*Originally posted on thoroughbreddailynews.com on 2/25/2026, written by J.N. Campbell*

Amy Moore, who owns and operates South Gate Farm in Virginia’s northern Shenandoah Valley, went to $300,000 on Tuesday afternoon to acquire Neom Beach (Omaha Beach) (hip 1) as the topper out of the Fasig-Tipton February Digital sale.

The breeder said she is always looking to add to her broodmare band and went online to see what she could unearth. It worked out by the time the ‘shot clock’ wound down.

“Fasig-Tipton has a great platform, especially for broodmares and broodmare prospects,” said Moore. “You’re not trying to evaluate whether they can run, you already know that. I am looking at pedigree and conformation, and you can do those things online pretty effectively. This is the second horse I’ve bought out of a digital sale.”

Of course, Moore is no stranger in auction circles as she bred current sire Forte (Violence) and sold his MSW dam Queen Caroline (Blame) for an even $3-million back in 2023. Finding the next prospect–broodmare or otherwise–is a challenging task South Gate’s owner said, especially in the current competitive climate.

“I’ve been looking since last November for either an in-foal mare or a broodmare prospect that I could breed this season,” she said. “I identified a number of mares that I was interested in, but I kept getting trampled underfoot when the bidding started. It’s amazing what mares of the quality I’m trying to buy are bringing these days.”

Moore said Neom Beach was very interesting because of her race record. The former attorney-turned-farmer set breeding a sound horse as one of her main priorities when she got into this business and that means steering well clear of unraced mares.

“I like to see a mare that’s actually been sound enough to run and talented enough to run successfully,” said Moore. “Neom Beach has both of those qualities and I was interested in her pedigree. She’s got a lot of family and has some siblings who also seem to have been very sound, durable runners at a lower level.”

The multiple stakes winner formerly co-owned by Bloom Racing has a half-sister who started 43 times and another who went to the post on no less than 32 occasions. According to Moore, the connection down the page to Virginia’s Woodslane Farm and their mare Dynaire (Dynaformer) was particularly intriguing.

“Neom Beach’s dam is half-sister to Dynaire who has produced stakes winners and fillies that are themselves stakes producers,” she said. “That’s a live family with Sadler’s Joy (by Kitten’s Joy), Wolfie’s Dynaghost (Ghostzapper) and the mare Dyna Passer (Lemon Drop Kid). Wolfie’s Dynaghost and Dyna Passer’s filly Sister Troienne (Munnings) will be running this weekend at Gulfstream, so we can always hope for an update.”

Described by Moore as a pretty mare with a lovely shoulder, Neom Beach will be immediately retired and head from Steve Asmussen’s shedrow at Sam Houston Race Park to Gunston Hall Farm in Kentucky.

“We will let her down from her racing form and have her relax for a few weeks so she can unwind,” said Moore. “I’m keeping my options open about where to send her. City of Light would be a good match. This mare needs a stallion that has a good hind leg. I think she is a little weak in that area and City of Light conveys that to his foals. I want a proven stallion that’s in the right price range and offers value.”

Moore confirmed that once Neom Beach is in foal and 42 days have elapsed at Gunston Hall the mare will return to South Gate Farm where she will join roughly 30 other residents–including yearlings who are part of the state’s robust certified program.

“I’ve got a beautiful piece of land and I’m trying to breed good, sound and talented racehorses,” she said. “We breeders have to race eventually and eat our own cooking, but I’m a farmer by nature and this is what I love to do.”

South Gate’s newest broodmare should be right at home in Virginia.

Million-dollar earning Gigante, named 2025 Virginia-Bred Horse of the Year, headlines a slate of award winners whose connections will receive hardware for their efforts Saturday March 14 at Colonial Downs. The trophy presentations will take place on the winner’s circle stage between races during the prestigious Virginia Derby Day card in New Kent. 

Gigante, owned by L and N Racing LLC and Clark Brewster, had three wins last year — two on grass and one on dirt — and $241,578 in earnings. The 6-year-old Not This Time horse was also named Virginia-bred Turf Horse of the Year. Gigante kicked off the year with a victory in the Colonel E. R. Bradley Stakes at Fair Grounds, then after stakes placed efforts in the Grade 2 Muniz Memorial in New Orleans and the Find Stakes at Colonial Downs, won back-to-back starts at Remington — the Remington Green Stakes and an allowance. The Steve Asmussen trainee was bred by Ann Mudge Backer & Smitten Farm.

Of Gigante’s 31 career starts, seven took place at the New Kent track including wins in the 2023 Secretariat Stakes (Gr. 2), 2022 Kitten’s Joy Stakes and a maiden special weight score the same year. Overall, the Virginia award winner has bankrolled $1,371,978 heading into action this spring.

   

Another million-dollar earner was named Top Virginia-bred Older Male. Eight-year-old Tapiture gelding Repo Rocks took honors by winning the Edward P. Evans Stakes at Colonial and collecting top-three finishes in two other stakes — a third in the Grade 3 Philip H. Iselin at Monmouth and a second in the Boston Handicap in New Kent. The Jamie Ness trainee was also runner-up in a Parx allowance. Bred by Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin, Repo Rocks has career earnings of $1,150,466 —  $184,875 of which came in 2025. The award recipient is owned by Double B Racing Stables.

John Wade’s 4-year-old Not This Time filly Winfinity took honors as Top Virginia-bred Older Filly/Mare. Bred by Ann Mudge Backer & Smitten Farm, the award winner made her presence felt in New Kent with a victory in the $125,000 Miss Disco Stakes July 12, a pair of close seconds in a $101,000 spring allowance and in summer $127,000 All Brandy Stakes. She even collected a third in a $100,000 handicap on closing day. The John Ortiz trainee bankrolled $143,480 from seven starts last year.

Top Virginia-bred Two-Year-Old honors went to Larry Johnson’s Doubting Thomas who captured the $125,000 Jamestown Stakes on turf in gate-to-wire fashion. One month prior, the Carvaggio colt came from behind to win an $87,500 maiden special weight against ten other turf sprinters. With only two lifetime starts, the Michael Trombetta trainee has earnings of $127,500, He was bred by the late Larry Johnson at his Legacy Farm in Bluemont and is owned by Johnson’s Estate.   

Multi-million dollar earning Mindframe, also bred by Johnson, was named Top Virginia-Certified Older Male based on a stellar season that included a pair of Grade 1 stakes wins and a Grade 2 score. The 5-year-old Constitution horse won the Churchill Downs Stakes (Gr. 1) by a neck in May then came back a month later and prevailed in the Stephen Foster (Gr. 1) by a length over Sierra Leone. He kicked off the 2025 campaign with a win in the Gulfstream Park Mile (Gr. 2) and overall, amassed $1.4 million in winnings last year alone. Owned by Repole Stables and St. Elias Stables, Mindframe is trained by Todd Pletcher and has $2,054,580 in career earnings from just nine outings.

 The Estate of Larry Johnson’s Future Is Now powered home to three stakes victories in 2025, compiled earnings of $366,000 and as a result, was named  Virginia-Certified Older Filly & Mare of the Year. The 6-year-old Great Notion mare reached the winners circle in the Giant’s Causeway Stakes (Gr. 3) at Keeneland by a nose in April, the Caress Stakes (Gr. 3) at Saratoga by one-half length in July, and the Smart and Fancy Stakes at Saratoga the following month. In June, Future Is Now was runner-up in the Intercontinental Stakes at Saratoga (Gr. 2). Overall, the Michael Trombetta trainee has earned $967,000 in winnings from 18 career starts. He was bred by Johnson and was certified at his Legacy Farm. 

Just Philtored, a now 3-year-old great Notion filly, was named Top Virginia-Certified 2-Year-Old courtesy of an outstanding 2025 campaign where she won four races and bankrolled $279,430.  Bred by ZWP Stable & Non Stop Stable of Maryland, the winner spent her 6-month Virginia residency at Pat Neusch’s Braeburn Training Center in Crozet. Another Trombetta trainee, Just Philtored won two stakes in New Kent including the Dolley Madison in an impressive gate-to-wire performance with Mychel Sanchez in the irons, and the Keswick Stakes by a neck with Sanchez up again. Later in the year, she prevailed in the Maryland Juvenile Filly Stakes at Laurel.

Madison Meyers, whose operation is based out of the Middleburg Training Center, will be awarded Top Trainer honors on March 14. In 2025, she sent 146 starters out to compete and collected 19 wins, 15 seconds & 12 thirds, good for $1,043,173 in purse earnings. Desvio, her star performer, won the Grade 2 Sycamore Stakes at Keeneland in October which followed a second in New Kent’s Colonial Cup Stakes and third place finishes in a pair of Grade 2’s — the Red Smith at Aqueduct and the Dinner Party at Pimlico. Meyers also scored wins with six different horses at Colonial Downs: Secure’s Hope, Rector, Phil’s Prince, Twain, War Madam and Ruby Hamilton.

Larry Johnson, who had 18 Virginia-breds in action last year that compiled $861,273 in winnings, was named Virginia Breeder of the Year. In addition to Doubting Thomas, other of his top competitors included Noquestionaboutit who bankrolled $111,600 and had a maiden special weight and allowance win at Laurel, Hark Theangelssing who amassed $108,900 and had a winning maiden special weight effort at Colonial, and Noquestionaboutit ($107,613) whose 2025 highlight was a triumph in the Glen Petty Stakes.         

New brand, logo, and digital presence mark the start of the biggest year of horse racing in Virginia history; Will debut at Virginia Derby on March 14, 2026

NEW KENT, Va. (February 12, 2025)— Colonial Downs Racetrack today launched a new brand, logo, and digital presence to mark the start of a new era for thoroughbred racing in Virginia. As Virginia’s premier thoroughbred racetrack prepares for the biggest year of racing in its history, this new brand identity represents the excitement, growth, and promise of Virginia’s equine industry while evoking the history and timelessness of Virginia’s oldest sport.

The new Colonial Downs brand will make its debut at the upcoming Virginia Derby spring meet March 12-14, 2026. Tickets are on sale now at www.ColonialDowns.com for the Virginia Derby on March 14. All reserved tickets for this Kentucky Derby qualifying race are sold out, while a limited number of general admission tickets are still available for just $5 or $75 for a loaded ticket including food and drink vouchers.

“With a record number of race days, growing crowds and purses, a Kentucky Derby qualifier race, and some of the most passionate fans around, Virginia is stepping into the sport’s global spotlight,” said Frank Hopf, Senior Director of Racing Operations at Colonial Downs. “This exciting new identity for Colonial Downs honors Virginia’s rich history of thoroughbred racing while inviting new fans and longtime enthusiasts to come experience the thrill of live racing at Virginia’s premier thoroughbred racetrack. It’s a new look for a new era, and we invite you to be a part of it!”

Colonial Downs’ new logo features a striding thoroughbred whose shape mirrors that of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Its forward momentum embodies the growth and excitement around Virginia’s growing equine industry and the thrill of live racing. The five strands of the horse’s mane represent five regions of the state: Southwest Virginia, Northern Virginia, Central Virginia, Hampton Roads, and the Shenandoah Valley.

The track’s new signature colors also carry significance. Colonial Downs Copper represents the sport’s enduring connections to the earth and the dirt of the racing surface, while Regal Navy represents the noble history of horse racing and the steady strength of both horse and jockey.

Beginning with the Virginia Derby Spring Meet from March 12-14, fans will see these new colors, logos, and brand elements on signage, merchandise, promotional materials, at the track, and around the country.

Colonial Downs has also refreshed its digital presence to prepare for the upcoming season with an updated, user-friendly website featuring race schedules, promotions, and track information, as well as updated Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts.

The updated brand identity builds on the acquisition of Colonial Downs Racetrack by industry leader Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) in late 2022. Since then, CDI has invested millions of dollars to elevate Colonial Downs into a premier racing venue and to reinvent the guest experience as a social entertainment destination for all ages, delivering higher-profile races, increased purses, expanded race days with enhanced weekend offerings, special programming for families, upgraded grandstand guest amenities, and significant facility enhancements for racing stakeholders.

The 2026 race season at Colonial Downs in New Kent County will be the biggest year of racing in Virginia’s history. The track will host a record 48 days of live racing including the prestigious Virginia Derby—the Commonwealth’s only Kentucky Derby qualifying race—on March 14, 2026.

Tickets for the Virginia Derby are now on sale at www.ColonialDowns.com and going fast. All reserved seats for this iconic event have been sold, while $5 General Admission and $75 “Loaded” General Admission tickets with food and drink tickets continue to sell fast.

Following the March meet, the racing season will continue with 45 days of live racing each Thursday through Sunday from June 25 through a special day of racing on Labor Day, Monday, September 7. The summer meet will include the annual Colonial Downs Festival of Racing with the iconic Arlington Million, the Old Dominion Derby, and additional high-profile graded stakes races throughout the summer.

Season tickets and individual race day tickets for the entire 2026 season are also available at www.ColonialDowns.com.

Throughout the season guests will find a variety of promotions, giveaways, and food and drink specials for racing enthusiasts, new fans, and families.

*Originally posted on 1/31/25 on www.thoroughbreddailynews.com, written by Stefanie Grimm”

Two turns, zero problems.

With racing action largely limited to the far south across the rest of the country, Nearly (Not This Time) gave the frozen East Coast something to cheer about and passed his stretch-out test with authority Saturday, capturing the GIII Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park and picking up 20 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

A Florida-bred and Virginia-certified son of Not This Time, Nearly built on a lackluster Aqueduct debut in October, coming back less than a month later to destroy fellow Florida-breds at Gulfstream by 9 1/4 lengths. Going seven furlongs against winners in his 3-year-old debut, the Todd Pletcher runner put up a 97 Beyer Speed Figure in a five-length winning performance Jan. 2. And if that failed to catch the eye, Nearly entered Saturday’s Holy Bull off a best-of-25 work going four furlongs at Palm Beach Downs in :48 2/5 on Jan. 24.

The second choice at 8-5 behind favored ‘TDN Rising Star’ Cannoneer (Into Mischief) just to his inside, Nearly hooked his rival right from the jump and the pair sped off on the short run into the first turn on this 1 1/16-mile journey. The slightly speedier Cannoneer held a heads-length advantage into the backstretch with Nearly content to sit just off his flank through fractions of :22.82 and :45.96.

New York-bred Bravaro (Upstart) sat in that pair’s wake a length back and Global Aviator (Global Campaign) was the only other runner left in the shot as the dueling leaders continued to duke it out around the far turn.

With just over a quarter-mile left to run, Nearly stepped on the gas and Cannoneer failed to respond to the move, falling back as his rival hit a new gear down the lane. Bravaro did well to run a strong second but there was no doubting the winner as Nearly cruised home under a hands and heels ride from John Velazquez. 40-1 longshot Project Ace (War of Will) out-finished Cannoneer to fill out the trifecta.

“I thought it was going to be a two-horse race, but I didn’t think my horse would be that close,” said Velazquez. “He got a little aggressive today. He was never like that. Normally, it takes him a little while to get his legs under him, but today he was there right away. This race he elevated to a different level. I didn’t expect him to be that aggressive, but that’s what good horses do.”

Now with 20 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, Nearly sits officially tied for second with GIII Lecomte Stakes winner Golden Tempo (Curlin). The leader however, Nearly’s ‘TDN Rising Star’ stablemate Ted Noffey (Into Mischief), was recently pulled off the Derby trail with bone bruising. Bravaro earned 10 points for his runner-up finish and now sits 15th on the leaderboard for Saffie Joseph Jr. while Project Ace added 6 points and sits 20th for Albaugh Family Stables whose On Time Girl won the earlier GIII Forward Gal.

“We wanted to get to the first turn forwardly, not necessarily on the lead but in a good stalking position,” added Pletcher. “He kind of broke inward a little bit and recovered. Those two went to the first turn and they were clicking right along. It looked like he got into a good rhythm. At that point I was a little worried about who might be closing from behind because they went pretty fast together early, but it looked like he turned for home and had a lot of horse under him. It was an impressive race.”

“We always felt like he would handle the stretchout but it’s always good to see. The horse has been training super and we felt good coming into this but, yeah, that was everything we hoped it would be.”

“You have ups and downs in this game, that’s just the way it is. [Ted Noffey] won’t be the only defection on the way to the Derby. We were fortunate he had a magnificent 2-year-old campaign, and it just wasn’t meant to be in the early spring for this year. We’re happy the prognosis is good for a healthy comeback and we look forward to getting him back at Saratoga. I don’t really look at it like this one replaces that one. This horse has been doing well on his own and we have high hopes for him. We’re happy to have him.”

Pletcher indicated that Nearly would likely stay at Gulfstream Park to compete in the GI Curlin Florida Derby, the track’s final leg on Road to the Kentucky Derby.

“We kind of talked about it,” Pletcher said. “This was his third race pretty close together and we felt like we’d get the two-turn race under his belt and see where we stood. I think after seeing that today, I’ll talk to Don Little and the Centennial [Farm] guys and we’ll come up with a plan. But the horse is three-for-three at Gulfstream and there’s plenty of time to the Florida Derby. It probably makes sense to take a close look at staying home.”