Pair of Virginia-Certified Horses Shine in Friday’s Handicaps at Colonial Downs

NEW KENT, VA. (March 13, 2026) — Ahead of the stakes quartet slated for Virginia Derby Day at Colonial Downs, Friday’s action saw Illuminaire and Conquerthosewecan, both Virginia-certified horses, shine brightest in sibling Virginia-restricted handicaps.

Coming off an eight-month layoff, Centennial Farms’ Illuminaire stalked a contested pace before powering home down the stretch to take the $101,200 Boston Handicap by 2½ lengths over four older rivals.

Trained by Todd Pletcher and with Rajiv Maragh in the irons, Illuminaire finished seven furlongs in 1:22.52.

“He got into a good flow down the backstretch, and I was happy to see a contested pace in front of me,” Maragh said. “I knew (Lonesome Road) was going to be a tough horse to beat. The race unfolded as best as it could for us and we certainly capitalized on it today.”

After breaking sharply from the gates, Illuminaire relaxed to let Lonesome Road and Private Desire duel on the front end. With the leaders measured up at the top of the stretch, Illuminaire bid to their outside and pulled away in the final stages. Longshot Private Desire ran second. Odds-on favorite Lonesome Road finished third.

Illuminaire returned $7.40, $5.60 and $2.60.

The 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of City of Light, with a lifetime record of 7-4-0-0, added $60,000 to his bankroll for a career total of $245,025.

Sycamore Hall Thoroughbreds’ homebred Conquerthosewecan scored a thrilling victory in the Stellar Wind Handicap at Colonial Downs, surviving a rider’s objection involving second-place finisher Sporting Lady.

After a late jockey change, Conquerthosewecan, trained by Brittany Russell and ridden by Jaime Torres, wired the field in 1:09.62 for six furlongs.

After getting away quickest from the gates, Conquerthosewecan engaged Sporting Lady rallying up the rail in the stretch, dropping down to look her foe in the eye, holding the advantage across the finish line.

“I let her take the lead with how comfortable she was,” Torres said. “When she felt the filly on her inside down the stretch, she reengaged again. I give all the credit to Brittany (Russell) and her whole team and send my best to Sheldon (Russell).”

After initially loading into the gates, Conquerthosewecan was backed out, and Sheldon Russell, originally slated to ride, requested a jockey change. With two wins already on the card, Torres got the call, aiming to make it a hat trick for the day.

“I’m proud of our filly – she ran great,” Russell said. “Hopefully Sheldon’s okay. I think she just banged his foot when they loaded in the gates. The highs and lows of horse racing.”

Conquerthosewecan returned $12.60, $4.40 and $3.60.

The Maryland-bred filly improved her career record to 11-4-3-2 and $232,130 in earnings.

Headlined by the $500,000 Virginia Derby, first post for Saturday’s 10-race card is 12 p.m. ET.

Colonial Downs Racetrack, in New Kent, Virginia, hosts live Thoroughbred racing on two nationally renowned surfaces – the Secretariat Turf Course, the widest turf course in North America at 180 feet wide and on a 1 1/4-mile dirt track. The Colonial Downs Group, which is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN), also operates Rosie’s Gaming Emporiums® throughout the Commonwealth, which offer innovative historic horseracing (HHR) gaming and full-card simulcasting as well as Rosie’s Game Room in Collinsville, Roseshire Gaming Parlor in Henrico, and The Rose Gaming Resort® in Dumfries which offers 1,650 HHR gaming terminals, full-card simulcasting, eight bars and restaurants and more than 100 hotel rooms.

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Photo captions: Illuminaire wins the $100,000 Boston Handicap on March 13, 2026, at Colonial Downs

Conquerthosewecan wins the $100,000 Stellar Waind Handicap on March 13, 2026, at Colonial Downs

Photo credit: Coady Media