Virginia Derby

Impressive winner of the GIII Gotham Stakes over the local main track to begin the season, 'TDN Rising Star' Deterministic  (Liam's Map) has found his footing on the grass during the second half of the campaign and won for second time at the graded level over the surface, validating 7-4 favoritism in Saturday's GIII Hill Prince Stakes at Aqueduct. Victorious in the GIII Virginia Derby ahead of a game runner-up effort in the GIII Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes over a mile and three furlongs last time, the $625,000 Keeneland...

The surest sign that autumn is upon us is that we are already beginning to look ahead to next spring. In the racing world, that means the release of the 2025 Road to the GI Kentucky Derby qualifying schedule, and the list of points-awarding prep races that came out Friday contained a few tweaks. Two stood out--a schedule addition and a rule change. Churchill Downs Inc., the gaming company that controls the Derby and the points system that determines which horses get into the race, locked up a prime piece...

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...

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...

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...

Heavily favored to run his unbeaten streak to three, West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing's Integration (Quality Road) made his off price of 4-5 look like an early Christmas gift, as he parlayed a perfect trip into a dominating victory in Saturday's $250,000 GII Hill Prince S. at Aqueduct. Away without incident from the three hole, the $700,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga graduate fell into the ideal spot from third, racing in clear air, as 65-1 Laurel Valley (Laoban) set a solid pace in advance of a headstrong Equitize (GB) (Kingman {GB}),...

The least experienced of the nine 3-year-olds signed on for Saturday's GIII New Kent County Virginia Derby, with only a maiden victory--albeit a smashing one--to his success, West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing's Integration (c, 3, Quality Road--Harmonize, by Scat Daddy) grabbed heavily favored Program Trading (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) with less than a furlong to go and came away to an impressive victory in new course-record time. Well-backed at 67-10 despite his overall lack of seasoning, the $700,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga purchase took up a position in the latter...

Buoyed by a record-breaking handle of more than $6.5 million on New Kent County Virginia Derby Day, Colonial Downs shattered all wagering marks this racing season, the fourth under the management of Colonial Downs Group and ownership of Peninsula Pacific Entertainment. Total handle for the 26-day live racing meet was $74,940,840 for a daily average of $2,882,340, up more than 29% from the 2021 average daily handle mark of $2,231,765 during that season's 21-day session. This race meet marked an all-time wagering high in the history of Colonial Downs. "The...

On paper, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Robert LaPenta and Gainesway Stable's Capensis (Tapit), a $2-million Keeneland September yearling purchase and impressive debut winner at Belmont early this summer, was the most lightly-raced yet still appeared to be among the top contenders in Colonial's GIII New Kent County Virginia Derby Tuesday evening. Backed down to 8-5 favoritism while stepping up to graded company following a sixth in a Saratoga allowance July 30, the flashy grey swept from off the pace late, and despite running greenly in the stretch, took home the lion's...

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will sponsor the Kitten's Joy S. on closing day of the Colonial Downs meet. A presentation of a TAA blanket and swag bag will be made to the winning connections following the running of the race. "We're thrilled to again partner with the TAA in sponsorship of the Kitten's Joy Stakes," said Colonial Downs Vice-President of Racing Operations, Jill Byrne. "We appreciate and value the importance of what the TAA provides to the industry and are happy to recognize their great efforts on our biggest day...

Spearheaded by competitive fields on both of its racing surfaces and continued high interest in its Pick 5 wager, officials at Colonial Downs revealed Monday that the average all-sources wagering through the first five weeks of the 27-day Colonial Downs presented by Woodford Reserve race meeting is up 30.7% over the same corresponding time period of the 2021 meet; the $2,625,248 through the first 15 days of the meeting, compared to $2,008,092 through the first 15 days last year. A total of $1,113,614 was bet into the sixth race Aug....