Please click on the link below to find a list of the VA Certified yearlings in the Timonium Sale.

https://www.vabred.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Certified-yearlings-at-TImonium.xlsx

The 22^nd annual Virginia Breeders Fund Yearling Futurity was held September 5 at the Warrenton Horse Show Grounds which again saw solid participation from over twenty different breeders who were competing for $40,000 in awards.

The prize money was distributed that day in each of four classes — VA-Bred/Sired yearling colts/geldings, VA-Bred/Sired yearling fillies, VA-Certified colts/geldings and VA-Certified fillies. Grooms were recognized as well with awards in each division and in the championship class. 

The event was judged by renowned Maryland trainer Brittany Russell, who compared each entrant’s confirmation, quality, substance and suitability to become racehorses. The top two finishers in each of the four classes returned to compete for Futurity Grand Champion and Champion Reserve honors.  

The Grand Champion, winner of the Virginia Certified Fillies class, was a 2022 Un-named bay by Vino Rosso out of Astral Favor by Astrology. She is owned by Timbercreek Farm’s Sara Miller. Reserve Champion honors went to the second-place finisher in the same category —- an Un-named bay by Practical Joke out of Empire Lady by Empire Maker. Also owned by Sara Miller and Timbercreek Farm, and bred by Magic Cap Stables LLC

Finishing third in the Certified Fillies category was Philanthropic 22 by This Time Out (Ann Backer/ Smitten Farm) followed by a 2022 Un-named bay by Holy Boss Out (Charles Clement). Rounding out the class was Un-named bay by Great Notion (Brandon Mackey/ Dark Hollow Farm & John Foster), an Un-named bay by Mo Town (Alfred Smithwick/ Anzac LLC/ Respite Farm &Terlep), Street Expectation by Street Magician (Diana McClure/ DMC Racing Stables), an Un-named bay by Always Dreaming (Alfred Smithwick/ Chc Inc), a 2022 Un-named bay by Speightster (Tommy Fahrney/ Amy H. Daney Bloodstock), Nancy’s Notion by Great Notion (Nancy B. Heil), an Un-named bay by Jimmy Creed (Joan Fontana/ Country Life Farm & Sagamoon LLC), and an Un-named bay by Always Dreaming (Joan Fontana/ Don Alberto Corp)

The Virginia-Bred/Sired Colts & Gelding class winner was Nancie’s Boy by Unified out of Jumpin’ Nancy by Jump Start. Owned and Bred by Quest Realty and Daniel Wukich. Second place finisher was Se Thar Barr by The Factor out of Embarr by Royal Academy. Owned and bred by Susan Cooney. Third was a 2022 Un-named dark bay by Maclean’s Music (R. Larry Johnson). Finishing out the class was Go to Bingo by Holy Boss (Helen H. Masek), Buthespretty by Paynter (Virginia Equine PLLC/ Douglas K. Daniels DVM), Blackthorne Brusca by Summer Front (Quest Realty/ Daniel Wukich), a 2022 Un-named dark bay by Kobe’s Back (Becky Lavin), Darbyfullofblarney by Mr. Prankster (Diana McClure/ DMC Racing Stables LLC), and Into Reality by Tom’s d’Etat (Machmer Hall/ Picturesque Farm)  

 The Virginia-Bred/Sired Fillies class was won by a 2022 Un-named bay by McKinzie out of the Sky Cooper mare by Petionville.  Owned and bred by R. Larry Johnson. Runner-up was a 2022 Un-named Gray or Roan by Cupid, out of Hen House. The Filly is owned and bred by Elise W. Kendall.  Friendly Chase by Friend or Foe was third (Phyliss C Jones). The rest of the class included an Un-named bay by War of Will (Morgan’s Ford Farm), Dame’s Rocket by Karakonite (Althea Richards), a 2022 Un-named Gray or Roan by Frosted (Morgan’s Ford Farm), Sunflower State by Divining Rod (Virginia Equine PLLC/ Douglas K. Daniels, DVM), We’re Just Friends (Diana McClure/ DMC Racing Stables), and Louvar by Golden Years (Bruce B Collette).

In the Virginia-Certified Colt/Gelding class, a 2022 Un-named chestnut by Gormley prevailed over seven others. Owned by Joni Fontana/ Sugarland LLC Equine Etiquette and bred by Gmbracstables LLC, the ribbon earner is out of Tell a Secret by British Blue. Runner-up was an Un-named chestnut by Tapiture owned by Sara Miller/Timbercreek Farm and bred by Haymarket Farm LLC. Blessings Bestowed was third (C. Allen Johnson) followed by an Un-named bay by Rowayton (Joni Fontana/Sugarland LLC Equine Etiquette). Finishing out the class was an Un-named Chestnut by Gormley (Alfred Smithwick), Wild as Fridaynite by First Mondays (Diana McClure/ DMC Racing Stables LLC), a 2022 Un-named dark bay by Street Boss (Sara Miller/ Timbercreek Farm/ Theta Holding I, Inc), and an Un-named bay by Peace and Justice (Joan Fontana/ Sugarland LLC Equine Etiquette).

Shenandoah Downs will open its eighth fall season of pari-mutuel harness racing on Saturday September 16 at the Shenandoah County Fairgrounds in Woodstock and continue its 7-week “Harness the Mountain Magic” campaign through October 29. Racing will take place every Saturday and Sunday at 1 PM. The track conducted a 7-week spring meet for the first time earlier this year.

Meet highlight is the 26^th running of the $640,000 (est.) Virginia Breeder’s Championships which will close out the season on Sunday October 29. Two and three-year-old pacers and trotters of both sexes will compete in eight divisional title bouts, each worth a minimum $80,000 purse. The “Day of Champions” event has been conducted at Colonial Downs from 1998-2014, at Oak Ridge Racecourse in 2015 and at Shenandoah Downs since.   

Two premium giveaway days are planned. Fans that attend opening day festivities will receive a free T-Shirt commemorating 137 years of harness racing in Woodstock while those that come to the October 21 Armed Forces Day promotion will get a free Shenandoah Downs Camouflage Baseball Cap. 

Small animals will get their moment in the spotlight again this fall. A trio of miniature horse races will complement pari-mutuel action on Sunday October 8 while the popular wiener dog races will return the following Sunday, October 15.

Regional bands like the Skillbilly’s, Seven Bends Band, River’s Edge, Surf Jaguars and Jake Johnson/Chris Howerton duo will perform on select afternoons during the races. A new trackside karoake promotion will make its debut on Saturday September 23.

The track will also host a series of double seater sulky races throughout the fall featuring first responders, war veterans and breast cancer survivors.    

The Shenandoah simulcast signal will be streamed on Dish-TV so fans around the country can wager Virginia races at their favorite track or simulcast outlet, and online via Twinspires, TVG, Xpressbet and NYRAbets. Free Trackmaster past performance programs along with handicapper “Derby Bill Watson’s” Tip Sheet will be available at shenandoahdowns.com.

Parking and admission are always free and the races are family friendly. The track is located at the Shenandoah County Fairgrounds at I-81, Exit 283 in Woodstock, halfway between Harrisonburg and Winchester. Complete meet details are available at shenandoahdowns.com.

Horsemen should note that entries for each weekend’s race cards are due the Tuesday morning prior. A total of $715,000 in OverNite purse money will be available for the 14-day meet — an average of over $51,000 per day. In addition, $640,000 in purses will be dedicated to Virginia Breeder’s 2 and 3-year-old Championship races, $336,000 to Breeder’s eliminations and $80,000 to aged Breeder’s divisional races. Any questions can be directed to the race office at 540-459-4807 or by e-mail to raceoffice@shenandoahdowns.com.   

The best and brightest horses representing the Virginia breeding and certified program were on display September 2 in Commonwealth Champions Day at Colonial Downs. Five stakes for varying ages and over multiple distances were presented as part of a 10-race card at the New Kent track. Among the top performances were a stakes riding double for jockey Horacio Karamanos and a second stakes win of the meet for Chambeau and Determined Kingdom.

In the first of the day’s stakes events, Reilly McDonald’s Passion Play ($6.20, $2.80 and $2.10) took the lead on the far turn and was relentless in holding off the late challenges from DARRS, Inc.’s Palio and Jeremy Brooks’ Wow Whata Summer to prevail by a neck in the $131,500 Bert Allen Stakes. Horacio Karamanos was aboard the Virginia-bred Mary Eppler-trained son of Hold Me Back who covered the 1-1/16 miles over firm turf in 1:43.67. The win was the sixth in 29 starts for the 7-year-old gelding who earned $90,000 for the effort to boost his lifetime bankroll to $327,497.

“This horse deserved to win,” said Karamanos, who has ridden Passion Play in nine of his last 10 starts including a win in the 2021 edition of this race. “He always tries. His last race (a seventh-place finish) was so tough for him. Today, I just wanted him to break ok and see how the race unfolded. After a couple others went to the front, I sat back a bit and relaxed until the eighth pole. When I asked him, he fired so nicely all the way to the wire.”

O’Sullivan Farms’ Unruly Julie ($30.40, $10 and $5.60) changed tactics and ran to a front-stepping, half-length tally over Naval Empire in the $105,500 Nellie Mae Cox Stakes under jockey Wesley Ho. The Javier Contrerastrained mare ran the 1-1/16 miles in 1:42.25 to score her seventh victory from 36 trips to the post. She added $60,000 to her lifetime earnings which now stand at $225,819.

“She’s been training the best she ever has. She ran in this race last year (finishing second). Coming into this race she’s really been a different horse. Honestly, she took me to the lead,” Ho said when asked about the change in running style. “She was so keen in taking the lead, she pulled me there. I just tried to save as much as I could for the stretch run and she still gave me everything she had. I’d have rather been mid-pack but she had other ideas today.”

D Hatman Thoroughbreds and Kingdom Bloodstock, Inc.’s Determined Kingdom ($3.60, $2.60 and $2.40) improved from a sixth-place finish in the 2022 edition of the Meadow Stable Stakes to notch a wire-to-wire neck victory as the 4-5 favorite in the $130,000 2023 renewal of the 5½-furlong dash. Victor Carrasco rode the gelded son of Animal Kingdom for trainer and co-owner Phil Schoenthal who sprinted the distance in 1:02.08.

“He’s certainly taken a step forward as a 4-year-old,” Schoenthal said. “He’s a lot keener horse. It’s a beautiful thing to have a Virginia-bred who loves the grass at Colonial. We’ll give him a couple of starts in the fall and then turn him out on the farm like we do with all our grass horses. As long he’s doing good we’ll make this a regular stop every year.”

The Meadow Stable was the sixth win in 18 starts for Determined Kingdom, who previously won the Punch Line here in July. The $90,000 winner’s share Saturday elevated his earnings to $442,189.

Bird Mobberly LLC’s Low Mileage ($8.40, $4.60 and $3) rallied along the rail to take command mid-stretch and draw off to a 3¼-length victory in the $125,000 Jamestown Stakes for Virginia-bred/sired 2-year-olds. Jevian Toledo was aboard the John Salzman trainee who recorded his first stakes tally and second win in four starts overall. The daughter of Mineshaft covered the 5½-furlongs in 1:04.22 and earned $75,000 for the score to push her bankroll to $121,500.

Wrapping up the stakes action was the $130,000 Camptown Stakes which was taken by Sam English II’s Chambeau ($4.60, $3 and $2.40) who picked up her third win of the season after capturing the Tyson Gilpin/Glenn Petty Stakes in July and an allowance race last week.

“I wasn’t as confident today as I was last week,” English said. “We only started her (for the first time) as a 5-year-old, and she’s only run eight times in her life. She’s a special horse.”

Lots of excitement, special features, and premier horse racing are on tap for the 20^th running of the New Kent County Virginia Derby on Saturday, September 9. The nation’s top 3-year-old turf horses will compete on the widest turf course in North America. The day will be highlighted by the Grade 3, $500,000 Virginia Derby^® for 3-year-olds ($200,000 more than last year). Other stakes races will include the $250,000 Woodford Reserve Virginia Oaks^®, $150,000 Korbel Da Hoss Stakes, $150,000 Biosaphe Colonial Cup, $125,000 Exacta Systems Rosie’s Stakes, and $125,000 TAA Kitten’s Joy Stakes. A total of more than $1.3 million dollars will be up for grabs on Virginia Derby Day. Post time is 1:30 p.m. 

Plenty of family friendly entertainment will be available on the grounds including pony rides, a petting zoo, strolling entertainment, face painter, juggler/magician & stilt walker. Fans can also enjoy the magnificent bronze Secretariat statue at Colonial Downs on Derby Day along with the National Museum of Racing & Hall of Fame’s Traveling Exhibit. The exhibit will be open during 4 consecutive days of racing at Colonial Downs starting Wednesday, September 6 and culminating on Derby Day, Saturday, September 9.

“It has been a terrific season for Colonial Downs under the new ownership of Churchill Downs. We are proud of providing a high-level racing product along with added entertainment elements to Virginians this summer.,” said Frank Hopf, senior director of racing operations at Colonial Downs. “We look forward to concluding our successful meet with Virginia Derby Day on September 9^th.”

Additional seating for Derby Day will be available in the banquet room. General admission and parking are free. For more information on 2023 Colonial Downs Racing presented by Woodford Reserve visit www.colonialdowns.com.

Fields for five all-turf stakes — that will showcase Virginia-bred, -sired and -certified horses — are set to go this Saturday (Sept. 2) in the newly named Commonwealth Champions Day program at Colonial Downs. A total of $725,000 in purse money will be up for grabs between the five. Four of the $150,000 stakes — the Camptown, Bert Allen, Meadow Stable and Nellie Mae Cox — are open to horses in the three categories noted while the $125,000 Jamestown is for Virginia-bred/sired 2-year-olds.  

The top three finishers in the 2022 Camptown are among a field of 12 fillies and mares in the 2023 edition which will be contested at 5-1/2 furlongs. Larry Johnson’s Spun Glass won last year’s Camptown and recently was a close second in the Jameela Stakes at Laurel July 1 and The Very One Stakes at Pimlico May 19. The Michael Trombetta trainee has $324,729 in earnings. 

DARRS Inc.’s Rambert finished second to Spun Glass in 2022 and has won two of three since in expanding on a consistent career. The Michael Stidham trainee has three wins and four seconds in eight starts with $145,600 in earnings. Mary Slade’s Island Philo, third in last year’s Camptown, leaves from gate position one in the ninth race rematch. 

The runner-up in last year’s Nellie Mae Cox Stakes and the top three finishers from the current meet’s Brookmeade Stakes are in a field of twelve fillies and mares who will vie 1-1/16^th miles in the Nellie Mae Cox’s sixth race. 

O’Sullivan Farms’ Unruly Julie lost by a nose to Tass in a thrilling 2022 edition. The 7-year-old The Factor mare is conditioned by Javier Contreras and is fresh off a third-place finish in a $90,000 allowance at Colonial August 2. 

Country Life Farm’s Galilei, Susan Moulton’s Tufani and Larry Johnson’s Continentalcongres finished one-two-three in the July 15 Brookmeade. Three-year-old Distorted Humor filly Tufani — betting choice in the stakes —had back-to-back wins leading up to the Brookmeade while Continentalcongres powered home to an eleven length allowance score at Colonial three weeks afterwards. 

Dewberry Thoroughbred’s Princess Theorem enters with the most stakes experience of the dozen. The 5-year-old Nyquist mare chocked up  respective third and fourth place finishes in a pair of G3 stakes earlier this year in the Honey Fox at Gulfstream and the Galorette at Pimlico.  .         

The Bert Allen Stakes attracted six entries including Jeremy Brooks’ Wow Whata Summer who won last year’s G2 Penn Mile Stakes and after, competed in the G3 Virginia Derby where he finished ninth. The 4-year-old Summer Front gelding took fourth in Colonial’s Kitten’s Joy Stakes as a 2-year-old. 

Also in-to-go are a pair of horses that have racked up three wins each at Colonial — DARRS’ Palio and Reilley McDonald’s Passion Play. The former is fresh off a turf allowance win in New Kent August 2 while the latter captured the Allen Stakes in 2021. The Bert Allen, for horses aged three-and-up, will be contested 1-1/16^th miles as the second race.   

A field of seven horses aged three-and-up will battle in the Meadow Stable Stakes sprint including the top two finishers from the 2022 renewal — $570,683 earner Boldor and trainer Madison Meyers’ Grateful Bred. The former is owned by Ed Orr and Susie Orr and has reached the winners circle in two other Virginia-bred stakes — the 2021 and 2019 Punch Line’s. The latter won the Meadow Stable Stakes in 2021 and was a runner-up in last year’s Van Clief.

The Meadow Stable, carded as race seven, is 5-1/2 furlongs.

Capping off the stakes five-pack is the Jamestown which has drawn eight 2-year-olds that include a mix of six fillies and two colts. Of the eight, two have reached the winners circle so far — Bird Mobberley’s Low Mileage and Mary Lightner’s Afterneath. The first, a Mineshaft filly, registered a maiden special weight victory on the dirt May 5 at Laurel while the latter won a maiden claimer over Colonial’s turf August 11. The Jamestown has been programmed as the eighth race.  

To register a 2024 foal as a Virginia-bred:

Foals must be dropped in Virginia and the foal’s dam must reside in Virginia from September 1st, 2023, until foaling in the following year. Mares purchased at public sale after September 1st may enter the program if they arrive at a Virginia Facility within 15 days of the purchase date (60 days if purchased outside of the U.S.)

If you have not registered your mare facility, please do so by completing a Virginia Facility Registration form by selecting the link below and downloading.

Resident Mare reports are due to the VTA by October 1, 2023. Complete a Virginia Mare Residency Report form by selecting the link below and downloading. Note that an online application system will be available by mid-September.

*Upon approval by the Virginia Racing Commission

Click here to access all VTA forms.

Six Stakes Worth $1.3 Million to be Contested

(NEW KENT, Va. August 28, 2023) –The 20^th running of the G3 New Kent County Viginia Derby – showcase event on the September 9 closing day card at Colonial Downs that also includes five additional turf stakes – attracted a total of 38 nominations including nine from the Todd Pletcher stable. The 1-1/8 miles Virginia Derby carries a $500,000 purse, up $200,000 from 2022. All six stakes, with combined purses of $1.3 million, will be drawn on Wednesday September 6.

Among Pletcher’s contingent are LSU Stables’ Far Bridge and Spendthrift Farm’s Major Dude. The former won the G1 Belmont Derby July 8 and before that, had back-to-back seconds in a pair of G2 stakes – the Pennine Ridge at Belmont and American Turf at Churchill. Most recently, the English Channel colt finished third in the G1 Saratoga Derby Invitational. The latter has already bankrolled $754,645, aided by a trio of stakes wins in the G2 Penn Mile, G3 Kitten’s Joy at Gulfstream and the G3 Pilgrim. The Bolt d’Oro colt most recently finished fourth in the G2 Secretariat Stakes held at Colonial August 12. 

The first- and second-place finishers in the Secretariat Stakes have been nominated. A neck separated Iapetus Racing and Diamond T. Racing’s Virginia-bred Gigante and Little Red Feather Racing, Madaket Stables and William Strauss’s Nagirroc at the wire in a thriller. After Pletcher’s pair, Gigante and Nagirroc hold the third and fourth highest bankrolls of all nominees with $737,000 and $506,550 respectively. The latter is trained by Graham Motion, winner of two straight Virginia Derbies in 2019 and 2021, who nominated three (the Derby was not held in 2020 due to Covid).

Chad Brown has three Derby nominees including Klaravich Stables’ Program Trading who is 3-for-3 and fresh off a win in the G1 Saratoga Derby Invitational. The English-bred also prevailed in a maiden special weight at Monmouth and in a Belmont allowance. 

Brad Cox nominated two including Godolphin’s Wadsworth who has a pair of stakes wins at Ellis Park – the American Derby and Kentucky Downs Preview Dueling Grounds Derby. The Quality Road gelding is 4-for-9 with earnings of $411,886.    

The featured undercard stakes is the 14^th running of the $250,000 Woodford Reserve Virginia Oaks which attracted 38 nominations. The 1-1/8 miles turf test is for 3-year-old fillies. Graham Motion nominated the most with six including RyZan Sun Racing and Madaket Stables’ Mission of Joy whose resume includes a pair of G3 stakes wins in the Regret Stakes at Churchill and Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs. The Kitten’s Joy filly is 4-for-7 with a $293,317 bankroll.

Black Type Thoroughbreds, Swinback Stables, Steve Adkisson, Christopher Dunn and Anthony Spinazzola’s Sacred Wish finished second by a neck in the G1 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga July 22. The Not This Time filly also had a runner-up finish in the Gulfstream Park Oaks April 1.

The $150,000 Biosaphe Colonial Cup, a 1 ½-miles turf race and new this year to the Virginia Derby Day lineup, has attracted some intriguing contenders among its 41 nominees including seven who have reached the winners circle in G1 or G2 stakes in 2022 or 2023. 

Trinity Farm’s Red Knight has competed in three straight G1 events and captured the first of that trio – the Man o’ War at Belmont May 13. Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Speaking Scout was best in the G1 Hollywood Derby last fall at Del Mar. Among the nominated G2 winners are James and Donna Daniell’s Offlee Naughty; Three Diamonds Farm and Pura Vida Investments’ Stolen Base; NBS Stable’s Spooky Channel, Michael Dubb’s Therapist; and Paradise Farms and David Staudacher’s Temple. 

A total of 35 turf sprinters have been nominated for the $150,000 Korbel Da Hoss Stakes to be contested at 5-1/2 furlongs. Patricia’s Hope’s Nobals has collected impressive wins this year in the G2 Twin Spires Turf Sprint at Churchill and in the G3 Troy Stakes at Saratoga. The Larry Rivelli trainee has earned $843,274. Michelle Lovell and Griffin Farm’s 7-year-old Justin Phillip gelding Just Might has also been nominated. The million-dollar earner won the 2021 Da Hoss, one of four stakes in New Kent in which he has competed.

A pair of $125,000 stakes for two-year-olds round out the under card – the Exacta Systems Rosie’s Stakes at 5-1/2 furlongs and the TAA Kitten’s Joy Stakes at 1-1/16 miles. A total of 43 have been nominated to the former and 36 to the latter. 

High earner amongst the Rosie’s nominees is R.A. Hill Stable, BlackRidge Stables, Swinback Stables, Big Tufff Stables and Black Type Thoroughbreds’ Amidst Waves. The George Weaver trainee has captured back-to-back stakes and currently has earnings of $194,000. The Midshipman filly won the Colleen Stakes at Monmouth July 29 and the Bolton Landing Stakes at Saratoga August 20. Impressive as well is Paradise Farms Corp., David Staudacher, Kevin Haynes and John Huber’s Ship Cadet who has a win and two seconds in three stakes appearances.

Repole Stable’s Noted, a Todd Petcher trainee, is most prominent among the Kitten’s Joy nominees. The Cairo Prince colt won the $206,000 Sapling Stakes August 26 at Monmouth which followed a maiden special weight score at Saratoga one month earlier.

About Colonial Downs

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, second in length to only the world-famous Belmont Park. The Colonial Downs Group, which is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN), also operates Rosie’s Gaming Emporiums^® in Richmond, Hampton, New Kent, Vinton, and Dumfries which offer innovative historic horseracing (HHR) gaming technology and full card simulcasting as well as Rosie’s Game Room in Collinsville, which features a limited selection of some of their best HHR titles plus full card simulcasting. The 2023 live racing season, which consists of 27 days from July 13 through September 9, is highlighted by the Grade 1 Arlington Million, Grade 1 Beverly D. and Grade 2 Secretariat Stakes on August 12 and the Grade 3 New Kent County Virginia Derby on September 9.  The Beverly D. is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win & You’re In” race.

Iapetus Racing and Diamond T Racing’s Virginia-bred Gigante made his triumphant return to the winner’s circle by pulling a massive 22-1 upset victory in the August 12 Grade 2 $500,000 Secretariat Stakes at Colonial Downs. The race was held in Virginia for the first time, making the victory for the Commonwealth that much sweeter.

Gigante, the 2022 Virginia-bred Champion 2-year-old, was ridden by Javier Castellano for trainer Steve Asmussen and covered the one-mile over firm going in 1:35.10.

“I feel blessed Asmussen (trainer Steve) gave me the opportunity to ride that horse. I think I got along pretty good with him in the post parade. He acted very professionally. I had the best trip in the race. (I was) where I wanted to be today. There seemed to be a lot of speed in the race. I tried to use my patience. He broke so well from the gate and put me in good position. I just took my time and rode with a lot of patience, a lot of confidence and had the best result today.”

Mo Stash was hustled hard from the starting gate in the Secretariat Stakes and was joined by the forward-placed Major Dude as they entered the first turn. Following an opening quarter-mile in :23.67, Gigante was positioned in last but only 3½ lengths off the lead. The field began to bunch entering the far turn after a half-mile in :48.03 as Castellano began asking Gigante for his best run. At the quarter-mile pole, Gigante made a bold bid for the lead and took command into the lane but had to hold off the late charge of Nagirroc. Gigante kept finding more on the lead and was able to hold his rival at bay by a neck. It was another 1 ¾ lengths back to Silver Knott in third who was followed in order by Major Dude, Northern Invader and Mo Stash.

Gigante, the longest priced horse in the field of six 3-year-olds at 22-1 rewarded his backers by returning $2 mutuels of $47.80, $15.20 and $5. Nagirroc, under Flavien Prat, paid $3.80 and $2.60. Silver Knott, who was ridden by Jamie Spencer, returned $2.80.

With his victory in the Secretariat Stakes, Gigante improved his overall mark to 9-4-0-1 and boosted his overall purse earnings to $583,550.

Gigante is a 3-year-old son of Not This Time out of the Empire Maker Mare Summertime Green. He was bred in Virginia by Ann Mudge Backer and Smitten Farm.

Colonial Downs was the starting point for Gigante. He broke his maiden here one year ago on the dirt and subsequently demolished a field of seven rivals in the Kitten’s Joy Stakes on turf.

Nominations closed August 18 for five all-turf stakes on the Commonwealth Champions Day program scheduled for Saturday, September 2 at Colonial Downs that will showcase Virginia-bred, -sired and -certified horses with $725,000 in purse money on the line. Four of the $150,000 stakes – the Camptown, Bert Allen, Meadow Stable and Nellie Mae Cox – are open to horses in the three categories noted while the $125,000 Jamestown is for Virginia-bred and/or -sired 2-year-olds. 

The top three finishers in the 2022 Camptown are among the 31 fillies and mares that nominated to the 2023 edition which will be contested at 5½ furlongs. Larry Johnson’s Spun Glass won last year’s Camptown and recently was a close second in the Jameela Stakes at Laurel July 1 and Pimlico’s The Very One Stakes on May 19. The Michael Trombetta trainee has $324,729 in earnings. DARRS Inc.’s Rambert, who finished second to Spun Glass, and Mary Slade’s Island Philo who was third, is nominated too.

Other notable Camptown nominations include D. Hatman Thoroughbreds’ Determined Jester, winner of the 2022 Rosie’s Stakes and a turf allowance earlier this month, both of which took place at the New Kent track. Larry Johnson’s Hollywood Walk has won a Colonial turf allowance sprint in each of the last two years. Deborah Greene and Hamilton Smith’s Luna Belle may be the most intriguing of the nominees. The 4-year-old Great Notion filly reeled off five consecutive dirt stakes wins at Laurel between December 2021 and April 6 last year before finishing 11^th in the 2022 G2 Black Eyed Susan Stakes. She has not competed since but still boasts a nominee-high bankroll of $381,570.

The Bert Allen Stakes attracted 20 nominations including Larry Johnson and RDM Racing Stable’s Sky’s Not Falling who sports a robust $294,480 turf bankroll. The 5-year-old Seville gelding won the $100,000 Maryland Million Turf Sprint Stakes last October and has been stakes placed twice at Colonial. 

Jeremy Brooks’ Wow Whata Summer won last year’s G2 Penn Mile Stakes and after that competed in the G3 Virginia Derby where he finished ninth. The 4-year-old Summer Front gelding took fourth in Colonial’s Kitten’s Joy Stakes as a 2-year-old. 

Also nominated is Ten Strike Racing’s Alex Joon who captured the Edward P. Evans Stakes by three lengths July 15 at Colonial. The 6-year-old Flatter gelding also won an allowance over the same New Kent grass course last summer.  

The Bert Allen is for horses aged three-and-up at 1-1/16 miles.   

The winner of last year’s Nellie Mae Cox Stakes and the top four finishers from the current meet’s Brookmeade Stakes have all nominated to the 2023 Cox Stakes along with 23 other fillies and mares who will vie 1-1/16 miles. 

Windylea Farm’s Tass edged O’Sullivan Farms’ Unruly Julie by a nose in a thrilling 2022 edition and both have nominated again. The former is a Rob Atras trainee with $350,919 in earnings while the latter is conditioned by Javier Contreras and is fresh off a third-place finish in a $90,000 allowance at Colonial August 2. 

Country Life Farm’s Galilei prevailed in the July 15 Brookmeade while Susan Moulton’s Tufani, Larry Johnson’s Continentalcongres and Audley Farm Stable’s Bode’s Heritage finished next in line. All four have been nominated.

A total of 28 horses aged three-and-up have been nominated for the Meadow Stable Stakes sprint including the top two finishers from the 2022 renewal – $570,683 earner Boldor and trainer Madison Meyers’ Grateful Bred. The former is owned by Ed Orr and Susie Orr and has reached the winners circle in two other Virginia-bred stakes – the 2021 and 2019 editions of the Punch Line. The latter won the Meadow Stable Stakes in 2021 and was a runner-up in last year’s Van Clief.

Capping off the stakes five-pack is the Jamestown, which has drawn 17 nominations that include a mix of 10 fillies and seven male juveniles. Two of the freshmen have reached the winners circle so far – Bird Mobberley’s Low Mileage and Mary Lightner’s Afterneath. The first, a Mineshaft filly, registered a maiden special weight victory on the dirt May 5 at Laurel while the latter won a maiden claimer over Colonial’s turf August 11.