We already know Paynted by Nancy as the 2024 Virginia Breeder’s Fund Yearling Futurity Grand Champion. Joined by her owner/breeder Quest Realty, trainer Susan Cooney, and the whole crew from the farm, it was a special day ending with the Grand Champion ribbon, a trophy, and a check for placing first in the Virginia-Bred/Sired Fillies Class.
2024 Virginia Breeder’s Fund Yearling Futurity Grand Champion, Virginia-Bred Filly Paynted by Nancy, joined by her owner & breeder Dan Wukich and Quest Realty, trainer Susan cooney (center), 2024 judge Ferris Allen (second from right), and VTA Executive Director Jill Byrne (far right). Hannah Jones Photography.
“She sure is pretty to look at,” said Cooney while watching Quest Realty’s 2-year-old maiden enter the Colonial Downs paddock for her first race, a maiden special weight, on July 31st in New Kent.
“Mainly with the 2-year-olds, the first time out you really just want a good experience and the best chance possible because they remember the bad ones. The goal is always for them to go over to the gate nicely, break well, and come back safely.”
Cooney and Cooney Racing Stables Groom, Esteban Yanez, are all smiles for the filly’s first race.
Paynted by Nancy finished 6th in a field of 11 horses. Based on Cooney’s goals, she checked all her boxes—she was good in the paddock, good in the post parade, and walked right in the gate, and came back well.
“She made a good move around the turn there in the stretch and maybe got a little tired.” Said Cooney. “Sometimes it’s not as much physically tired, but mentally tired.”
Virginia-Bred Paynted by Nancy heading to the post parade with rider Xavier Perez aboard
By Paynter out of Jumpin’ Nancy, the 2023 Virginia-Bred, never sees turf at home except for her paddock. Running in a 5 ½ furlongs race on the turf for Virginia-restricted maidens, fillies 2-years-old, she ran a good race for her first time out, and we look forward to following her career.
Courtesy of The Racing Biz, written by Frank Vespe
A pair of promising 2-year-olds kept their records spotless Saturday (August 2) at Colonial Downs with stakes wins in Virginia-restricted company, as Just Philtored held off a determined challenger in the $100,000 Keswick Stakes for fillies and Trendsetter came flying late to capture the $100,000 Hickory Tree Stakes.
Just Philtored prevailed in the $100,000 Keswick Stakes with Mychel Sanchez up (Coady Media).
Privately purchased following a sharp debut win at Laurel Park in May, Just Philtored showed her new connections immediate returns with a game neck victory in the five-and-a-half furlong Keswick. Ridden confidently by Mychel Sanchez for trainer Mike Trombetta, the daughter of Great Notion tracked the pace in the clear, launched a three-wide move leaving the turn, and edged clear at the furlong marker before digging in late to repel the fast-closing Slewperstitus. The final time was 1:03.82 over a fast track.
Brent & Sharilyn Gasaway, co-owners of Just Philtored, are joined by Mike Trombetta’s assistant trainer, Tana Aubrey.
“I was expecting her to break like she did today,” Sanchez said. “She can be on the lead or sit. I just wanted to be in front of the three [Slewperstitus].”
It was the three, Slewperstitus, who came running late, just as she had in winning her debut. But today Just Philtored had enough to hold her at bay.
Sent off as the 1.10-1 favorite, Just Philtored returned $4.20 to win. Slewperstitus completed a chalky $1 exacta worth $3.10, while Smooch Up, who led early, settled for third but eight lengths behind Slewperstitus. Snow Bella trailed throughout.
Just Philtored is owned by Red White and Blue Racing LLC and London Reid Thoroughbreds.
Trendsetter wins the $100,000 Hickory Tree Stakes for Virginia-Restricted 2-year-olds (Coady Media).
A half-hour later in the Hickory Tree, Midway Racing’s Trendsetter showed off a powerful late kick to overcome a poor break and win for the second time in as many starts. Breaking slowly from the rail, the gelded son of Modernist trailed early but steadily picked off rivals on the turn, came five wide into the stretch, and surged late to wear down Power Grid by three-quarters of a length in 1:04.88 for 5 ½ furlongs.
“It’s not too different from his maiden win. He did everything wrong and still won,” said Midway’s Davant Latham. “He broke poorly again. He didn’t want to eat dirt.”
Trained by Ben Colebrook and ridden by Ben Curtis, Trendsetter paid $4.00 as the even-money favorite. Power Grid, who pressed and briefly led in the lane, settled for second, while G Q Worthy finished a solid third. Cool Customer, who set the pace, faded to fifth.
Co-owner Davant Latham prepares Trendsetter to get his picture taken in the winner’s circle.
Latham had purchased Trendsetter, then a colt, for $130,000 at Ocala in April. Then he made an important change: gelding him.
“We bought him as a colt in April, but he just mentally wasn’t that mature,” Latham said. “So I think the gelding has certainly helped, but he’s got a lot of education still to come.”
Each of the winners earned their connections $60,000. Notably, the fillies completed the 5 ½ furlongs on a fast main track a full second faster than the boys.
Meet horse trainer Danielle Hodsdon who has saddled horses on and off for 19 years and has reached the winner’s circle 14 times. Her history at Colonial Downs goes back decades though.
She rode in her first sanctioned steeplechase race there — and broke her collarbone in that event — during the infamous Strawberry Hill Races in 2000. She won her first race as a trainer at the New Kent track in 2006. And most recently, this past Wednesday in fact, a horse she trains finished first in a $70,000 race at Colonial literally minutes before another horse she trains won a race at Delaware Park.
Not a bad story. Fourteen wins in 19 years, then two in a five-minute span!
Lightning struck when Hodsdon recorded that pair of maiden wins at two different tracks almost simultaneously. Zevon, her 7-year-old Imagining gelding named after legendary singer Warren Zevon, won a $70,000 maiden special weight at Colonial — his first in 13 tries — at nearly the same time Pegster, a 3-year-old Speightster filly of hers, captured a $28,000 maiden claimer at Delaware Park — her first in seven tries — where Hodsdon was based that afternoon.
“It was incredible and came within five minutes of each other,” she said Saturday in New Kent recalling the moment of a few days earlier. “I was walking out of the paddock from saddling Pegster at Delaware and checking a TV screen to see Zevon run here — while still watching Pegster on another screen warming up. There was an inquiry in Zevon’s race and even as Pegster started running her race, I was on the phone with people at Colonial trying to see if they finished the inquiry. Pegster ends up winning and I know I can’t find out Zevon’s result now until we take the winners circle picture. It was an incredible and gratifying moment, a career highlight for sure.”
Zevon, named after iconic singer/songwriter Warren Zevon, prevailed at Colonial Downs for Hodsdon (Coady Media).
Hodsdon had a rich career riding steeplechase horses before she turned to training. “Riding races, I’ve won lots,” she said, “But training has kind of been a win here and there type deal. I’ve never had a lot of horses going. On the way back home from Delaware that day, my owner said to celebrate Zevon’s win by listening to the song ‘Werewolves of London’.”
Hodsdon moved to Virginia from New Hampshire years ago to attend Shenandoah University in Winchester to study athletic training. Hodsdon didn’t even know what the word ‘steeplechase’ meant before arriving in the Commonwealth but ironically, served as an assistant trainer to Hall of Famer Jonthan Sheppard and ended up riding jump horses for him too. She went on to ride over 800 times, win 140 races and horses she rode won $4 million in purse earnings over a 16-year period.
Hodsdon’s first training win came at Colonial Downs with a horse named Honour Emblem in 2006.
Asked if she has a soft spot for Colonial Downs, Hodsdon replied, “I have a soft and a probably a hard spot too. My first sanctioned ride was at Strawberry Hill with a jump horse for Jimmy Day named Belluga. In contention and coming up on the final fence, I got too zealous, gunned him at the fence, fell off the horse and broke my collarbone. I rode my first sanctioned race and broke a collarbone there on the same day. It-was quite an up and down experience!”
Hodsdon stays busy now, working part time as a physical therapy assistant 32 hours a week and training a stable of eight horses as well. “I’d love it if I could just train horses,” she said, “But physical therapy provides benefits and health insurance. That’s the practical part of my life.”
Meet horse racing valet Rich Ramkhelawan, one of the unsung, passionate staff members that help ensure race days at Colonial Downs roll along seamlessly. A native of Trinidad and Tobago, Rich has worked at the New Kent track from day one, going back to September, 1997. In Rich’s world, the word ‘valet’ is pronounced with a hard “t” at the end — so the position is very different from someone who parks cars.
By definition, a racing ‘valet’ is a crucial member of the jockey’s support team and is responsible for preparing and maintaining the jockey’s gear and equipment and assisting them on race days.
“It entails a lot,” he said. “We’re like a caddy in a sense. Jockeys work out in the morning and they come in with dirty clothes. You need to wash their clothes, put out their racing silks and make sure the helmet cover matches the silks. The saddles are the biggest thing. You might have a horse that needs a small saddle and another that may use a medium or a large one. By getting that correct, it takes pressure off the riders. They don’t have to worry about that aspect. Same with goggles on their helmet,” he added. “Some ride with three all the time, some ride with four. On the turf it varies since they have turf goggles now. Then after the race, the goggles and boots are dirty. You clean them and send them back out so the riders can do their job.”
“It’s just like a locker room of a sports team,” he added. “In football or baseball, someone puts out the players uniforms, their cosmetics, water, energy drinks and things like that. I mark scratches on their programs and highlight them — like a baseball player reading about the pitcher’s form or a quarterback reading up on the defense. Jockeys are professional athletes. It’s one less thing they have to worry about. You have a lot to take seriously.”
Colonial Downs hires a dozen valets every race meet that tend to the rider’s needs. They rotate jockeys every race but for the most part, Ramkhelawan works for Mychel Sanchez, Sheldon Russell, Axel Concepcion and Jose Torrealba — and Carol Cedeno when she is on town.
“When some of the big-time jocks I work for in Maryland come to Virginia, I’ll work for them,” he said. “I have a little circle and they know I’m here. It really started with Mario Pino. He came here the first year and I got a chance to work for him because of his wife Christina, who I had known previously. He was very quiet. All he does is do his job. He gave me an opportunity to fine tune what I had to do to get riders lined up in the future. People watched me work for Mario. He would endorse me too. That same year, Ramon Dominguez came in from Delaware. I ended up getting him. Johnny Valesquez was given to me too on a recommendation from Sonny Moore. The rest is history,” he added. “I’ve worked for Mike Smith, Javier Castellano, Gary Stevens and many others. All riders are a credit to this sport and they’ve given so much back, every last one of them.”
Asked if it’s a job, passion, or lifestyle, Ramkhelawan replied, “It’s everything rolled into one. You have to like what you do. There’s passion because you want to do well. It’s really a job you look forward coming to. If you don’t, there’s no use being there. First and foremost, what we do affects jockeys out on the track. They trust us with their life. You have to be professional more than anything else. You don’t want to screw up. You need to make sure they have the right goggles and saddle. It’s on you. It can be stressful at times but it’s also great.”
“I’m a fan too,” he continued. “That way you enjoy it , We’re family. Castellano and I are tight. Mario and I are real tight. I call Mike Smith my big brother. I’ve been doing this for 34 or 35 years now. I’m glad Colonial Downs has given all the valets an opportunity to come back year after year.”
Ramkhelawan kept reiterating one phrase over and over — “It’s one less thing for them to worry about.” That short sentence may be the most accurate synopsis of what a good valet brings to their job.
Colonial Downs’ “Festival of Racing” card is slated for Saturday August 9 and features seven stakes including a Grade 1 (Arlington Million) and a pair of Grade 2’s (Beverly D & Secretariat). Asked if he treats big days any different than a regular race day, Ramkhelawan answered with one simple word. “No. I used to but an old valet once told me to just relax and not be uptight and to treat those days just like any other day. I’ve been doing that since.”
~ 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan and other high-profile horses will compete for more than $2.5 million in prize money over twelve races during 2025 Festival of Racing; Festival day to feature live music and family-friendly activities because The Race is Just the Start ~
NEW KENT, Va. (August 4, 2025)—Colonial Downs Racetrack is gearing for this Saturday’s 2025 Festival of Racing presented by New Kent County which will be the biggest day of thoroughbred racing in Virginia history. Horses, jockeys, and race teams from around the world, including 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, will gather in New Kent County to compete for more than $2.5 million in prize money over twelve races including the Arlington Million with its $1 million purse, the Beverly D. and Secretariat Stakes with $500,00 purses, and other six figure races.
The day’s notable entrants include 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan making his turf debut with jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr., 2023 Virginia Derby winner Integration, Irish import Cairo making his American debut, and 2025 Kentucky Derby winning jockey Junior Alvarado riding in both the Arlington Million and Secretariat Stakes.
Post time for Saturday’s slate of can’t-miss racing is 12:00pm.
Because The Race is Just the Start, the 2025 Festival of Racing will also feature:
special tributes to Virginia’s veteran and military communities; including free general admission to retired and active military (must present ID);
live music from American Idol contestant and New Kent native Grayson Torrence during the race card;
a classic race day hat contest where the winner receives a table for four to the 2026 Virginia Derby;
15 lucky ticket purchasers will receive a free $100 Win bet (Must purchase tickets by 10:00am on Friday, August 8) to qualify; and
family friendly activities including local food trucks, a petting zoo, facepainting, and more!
Covered and indoor seats are close to selling out, but General Admission tickets are still available for just $5 (children five and under free) and limited tables remain for dining-included admission in the Colonial Downs banquet room. All tickets can be purchased at www.ColonialDowns.com for this premium racing day.
“Virginia is quickly becoming a global destination for thoroughbred horse racing thanks to our rich purses, tremendous racing facility, and of course the thousands of fans who pack the stands for our marquee races,” said Frank Hopf, Senior Director of Racing at Colonial Downs. “The Virginia Derby in March was an historic moment as 8,000 fans watched American Promise punch his ticket to the 151st Kentucky Derby. We’re making history again this Saturday with the biggest and richest day of racing in Virginia history. New and returning fans of all ages will find fun and excitement on and off the track because The Race is Just the Start.”
Entrants for the day’s biggest races include horses with multiple graded stakes victories on their resumes, including 2024 Kentucky Derby champion Mystik Dan who will make his turf debut with jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr. who rode him to victory in that signature race. 2023 Virginia Derby winner Integration will return to Colonial Downs seeking the $1 million Arlington Million purse. Irish import Cairo will make his American debut after strong showings in Europe and Asia, while 2025 Kentucky Derby winning jockey Junior Alvarado will ride in both the Arlington Million and Secretariat Stakes.
Runaway Storm winning the Grade 3 Bryan Station at Keeneland on Oct. 28, 2023 (Credit: Coady Media)
Robert J. Hunt’s Runaway Storm has been aiming for the Grade 1 Arlington Million at Colonial Downs for more than a year, and assuming all goes well between now and the Aug. 9 Festival of Racing headline event, the Ethan West trainee who won the 2023 Bryan Station (G3) will get his shot at his second graded stakes score.
“We were actually targeting the Million last year,” West said. “We could only get one start into him before the Million, but we were okay with it because he ran really good off an eight-month layoff to just get beat a nose by Money Supply. But (after that race) he had a little bit of a setback. By the time he was going to get back up and going, it would have been the dead of winter. So we figured we’d just give him time off until the first of the year, then get him back up as a 5-year-old and campaign him towards the Million.”
In his first of two races so far this year, both on the turf at Horseshoe Indianapolis, Runaway Storm ran a troubled sixth. Most recently in the Jonathan B. Schuster Memorial Stakes, he led throughout but was run down by Encino, earning a consecutive second-place finish in the event.
“If you watch the last race at Indiana, he never stopped but just got beat by a good horse,” West said. “In the gallop out, his jockey couldn’t get him stopped until the half-mile pole going down the backside.”
In the 2023 Grade 3 Virginia Derby, Runaway Storm ran valiantly in defeat to Integration, setting extremely fast fractions but never throwing in the towel to finish third.
“He’s one of those horses that lays it down every time you lead him over,” West said.
After the Virginia Derby, Runaway Storm went to Keeneland for the Bryan Station and earned his young trainer’s first graded stakes title. The gelded son of Midnight Storm who was known for doing his best running on the lead, came from off the pace in the Bryan Station and tenaciously fought off Talk of the Nation in a thrilling photo finish.
“He just walked out of the gates that day and took a completely different approach to his running style,” West said. “I wish he would relax and have that running style more often. But he’s just a very heavy horse, a very strong horse. And he’s a very tough horse to break. We’ve never sent him and asked him to go to the lead. He just does it on his own. So he’s always kind of just been a front runner and even though he doesn’t explode down the lane, he doesn’t stop running.”
Trainer Ethan West (Credit: Coady Media)
Runaway Storm broke his maiden going nine furlongs and proved himself again at that distance with his third in the Virginia Derby, but at 1¼ miles over the turf, the Arlington Million will be his longest distance test to date.
“If we can get him to relax a little bit and harness that early speed, I think we’ll be fine),” West said.
So far this year West has accomplished a major milestone with Chunk of Gold earning a spot in Kentucky Derby 151. If Runaway Storm proves best in the Arlington Million, the 32-year-old who is based year-round at Turfway Park would achieve another first, surpassing $1 million in earnings for the first time in his eight-year career.
Arlington Million Probables
With entries for Colonial Downs Festival of Racing Day set to be drawn on Saturday, Aug. 2, the field for the Grade 1 Arlington Million is beginning to take shape.
Along with Runaway Storm, international juggernaut the Irish-bred Cairo is readying to ship to New Kent for trainer Alice Haynes. Having achieved multiple group two and group three placings around the globe, the 5-year-old son of Quality Road finished third last out in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Last year’s Arlington Million runner-up to Nations Pride, Integration is set to return for trainer Shug McGaughey. The 2023 Virginia Derby winner boasts $1,643,950 in career earnings, including three local scores.
Traimner Todd Pletcher plans to enter multiple graded stakes winner Grand Sonata.. Whisper Hill Farm’s homebred ran second last out in the United Nations (G2), and the 6-year-old horse has amassed $2,244,935 in lifetime earnings
With purse money totaling $2.5 million over seven stakes, the 2025 Colonial Downs Festival of Racing program also includes the Grade 2 $500,000 Beverly D., the Grade 2 $500,000 Secretariat Stakes, the $100,000 Petramalo Mile, the $100,000 Tyson Gilpin, the $150,000 Van Clief, and the $150,000 Andy Guest.
Tickets for the Colonial Downs Festival of Racing can be purchased at www.colonialdowns.com.
Colonial’s races will be prominently featured on FanDuel TV all season long. Additionally, FanDuel TV will be on-site for coverage of the Festival of Racing on August 9.
