Nominations closed over the weekend for a trio of $60,000 Virginia-bred stakes that will be run at Pimlico June 25th as part of a new “Mid-Atlantic Day” racing event, and the initial response was strong.
Ned Evans-bred Code West winning the Governor’s Stake at Remington Park. Photo Courtesy Dustin Orona Photography.
A total of 37 horses nominated to the Edward P. Evans Stakes, which is for three year olds and up at 1 1/16th miles on turf. Two of the four high money earners among nominees are horses bred by Evans — Code West and Noble Moon, the latter of which was bred by his estate. Code West is a 6 year old Lemon Drop Kid gelding that has earned $560,283 but has made just one start on grass in 24 outings. Noble Moon is a 5 year old son of Malibu Moon that has bankrolled $399,790 in 16 career starts, all on dirt.
The second highest earning nominee is Long On Value, who was bred by Snow Lantern Thoroughbreds, at $613,118. The Bill Mott trainee is by Value Plus out of Long Message by Orientate, and has won $536,618 on grass.
Long On Value wins the Jamestown Stakes at Colonial Downs in 2013. Photo by Coady Photography.
Every penny of Middleburg’s $429,760 bankroll has come from turf starts. The consistent 6 year old Lemon Drop Kid gelding has 17 “in the money” finishes from 19 starts and captured the Grade 3 Red Bank Stakes at Monmouth most recently.
Other notable nominees include Rose Brier ($386,726), Service For Ten ($373,895), Two Notch Road ($361,433) and Hard Enough ($341,425). One Go All Go, winner of last year’s Grade 2 Commonwealth Derby, has also nominated.
A total of 33 horses nominated to the White Oak Farm Stakes, set for five furlongs on turf. Service For Ten and Two Notch Road are the two high earners, and both also nominated to the Evans Stakes. The former is a 7 year old gelding by Service Stripe out of Tenacious Cheryl by Wild Zone while the latter is 9 year old gelding by Partner’s Hero out of Capiana by Capote. Service For Ten was bred by Mr. & Mrs. Sidney Cox while Two Notch Road was bred by James Hackman. Other notables include Simmstown ($207,015), Exaggerated ($169,660) and Joe Tess ($160,594).
Bred by the Hart Farm, Exaggerated won by 1 1/2 lengths in the 2015 Giant’s Causeway Stakes. Photo courtesy of Coady Photography.
A total of 23 horses nominated to the Nellie Mae Cox Stakes for fillies/mares three years old and up, set for 1 1/16th miles on turf. 2015 Brookmeade Stakes winner Complete St. nominated as did 2015 Jamestown Stakes winner, Away We Go. The former, bred by Mede Cahaba Stable & Stud, LLC, has earned $195,240 from 24 starts, 21 of which have been on grass. She is a 6 year old daughter of St. Averil out of Complete Number by Polish Numbers. The latter is a three year old Tizway filly out of Gone To Utah by Salt lake. She has made only five lifetime starts.
Pauper’s Queen connected in a $17,000 claimer at Presque Isle, boosting her bankroll to $157,900. Photo courtesy of Coady Photography.
Pauper’s Queen, an 8 year old daughter of Royal Academy, also nominated . She has won two straight races and has made 57 career starts. Virginia Rose, who also dropped in, was bred by David Ross, has made 49 starts and her bankroll is just shy of $100,000.
In addition to the three Virginia-bred stakes, a pair of $75,000 Maryland-bred stakes will be on the card — The Find and All Brandy. Two Virginia-bred $30,000 maiden races will also be held at the five furlong distance — one for boys and another for girls, ages three and up.