVaux, Belladonna Racing, Peachtree Stable, Twin Brook Stables and West Point Thoroughbreds’ Zverev, who finished three lengths back last out in the Hall of Fame (G2) at Saratoga; the winner of the Kent, Stonelea Stable and Bonnie Rye Stable’s Desvio, trained by Madison Meyers; 100% Racing Stable’s Herchee, who is a perfect two-for-two for trainer Helen Pitts; the Shug McGaughey trainee Woodford Racing, Julianna Hawn-Holt, and W.S. Farish’s Frontline Warrior; B C Racing’s Prevent, trained by Juan Alvarado; as well as Blake Kelly, Joseph Gellenbeck, and Isidoro Russo’s Izzy D’oro for trainer Blake Kelly.
Top among the $250,000 Woodford Reserve Virginia Oaks (Listed) probables are Cheyenne Stable’s Florida Oaks (G2) runner-up Style Points, third last-out in the Christina for Christophe Clement; the 2023 Selima winner, Thomas Brockley and Daryn Brockley’s Brocknardini who exits a second-place finish in the Suzie O’Cain for trainer George Weaver; the impressive last-out maiden winner at Saratoga, John Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock Services’ Deep Satin for Cherie DeVaux; and Godolphin’s Pendulum for Brendan Walsh.
Never out of the top two spots in four starts for Shug McGaughey, Emory Hamilton’s Belle of Rights is likely to run in the Virginia Oaks, as is MKW Racing and Breeding’s Distorted d’Oro for Mike Stidham; from Kevin Rice’s barn Gail Rice’s Fitz Dixon Jr. Memorial Juvenile Stakes victress She’s Fire; and Tracy Farmer’s last-out maiden winner Aspen Dawn, trained by Mark Casse.
Possible for the Virginia Oaks from Mike Trombetta’s barn is Larry Johnson’s homebred Call Another Play, who exits a second-place finish in the Searching and boasts a stakes win in the Weber City Miss.
Double O Racing’s 2023 Louisville (G3) winner Foreign Relations and Team Valor International’s John Forbes victor McLovin both are probable for the 1½ -mile Visit RVA $150,000 Colonial Cup.
Listed with their trainer, the following older males are probable for the 5½-furlong $150,000 Korbel Da Hoss Stakes: Exline-Border Racing, Peter Eurton, Richard Hausman and Stonestreet Stables’ Dream Shake (Mike Stidham); Hollywood Syndicate’s Isivunguvungu (Graham Motion); Charles Marquis’ Bear River (Keith Desormeaux); Larry Johnson’s Maya Prince (Mike Trombetta); and Mark Fletcher Taylor’s Cruzin Man (Rohan Crichton).
The following 2-year-olds, with trainer listed, are probable for the 1-1/16 miles $125,000 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Kitten’s Joy Stakes: Godolphin’s Siesta Key (Brad Cox); D.J. Stable’s Aristotle (Mark Casse); Brad Allshouse’s Thrilla (Keith Desormeux); Gail Rice’s Good Direction (Kevin Rice); Clover Hill Farm’s Notmyfirstrodeo (Tim Salzman); and Robert McCutchen’s Sackett (Jason McCutchen).
Probables for the 5½-furlong $125,000 Richmond Times-Dispatch Rosie’s Stakes for 2-year-olds (with trainer listed) include: Case Chambers, Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher’s Out On Bail (Mike Maker); Boardshorts’ Sharedashenanigans (Graham Motion); DARRS, Inc.’s Curahee (Brittany Russell); Hampton Beard, Robert McCutchen and Hunter Holiday’s Bottoms Up (Jason McCutchen); Shooting Star Thoroughbreds’ Lazio (Mary Lightener); and Travin Stables’ Fire Pit (Guadalupe Preciado).
Entries for the Colonial Downs Festival of Racing will be drawn Saturday, August 3. Tickets for the Colonial Downs Festival of Racing can be purchased at www.colonialdowns.com.
Colonial Downs has added an extra day of live racing on Wednesday, Sept. 4, serving as a make-up day for the card lost on Friday, July 12. First post for the 11-race program is scheduled for 1:25 p.m. ET. Wednesday will kick-off a four-day race week to close the 2024 meet, which concludes with New Kent County Virginia Derby Day on Saturday, Sept. 7. The Grade 3 $500,000 New Kent County Virginia Derby headlines a card with $1.3 million in stakes purses including five other turf stakes.
