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Capensis, $2-Million Son of Tapit, Scores in Virginia Derby

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 share of the $300,000 pot. Breaking evenly from post 10, the Todd Pletcher trainee was content to be settle back early as Vance Scholars (Holy Boss) went to the front with dual British Group 2 winner Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Catnip (Kitten's Joy) and GII Penn Mile victor Wow Whata Summer (Summer Front) all within three lengths of a moderate pace. While Joel Rosario tried to contain the headstrong Royal Patronage through a :23.24 quarter, Irad Ortiz Jr. found a much easier time of it as his mount Capensis lingered in sixth as the pacesetter carved out a :47.62 half. With three furlongs left to run, the leading rank began to constrict as Capensis began to pick up the tempo, picking off rivals heading to the quarter pole. In the meantime, leaders Catnip and Royal Patronage battled for supremacy, and while the former gained a slight advantage straightening for home, the steely grey swept out wide turning for home and loomed large down the center of the track. Despite veering in sharply, and then reacting to a left-handed whip to drift outward in the stretch, Capensis proved he was clearly the best of the rest, crossing the wire 2 1/2 lengths over California Frolic (California Chrome) with Limited Liability (Kitten's Joy) getting up for third.

Fresh off another riding title at the recently concluded Saratoga meeting, Irad Ortiz Jr. came away with five wins on Colonial's Virginia Derby Day card.

Capensis was sent off at what now appears to be an overlay at 5-1 in his debut going 1 1/16-miles at Belmont July 2 and quickly showed his class, rolling home an emphatic five-length winner over next out winners Running Bee (English Channel) and Sosua Summer (Summer Front). Rightly bet down to even-money favoritism in his latest start at the Spa, he faced some obstacles but still managed to finish a close-up sixth.

Pedigree Notes:

With his Virginia Derby victory, Capensis becomes the 155th black-type winner and 97th graded winner for Gainesway's leading sire Tapit. The bottom side of the colt's pedigree is no less impressive with 'TDN Rising Star' Tara's Tango (Unbridled's Song), a three-time graded winner including the GI Santa Margarita S. A half-sister to GISW Visionaire (Grand Slam), GSW & MGISP Scarlet Strike (Smart Strike) and GSW Madison's Luna (Tapit), the winner's dam has a juvenile colt by Curlin and a yearling by Quality Road.

Campaigned by her breeder Stonestreet Stables, Tara's Tango hit paydirt quickly as a broodmare when her first foal, a colt by Medaglia d'Oro, brought $2.15 million at Keeneland September in 2019. The following season, Eaton Sales consigned Capensis, who topped the covid-impacted 2020 renewal of the Keeneland September sale.

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Colonial Downs Approved For Expanded Race Meet In 2022

Fresh on the heels of a record setting Thoroughbred racing season in 2021, racing dates for an expanded 2022 Colonial Downs Race Meet presented by Woodford Reserve were approved Wednesday at the Virginia Racing Commission meeting which was held at the New Kent track.

The number of race days will increase from 21 to 27, and daily average purse monies will rise from $522,000 in 2021 to an expected $600,000 in 2022.

The upcoming 9-week campaign will run from July 11 – Sept. 7.

The race day schedule will mirror the '21 slate, with racing every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 1:30 PM (EDT).

The highly successful 2021 meet featured 21 race days and an average daily betting handle of $2,240,000. A total of $10.4 million in purse monies were distributed and average field size was a healthy 8.36 starters per race.

Details on the 2022 stakes schedule, including the Grade 3 Virginia Derby, will be announced in the coming weeks. Colonial Downs is home to the Secretariat Turf Course, widest grass racing surface in the country, and a 1 1/4 miles dirt oval, second longest only to Belmont's 1 1/2 miles track.

For more information, visit colonialdowns.com.

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Colonial Downs, Virginia HBPA Donate $50,000 To Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance

Another successful Colonial Downs race meet was highlighted by a dedication to Thoroughbred Aftercare. After the sixth race on the Virginia Derby card Aug. 31 at Colonial Downs, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance accepted a check for $50,000 from Colonial Downs and the Virginia Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association.

Initiated in 2019, Colonial Downs and the Virginia HBPA have each pledged $15 per start at the Colonial Downs meet to the TAA.

“It is with gratitude to the majestic horses that we proudly support TAA aftercare jointly with the VHBPA,” said Colonial Downs President of Racing Operations John Marshall. “Colonial Downs believes in doing our part to help retired horses that have given so much to provide entertainment, employment, and passion to so many.”

The TAA also hosted the Best Turned Out Horse Awards on Virginia Derby Day, sponsored by the Virginia HBPA, providing a cash prize and gift bag to the winning groom of the Best Turned Out Horse for each of the five stakes races on the card: the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Old Nelson Stakes, the Woodford Reserve Kitten's Joy Stakes, the Exacta Systems Rosie's Stakes, the Woodford Reserve Virginia Oaks, and the New Kent County Virginia Derby (G3T).

The winning horse and groom for the best turned out awards are as follows:

R6 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Old Nelson Stakes: BRAMBLE QUEEN and groom Luis Quintero

R7 Woodford Reserve Kitten's Joy Stakes: EPIC LUCK and groom Valentin Fonseca

R8 Exacta Systems Rosie's Stakes: TEJANO TWIST and groom Ivan Morales

R9 Woodford Reserve Virginia Oaks: ZEYARAAT and groom Oscar Cardona

R10 New Kent County Virginia Derby (G3T): DOUBLEOSEVEN and groom Francisco Oscura

“Colonial Downs is once again proud to support the TAA throughout our 2021 racing season,” said Jill Byrne vice president of racing operations Colonial Downs. “The care of horses during and after their racing careers is of the upmost importance, and the work the TAA does to ensure that this is accomplished, is extraordinary. We were delighted to have the TAA at Colonial Downs for Virginia Derby Day.”

“Like so many tracks across the country, Colonial Downs and Virginia HBPA is doing their part to not only bring awareness to aftercare but support it financially,” said TAA President Jimmy Bell. “What better day than Virginia Derby Day to highlight this important endeavor and their collaborative efforts in helping Thoroughbreds transition into their second careers.”

In addition to the Best Turned Out Horse Awards, the TAA presented the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Old Nelson Stakes, won by Graham Motion trainee Tuned (GB) for owner Al Shaqab Racing.

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Virginia Derby Highlights All-Stakes, All-Turf Pick-5 Tuesday At Colonial Downs

A field of 12 will go to post in the 18th running of the Grade 3 New Kent County Virginia Derby presented by Woodford Reserve on Tuesday August 31 at Colonial Downs, featured event of five stakes on the card and eleven races in all.

The Derby carries a purse of $250,000 and will be contested at 1 1/8 miles over the track's signature Secretariat Turf Course. Programmed as the tenth race, it will be the final leg of an All-Stakes, All-Turf Pick-5 wager covering races 6-10 that kicks off with the $150,000 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Old Nelson Stakes and continues with the $100,000 Woodford Reserve Kitten's Joy Stakes, the $100,000 Exacta Systems Rosie's Stakes and the $150,000 Woodford Reserve Virginia Oaks. First post Tuesday is 1:45 PM and the Derby itself is at 6:14 PM.

The top three finishers from the Bald Eagle Derby at Pimlico July 24 all return to square off in the Virginia Derby and all are early favorites.

With only two lifetime starts, Augustin Stable's Experienced was a solid runner-up in the Bald Eagle last out which followed a maiden special weight score over the Delaware turf June 21. Jonathan Thomas conditions the Temple City gelding who is favored at 7-2. Manuel Franco will be in the irons.

Augustin Stable is seeking their third Virginia Derby win. They scored in the 1998 inaugural edition with Crowd Pleaser and three years later with Potaro.

Gap View Stables and Jagger Inc.'s Indian Lake, a gate-to-wire winner in the Bald Eagle, is co-second favorite at 5-1. The 3-year-old Daredevil gelding has finished in-the-money in 16 of 17 career starts and has earnings of $222,408, highest of any in the field. The Jamie Ness trainee has a trio of allowance wins this year, a runner-up in the Jersey Derby and a third in the Sussex Stakes. Ruben Silvera will ride.

Madaket Stables LLC's Wootton Asset, third place finisher in the Bald Eagle, is trained by Graham Motion who won the 2019 Virginia Derby with English Bee. The 3-year-old Wootton Bassett colt, also 5-1, took third in the Grade 3 Kent Stakes July 3 and finished second by a nose in the Laurel Futurity last October. He has bankrolled $100,245 from nine turf starts. Jose Ortiz has the mount.

Gallagher's Stud's Search For Truth dominated a Colonial maiden special weight race by 11 1/2 lengths August 10 at the 1 1/8 miles distance and is 8-1 in the Derby. The Michael Dickinson trainee's only other start came over a soft turf at Delaware where he rallied from fifth at the top of the stretch to finish second. Joe Rocco Jr., who rode the Tourist colt to victory three weeks ago, is back up top.

Also at 8-1, L and N Racing's Hidden Enemy only has one win from ten starts but has faced tough competition in his last four outs. The Steve Asmussen trainee was fourth in the Grade 2 American Turf at Churchill May 1 then finished ninth in the $1 million, Grade I Belmont Derby July 10. The Irish-bred son of Galileo broke his maiden March 21 at Fair Grounds. Feargal Lynch will ride.

Red Oak Stable's It Can Be Done, 10-1 early, has bankrolled $177,330 from ten starts including a win in the Nownownow Stakes at Monmouth last October. The Temple City gelding finished a solid second last out in the Tale of the Cat Stakes and lost by a neck March 27 in the Cutler Bay at Gulfstream. The Greg Sacco trainee has competed in six stakes thus far. Jose Ferrer is the jockey.

Rounding out the Derby field is Savesnine Corporation's Draft Capital, McCarty Racing LLC's Doubleoseven, Bourbon Lane Stable's Hard Rye Guy, Deuce Greathouse's Shady McGee, Jerry Marks Stables LLC's Slicked Back and Carmen Catizone's Eye of the Cat.

Twelve 3-year-old fillies have entered the 12th running of the $150,000 Woodford Reserve Virginia Oaks, also at 1 1/8 miles, led by morning line favorite Por Que No. Owned by Fano Racing, the daughter of Wicked Strong has won five of seven career starts including a gate-to-wire win in the Boiling Springs Stakes most recently.

A field of seven 2-year-olds will compete 5 1/2 furlongs in the 2nd running of the $100,000 Exacta Systems Rosie's Stakes. Tom Durant's Tejano Twist, fresh off a three length maiden special weight win at Colonial August 3, is favored at 5-2. Rocco Jr. will ride for trainer Bret Calhoun.

Six 2-year-olds will stretch out at 1 1/16th miles in the $100,000 Woodford Reserve Kitten's Joy Stakes. Jeremy Brooks' Wow Whata Summer is 5-2 early based on a pair of starts at the current New Kent meet. The Summer Front colt finished a close third in the Virginia-restricted Hickory Tree Stakes August 2, which followed a maiden special weight race July 20 where the James Lawrence trainee was bumped up from second after initial winner Capt. Candy was disqualified.

The $150,000 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Old Nelson Stakes kicks off the Pick-5 with a field of eight fillies and mares at the 1 1/16th miles distance. Randall Bloch and Six Column Stables' Market Rumor is favored at 3-1. The Afleet Alex filly has bankrolled $229,270 from 14 starts including an allowance victory last out at Gulfstream.

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