WALSH BRINGS PAIR OF INTRIGUING CONTENDERS FOR SECRETARIAT, BEVERLY D.

NEW KENT, Va. (July 29, 2026) — Trainer Brendan Walsh will send two intriguing runners to Saturday’s Festival of Racing at Colonial Downs, each arriving with questions to answer while possessing the talent to make an impact in a pair of wide-open graded stakes. Lightly raced Infiltrate makes his long-awaited turf debut in the Grade 2 $500,000 Secretariat Stakes, while Somethinabouther looks to capitalize on improving form in the Grade 2 $500,000 Beverly D.

With calls in nine of the 12 races carded on Saturday, Tyler Gaffalione will ride both Infiltrate and Somethinabouther.

The 1 1/16-mile Secretariat appears to revolve around morning-line favorite Alpyland, winner of three stakes this season, but beyond the Mark Casse trainee the nine-horse field of 3-year-olds appears balanced. That gives Walsh reason to believe Infiltrate, despite making his first start since November, deserves his chance.

Although he won twice and finished second in three dirt starts as a 2-year-old, Qatar Racing’s Infiltrate will make his turf debut Saturday in the Secretariat. The son of Oscar Performance is a half-brother to stakes-winning turf performer Plensa, and his final start last season came when an intended turf race was transferred to the main track.

“We were trying to get on the turf at the end of his 2-year-old campaign but it got taken off,” Walsh said. “The turf has always been the intention with him. He’s plenty talented on dirt, too, and we can always go back to it. This is a tall order for him off the layoff, but it’s hard to get an allowance race for a two-time winning 3-year-old to go. So you kind of got to throw them in at the deep end, in a way.”

Walsh said Infiltrate has trained as though he’s ready for the challenge, even if some rust is possible after more than eight months away.

“He hasn’t missed a meter,” Walsh said. “We knew we were gonna have to go for something like this, so his last few works have been pretty good. He’s been working in a group of horses who all seem like they’re pretty talented.”

Among those workmates are the 4-year-old Passion Rules, who returned from a lengthy layoff to finish second to Dragoon Guard in July at Horseshoe Indianapolis, and promising maiden winner Pimlott.

“(Infiltrate) has been working as good as, if not, better than all of them,” Walsh said.

Walsh also believes X-Men Racing IV, Madaket Stables and SF Racing’s Somethinabouther fits comfortably in the deep and competitive Beverly D., where morning-line favorite Stellify makes her first start since last November’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. If the favorite needs a race after the lengthy layoff, several accomplished mares appear capable of taking advantage.

A graded stakes winner as a 2-year-old, Somethinabouther consistently held her own against quality company throughout her sophomore season, highlighted by graded stakes placings and a third-place finish in last year’s Old Dominion Oaks. After three allowance starts this season, she enters Saturday off a confidence-building victory at Churchill Downs on June 25, albeit in an off-the-turf event.

“I think she needed to win a race,” Walsh said. “You know, she went through the whole of last year without winning. So the last race, albeit on dirt, was a good spot for her, but she seems like she holds her own in all kinds of company.”

Run at 1 3/16 miles, the Beverly D. will be the longest test Somethinabouther has faced.

“I think that distance will suit her on Saturday,” Walsh said. “It’s an open race. You could make a case for a half dozen of them, and you might still be wrong. If she runs her best race, I can’t see why she wouldn’t be right there.”

Walsh intends to make the trip to Colonial Downs.

Scheduled as Race 9, the Secretariat kicks off the $1 All Graded Stakes Pick 3, followed by the Beverly D. and the Grade 1 Arlington Million. First post is noon for the 12-race Festival of Racing card.

Tickets for the Colonial Downs Festival of Racing are available at ColonialDowns.com.