Old Dominion Derby Day Undercard Stakes Recaps
Posted on September 6th, 2025
(Photo credit: Coady Media)
WORLD-RECORD HOLDER DONCHO WIRES DA HOSS STAKES IN PHOTO FINISH OVER ALOGON
NEW KENT, Va. (Sept. 6, 2025) – Doncho, the world-record holder for 5½-furlong turf sprints, turned in a commanding performance on Old Dominion Derby Day at Colonial Downs, leading gate-to-wire to take the $150,000 Da Hoss Stakes in a heart-stopping photo finish over Alogon.
Trained by Michelle Lovell and ridden by Jaime Torres, the 4-year-old Mo Town gelding set a strong pace then held firm as Alogon closed in late. Witty rallied late for third. Doncho crossed the wire first in 1:01.62 on firm turf.
“He surprised me the way he broke today,” Torres said. “He was very, very quick. I think the best he’s ever came out of the gates. I knew that at the finish line it was going to be pretty close, so I just tried to run away at the quarter pole and see what happened at the end.”
Sent off at 2-1, Doncho returned $6.20, $3.80, and $2.60.
Notching his second stakes score, Doncho’s career record now tallies 9-5-0-1 with $341,551 in career earnings. Lovell also won the 2021 Da Hoss with Just Might.
SAFE TRIP HOME IMPRESSES WITH FIRST STAKES IN COLONIAL CUP
In his very first stakes attempt, PTK Racing’s Safe Trip Home showed both stamina and grit to capture the $150,000 Colonial Cup at Colonial Downs.
Trained by Bill Cowans and ridden by Emmanuel Esquivel, the 5-year-old gelding by More Than Ready settled near the back of the pack, following the even-money favorite Twirling Point throughout before setting down his best kick in the stretch.
“I wanted to follow Kendrick (Carmouche, jockey of Twirling Point) the whole way around,” Esquivel said. “It looked like that horse could go in front or midpack, so I felt like that was the one to follow. My horse has gotten a little rank in the past, but today he broke really nice and relaxed, he settled in pretty good.”
Safe Trip Home completed the 1½-mile affair on turf in 2:27.55, beating Desvio by two lengths. Just a Photo won the photo for third.
Safe Trip Home paid $9.80, $4.60, and $3.80.
With the Colonial Cup triumph included, Safe Trip Home’s career earnings now stand at $294,867 and his record reads 10-4-1-0.
ROYAL TESTAMENT LEADS GATE-TO-WIRE IN ROSIE’S STAKES, MARKING THIRD STRAIGHT WIN
FOR TRAINER GEORGE WEAVER
Mathiesen Racing’s Royal Testament delivered a flawless front-running performance to capture the $125,000 Exacta Systems Rosie’s Stakes for 2-year-olds at Colonial Downs, giving trainer George Weaver a remarkable third consecutive victory in the race, along with Governor Sam in 2024 and No Nay Mets in 2023.
Facing a field of eight males, Royal Testament carved out a bold pace, passing the quarter-mile marker in :22.05 before powering clear in the stretch to win by 3¾ lengths. Piloted by Eric Cancel, she finished the 5½-furlong turf sprint in 1:02.47.
“Last time I was chasing the leader,” Cancel said. “Today she broke out of there sharply and so I went on with it. She proved that she is a pretty decent filly. In the mornings she had been working really well. We had high hopes for her coming into this race.”
A pair of Wesley Ward trainees ran second and third led by first-time starter Gypsy Art ahead of Rogue Legend (GB).
Royal Testament returned $6.00, $3.60, and $2.60.
Royal Testament, now 2-for-3, has notched back-to-back wins and has a bankroll of $106,350.
CASA CIELO WIRES FIELD IN $125,000 KITTEN’S JOY AT COLONIAL DOWNS
Casa Cielo proved too tough to catch Saturday at Colonial Downs, leading every step to capture the $125,000 Kitten’s Joy Stakes for 2-year-olds.
Trained by Keith Desormeaux and ridden by Francisco Arrieta, the colt broke sharply, set firm fractions on turf, and kept finding in the stretch to turn back post-time favorite Jutland. He ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.25, finishing 2¾ lengths clear of Jutland, with Kid Charlamagne completing the trifecta.
“The last time he ran, he was a little green, but he gave me a very good turn of foot,” Arrieta said. “So I was expecting the same thing today, just put him in front, give a good pace, and start from the quarter pole. He exploded and gave me a really, really nice kick.”
Casa Cielo paid $7.00, $3.00, and $2.20.
Owned by Don’t Tell My Wife Stables, the son of Caravaggio improved his record to 3-2-1-0 and boosted his earnings to $123,400.
