Colonial Downs

It's the end of an era for the Virginia Derby. After 21 editions dating back to 1998 at Colonial Downs, the 1 1/8-mile turf event that historically anchors the Closing Day card will move to the main track and be conducted in March as part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby. And so it seems only fitting that a pair of horses who took on the Triple Crown trail just this season brought this race down to the wire with GIII Gotham Stakes winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Deterministic...

A multiple Grade 1 winner in his native South Africa, and the 2023 champion sprinter, Isivunguvungu (SAf) (What a Winter {SAf}) made his North American debut a winning one with a gutsy effort in the Da Hoss Stakes at Colonial Downs. Victorious in the G1 Mercury Sprint last July in Greyville, and also able to claim the G1 Jonsson Workwear Computaform Stakes earlier that year in April at Turffontein, he also picked up a placing at the highest level via a blanket finish to run third in the G1 Pongracz...

It's been nearly 30 years since trainer Bob Baffert won his first GI Del Mar Debutante Stakes with Batroyale back in 1995. The Hall of Fame conditioner looks to have a stranglehold on this year's renewal of the seven-furlong contest, as he sends out a pair of big-money fillies, each campaigned by previous Debutante scorers. Front and center is 'TDN Rising Star' Nooni (Win Win Win), the $1.8-million topper from this year's OBS March Sale, who looks to become the second winner of the event in the last four years...

The Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series, the select races that will determine the preference list for the 151st Kentucky Derby, is out, Churchill Downs said in a press release on Friday. During a special meeting at Colonial Downs, the Virginia Derby--occupying a spot on the racing calendar that was previously void of any qualifying races on Saturday, Mar. 15--is the latest addition to the schedule. The race will award 105 points to the top five finishers including 50 points to the winner. As for the Road to the...

3rd-DMR, 75K, Msw, 2yo, 1mT, 5:30 p.m. One of two entries for trainer Bob Baffert, the New York-bred ZABO (Justify) sold to Zedan Racing for $700,000 at OBS March earlier this year from the Chester and Mary Broman consignment. The colt is the first foal out of MSW/GSP Pauseforthecause (Giant's Causeway) who earned nearly $550,000 in her career and is herself a daughter of MSW/GISP Spritely (Touch Gold). After bringing just $100,000 as a yearling at Keeneland September, Zabo impressed with a sharp quarter-mile breeze in :20.2. Joining him to...

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) will be present at Colonial Downs during Virginia Derby weekend starting on Saturday, Sept. 7, the organization said in a release Thursday. Colonial Downs, a longtime supporter of accredited aftercare, will honor the TAA with a named race on the card. Aftercare members will present for the GIII Kitten's Joy Stakes and make a presentation in the winner's circle, and a number of other scheduled events are planned. "I'm both excited and grateful to represent Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance at Colonial Downs on Virginia Derby Day,"...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This column is highlighted by the victory of Zulu Kingdom at Saratoga.   Ten Sovereigns's Zulu Kingdom Best In With Anticipation The undefeated Zulu Kingdom (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) made his American bow in style to take the GIII With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga by a neck on Aug. 29 (video). The Chad Brown trainee races in the silks of Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, William Strauss and Michael Caruso. Ecurie Peregrine SAS...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Gypsy Woman at Del Mar this past weekend.   Cotai Glory Filly Comes Good In California Fresh off siring a 'TDN Rising Star' on Sunday, Cotai Glory (GB) is also the sire of Del Mar allowance heroine Gypsy Woman (Ire), who won over a mile later that day for trainer Mark Glatt (video). Raced by Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners and Rancho Temescal, LLC,...

NEW KENT COUNTY, VA -- After sending out the beaten favorites in both the GI FanDuel Fourstardave Handicap and GI Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes at Saratoga, the Godolphin's Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) struck for chalk players hundreds of miles to the south as he quickened up beautifully in the stretch to take out Sunday's GI Arlington Million Stakes at Colonial Downs. Scheduled first post for Sunday's big card was 1 p.m. ET, but satellite issues meant that the race did not jump until 1:52 p.m. A visit from Virginia...

NEW KENT COUNTY, VA -- For the second consecutive year, the trophy for the GII Beverly D. Stakes will go back to Canada after the country's 2022 Horse of the Year Moira (Ghostzapper) got just the better of an entertaining final-furlong tussle with defending champion and reigning HOTY Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}). The Tracy Farmer runner left there running and although she had a bit of pesky early pressure from Libban (Laoban), Fev Rover was a clear leader turning up the backside as Moira set up camp three deep...

NEW KENT COUNTY, VA -- It would have been no surprise had trainer Graham Motion elected to run Amerman Racing's Trikari (Oscar Performance) in Sunday's rescheduled GI Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes as opposed to the GII Secretariat Stakes at Colonial Downs. After all, the long-barreled bay was exiting a victory in the GI Belmont Derby over a mile and three-sixteenths, but Trikari proved more than capable of handling the step back down in trip with a powerful victory in the eight-furlong Secretariat. The second betting choice when all was said...

NEW KENT COUNTY, VA -- Prior to the running of Sunday's third race on the Colonial Downs 'Festival of Racing' program, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that the track, which has run summer dates since its return to the racing calendar five years ago, would be conducting a 'spring' meeting at the New Kent County track. Youngkin also told the crowd on hand that the Virginia Derby, previously held on the turf, would be contested during the new meeting and that it is to become a points-earning race on the...