The condition book for Colonial Downs' three-day spring meeting which runs from Thursday, Mar. 13 through Saturday, Mar. 15 is available (click here). The meet is highlighted by the $500,000 Virginia Derby and $250,000 Virginia Oaks on Mar. 15, which for the first time are points races on the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” and “Road to the Kentucky Oaks,” respectively.
The Virginia Derby and Virginia Oaks have been moved to the dirt track and repositioned to March to serve as prep races for the Derby and Oaks.
The Virginia Derby will be run at 1-1/8 miles and the Virginia Oaks will be contested at 1-1/16 miles. Each race offers 50 points to its winner while the next four finishers will receive 25, 15, 10 and 5 points on a sliding scale toward the appropriate race.
Additional Virginia-restricted races include a pair of overnight handicaps–the $150,000 Stellar Wind, a six-furlong dash for older fillies and mares and the $150,000 Boston, a seven-furlong race for older horses-headlining the Friday, Mar. 14 card.
Maiden Special Weight races will go for $75,000 for open runners and $93,750 for Virginia-restricted horses. A first-level allowance race carries an $80,000 purse and the complimentary Virginia-restricted event is worth $100,000.
Nominations for the Virginia Derby, Virginia Oaks and the two overnight handicaps close Wednesday, Feb. 26. Entries for the Virginia Derby and Virginia Oaks will be taken at Colonial Downs on Saturday, Mar. 8.
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