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Top Trainers Showing Early ‘Enthusiasm’ For Colonial Downs Meet

Following the opening of the barn area earlier this week, anticipation is running high for the 2021 race meeting at Colonial Downs, exemplified by the widespread participation of horsemen across the Middle Atlantic, Northeast, and Midwestern regions; and attracted by a strong average daily purse structure of $500,000 per day.

For its 21-day meeting beginning Monday, July 19 — with all races televised on TVG — some of the nation's top stakes-winning trainers are scheduled to participate, including Ferris Allen, Bret Calhoun, Ignacio Correas, John Kimmel, Michelle Lovell, Graham Motion, John Ortiz, Dale Romans, Dallas Stewart, Mike Stidham, Michael Trombetta and Brendan Walsh.

“It's extremely gratifying to witness the overall enthusiasm and interest from these top trainers for this year's meeting,” said Jill Byrne, Colonial Downs Vice President of Racing Operations. “We are proud to further our goal of maintaining a first-class racing and a stabling program, and to ensure that the highest standards of safety and integrity are administered for our horsemen and fans.”

“We have a great mixture of horses and outfits from all over,” added Racing Secretary Allison DeLuca. “We have a lot of Kentucky people and some from Florida. I think the competition might be tougher. I'm hoping we'll run more dirt races this year. Some people get it in their head there's only turf here, so I hope we can get some more dirt participation.”

Dallas Stewart has nominated 5-year-old Chess Chief for the $100,000 Bert Allen Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile race over the Secretariat turf course for Virginia bred/Virginia restricted runners on the opening day program. Owned by the Estate of James Coleman Jr., Chess Chief, a Virginia-bred son of Into Mischief, won the New Orleans Classic Stakes (G2) at the Fair Grounds in March, and finished fifth in the Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) last time out at Churchill Downs.
“The plan for Chess Chief is to use the Bert Allen Stakes as a prep for the Pacific Classic,” said Stewart, “But plans can also change based on how the horse performs.”

Stewart, who will be based at Colonial for the first time, plans to have 20 horses in the Colonial backstretch by opening day and five are on the grounds already. Among his contingent is the 3-year-old Macho Uno colt, Shadow Matter, who he plans to run in the Housebuster Overnight Handicap July 20.

“We're excited about the meet,” he said. “Jill Byrne [Colonial Downs' Vice President of Racing Operations] recruited us and some other stables from Churchill Downs since their backstretch is closing for the summer. The racing is going to be good. We have a race in mind for every horse coming to Virginia, so we look forward to having a solid meet.”

Also nominated for the Bert Allen Stakes is the Romans-trained Attachment Rate, third in Keeneland's Commonwealth Stakes (G3), and Virginia-sired Mr. Buff, a winner of 11 stakes in New York and more than $1.3 million for trainer John Kimmel.

Mike Stidham, leading trainer at Colonial's 2019 and abbreviated 2020 meet, plans to have between eight and 10 horses rotating in and out of his barn including David Ross's Palio, who scored a maiden special weight win at New Kent last summer. Palio also is nominated to the Bert Allen Stakes. Ross, who races under the stable name DAARS, Inc., is the all-time leading owner at Colonial Downs.

“I train for David, and he likes to focus on the Colonial meet and race as many of his horses as he can during that time,” said Stidham, who had a Grade I win earlier this year with Mystic Guide in the Dubai World Cup. “The meet here is always fun.”

Colonial's all-time leading trainer Ferris Allen, a Varina, Virginia native, returns with 30 stalls. “I always target the Colonial meet,” he said. “The level of competition is going to better than it ever has. Nobody knows the lay of the land here as well as me, so hopefully that will be a help to us.”

“We built a loyal following of owners and handled their horses at Colonial over the years,” said Allen. “But after being closed for six years, those folks weren't at the doorstep waiting for you when Colonial reopened in 2019. People had to move on so that first year back was like re-establishing a network. Last year, we planned to take a step forward, but the pandemic prevented that. So this year is almost like year one again in re-establishing that base.”

The highlight of the stakes calendar will be the $250,000 New Kent County Virginia Derby (G3) for 3-year-olds and the $150,000 Virginia Oaks for 3-year-old fillies, both at 1 1/8-miles on Aug. 31.

In addition to the minimum daily $500,000 purse structure, there will be added incentives for horsemen at Colonial, including:

All owners who start a horse at Colonial Downs will receive the greater of $1,000 or their share of the purse money from the race.
All trainers will receive $300 per horse started.
Colonial Downs will offer free horse transportation originating from Fair Hill Training Center.

Colonial Downs is pleased to extend a $15 donation per starter to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA), which will be matched by the VHBPA.

“It is our privilege to present a race meet of this caliber symbolizing the long-term potential for horse racing in Virginia,” said John Marshall, Executive Vice President, Operations, Colonial Downs Group. “Fans on-track can expect a high level of service and quality despite economic challenges raised following the pandemic. Fans on-line and off-site can expect the highest level of wagering quality during our early week and early day time period. We have all long awaited this day and are thrilled it has finally arrived at full capacity.”

The Colonial Downs meet will continue through September 1 with racing every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at 1:45 PM.

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‘This Nose Made A Big Difference’: Gutierrez Revels In Letruska’s Apple Blossom Glory

Letruska will remain at Oaklawn for the next few days before possibly heading to Churchill Downs, her trainer, Fausto Gutierrez, said Sunday morning, roughly 12 hours after the Mexican champion edged two-time Eclipse Award winner Monomoy Girl in the $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) for older fillies and mares at the Hot Springs, Ark., track.

Letruska earned a preliminary Beyer Speed Figure of 102, a career high, for her front-running nose victory under Irad Ortiz Jr. Gutierrez said Letruska came out of the 1 1/16-mile race in good order, but next-race plans are pending for the 5-year-old daughter of 2010 Kentucky Derby winner and Arkansas Derby runner-up Super Saver. Letruska was coming off a runner-up finish, beaten a head by Shedaresthedevil, in the $350,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) March 13 at Oaklawn.

“She ran an incredible race,” Gutierrez said. “We lost in the Azeri by a head. Here, we win by a nose. This nose made a big difference.”

Gutierrez said he initially considered wheeling back Letruska in the $500,000 La Troienne Stakes (G1) April 30 at Churchill Downs, but said it comes back too quick, particularly after a demanding race Saturday. He said shipping to Churchill Downs would still keep Letruska in the Midwest “area.”

Letruska, after not breaking sharply in the Apple Blossom, was pressed by Monomoy Girl and Eclipse Award winner Swiss Skydiver throughout. After briefly surrendering the lead to Monomoy Girl in midstretch, Letruska ($8.80) fought back on the inside to narrowly prevail. It was 6 ½ lengths farther back to Swiss Skydiver in third. The winning time over a fast track was 1:43.14. Letruska carried 118 pounds, six less than high-weighted Monomoy Girl, who was beaten for just the third time in 17 lifetime starts.

“I think we're going to take a little bit more time with her,” Gutierrez said. “The plan is to go to the Breeders' Cup. We need to check in the middle, which races we can go to.”

The Apple Blossom represents the biggest career victory for Gutierrez, 53, who, like the mare's owner/breeder, German Larrea Mota-Velasco (St. George Stable LLC), is from Mexico. Letruska won her first seven career starts, including six at Hipodromo De Las Americas in Mexico City. The streak was highlighted by blowouts in two legs of Mexico's Triple Crown for 3-year-old fillies in 2019 – Clasico Esmeralda (G1) and Clasico Diamante (G1) – when Letruska was named the country's divisional champion.

Letruska and Irad Ortiz Jr. (inside) defeat Monomoy Girl and Florent Geroux in the Apple Blossom

Gutierrez said Letruska's Apple Blossom victory was noteworthy because it made her the first horse to begin its racing career in Mexico to capture a Grade 1 event in the United States. Letruska, in her Grade 1 debut in the United States, finished fifth in the $300,000 Ballerina Stakes (G1) August 8 at Saratoga.

Letruska had previously won the $125,000 Shuvee Stakes (G3) Aug. 30 at Saratoga, $100,000 Rampart Stakes (G3) Dec. 12 at Gulfstream Park and the $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic (G3) Jan. 31 at Sam Houston.

“She's a great horse, she's amazing,” Gutierrez said. “Five years is a perfect age.”

Gutierrez is based in south Florida, where he keeps 12 horses at Palm Meadows Training Center. Letruska, however, remained at Oaklawn following the Azeri, recording two half-mile workouts in advance of the Apple Blossom.

“Of course, this helped, because she adapted better,” Gutierrez said. “She's a horse with a lot character. She liked the track. The weather was perfect. Finally, when you have these type of results, everything is perfect.”

Letruska shipped into trainer John Ortiz's barn last April at Oaklawn (an allowance victory during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic) and again for the Azeri. Ortiz and his staff helped care for Letruska following the Azeri, when Gutierrez said he returned twice to Florida.

“Johnny Ortiz, he's a very good friend,” Gutierrez said. “He's a person that helped me with everything and we spoke about what was better for the horse. I feel he's part of this win, 100 percent. He's a young trainer that's had very good results.”

Ortiz, among Oaklawn's top 10 trainers with 12 victories through Saturday, said he galloped Letruska after she arrived in Arkansas, adding she was a “very nice-moving filly” and “fast.”

“We treated her like one of our own,” Ortiz said as he clutched the Apple Blossom trophy late Saturday afternoon. “Nice seeing these type of horses in your barn.”

The victory improved Letruska's record to 13-1-1 from 18 lifetime starts. She collected $600,000 for her Apple Blossom victory to become a millionaire ($1,157,319. Larrea Mota-Velasco, a copper mining mogul, bred Letruska in Kentucky.

Shedaresthedevil, co-owned by Staton Flurry of Hot Springs, is scheduled to make her next start in the La Troienne.

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Home-Grown Product Makes Initial Oaklawn Win ‘Extra Special’ For Patterson

March 21 was Super Sunday at Oaklawn for Sara Patterson, who manages Cedar Run Farm, a 200-acre foaling and layup facility just west of Hot Springs, Ark., in Pearcy.

Cedar Run owns Moonshine Mullin, a millionaire Grade 1 winner who stands at nearby Lake Hamilton Equine Associates. In last Sunday's second race, Moonshine Mullin was represented by the top four finishers in the $20,000 maiden-claiming event for Arkansas-breds at 1 1/16 miles. About an hour later, Patterson recorded her first career victory as an owner when favored Longntall, a 4-year-old homebred daughter of Moonshine Mullin, broke her maiden by 12 lengths in the fourth race for $10,000 Arkansas-bred filly and mare claimers at 1 1/16 miles. Longntall paid $4.20.

On the excitement scale, Patterson called the results, essentially, a dead-heat.

“That's kind of got to be a tossup, but I'd have to say, getting to actually take the first winner's picture probably made me more proud,” Patterson said. “I won't forget that. It's something you always look forward to, getting into the business and you finally get to be an owner and looking forward to taking that first picture. That was pretty cool.”

Patterson, 35, is the daughter of Randy Patterson, who owns Cedar Run and campaigned Moonshine Mullin for his final seven career starts with trainer Randy Morse after claiming the horse for $40,000 in November 2013 at Remington Park.

Moonshine Mullin, by Albert the Great, won his final five career starts, including three races at the 2014 Oaklawn meeting and the $300,000 Alysheba Stakes (G2) and $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) that summer at Churchill Downs.

Patterson and Morse also hit another home run with Kate's Main Man, who won the $100,000 Essex Handicap for older horses in 2011 at Oaklawn, roughly a year after being claimed for $35,000. They won the $100,000 Fifth Season Stakes for older horses in 2016 at Oaklawn with Street Strategy, who Patterson also now stands at Lake Hamilton Equine.

Following Moonshine Mullin's retirement from racing, he became one of the building blocks for Cedar Run, which the Pattersons began developing approximately seven years ago to target the Arkansas breeding program.

Longntall is from the first crop of Moonshine Mullin and marked the fifth career starter for Sara Patterson (all at the 2021 Oaklawn meeting).

Patterson said Longntall was the first “Moonshine baby” foaled at Cedar Run, adding she delivered the bay daughter of Smokin Reward.

“That's what made it extra special,” Patterson said. “Not only was it a win, but it was a win with a horse that we bred and we raised and she was the first one that we had here on the farm. She was my second year to ever do foaling.”

Longntall is one two horses Patterson owns. The other is Tallandlong, a 3-year-old full sister to Longntall who has two runner-up finishes at the meet. Tallandlong is entered in Thursday's fifth race at Oaklawn. Both horses are with trainer Johnny Ortiz.

Longntall, who broke her maiden in her third lifetime start, is named after Patterson's close friend, Oaklawn horsemen's bookkeeper Terri Hoffrogge. She is 5-11.

“We always call her 'long and tall,' Patterson said. “My horse, Longntall, is, I mean, tall. She is so tall. She is so long. It just worked perfect. The little sister came along and Terri always came out to the farm and looked at the horses and hung out here with us and loved them just as much as we did. The full sister came along and looked so much like Longntall, we were like, 'Well, we need to name this one 'Tallandlong.' Now, everybody's joking about what we're going to name the next one.”

Patterson said Smokin Reward is one of “8-10” mares Cedar Runs owns. Smokin Reward also has a 2-year-old Moonshine Mullin colt, Smokin Boots, and an unnamed yearling colt by Hightail. Patterson said Smokin Reward may go to a Kentucky stallion this year. Longntall is her first foal.

Patterson was raised in Anthony, Kan., a small town about 50 miles southwest of Wichita, and said she was introduced to racing, and, ultimately, ownership, through her father.

“I always grew up watching our little two-week summer meet that we had in Kansas,” Patterson said, referring to the now-defunct Anthony Downs. “Watching my dad always being an owner and being involved in racing, it was just something that I always had a passion for. I knew it would be a goal of mine. It was something that I wanted to do. I just had to be patient and wait for the right time. He's always been extremely supportive and helped me get to where I am. If it wasn't for him, obviously, I wouldn't be here. He's given me a lot of rein with our Arkie-breds and let me pick and choose what I want, what I like to do, who I like and what not. Longntall and Tallandlong had always been the two that I picked from the beginning that I knew I wanted to own and race.”

Patterson said she plans to slowly grow her two-horse stable, primarily with Arkansas-breds. Patterson said her father probably has 15 horses at Oaklawn, the bulk with Morse.

“I think I will probably stay small for as long as I can,” Sara Patterson said. “I probably won't have more than five for a while, just trying to stay afloat. It's a hard business, so you've got to find a way to stay afloat. I just hope to add a couple here or there through the years and eventually when the time is right, I'll expand it. But until then, I'm just going to keep it small and manageable.”

Patterson said because Cedar Run isn't set up for breeding and focuses on foaling and broodmare care, Moonshine Mullin and Street Strategy stand at Lake Hamilton Equine. They return to Cedar Run after breeding season, roughly mid-February-late June.

Moonshine Mullin and Street Strategy both stand for $1,000.

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Runhappy 3-Year-Olds Making Joyful Cadence Toward Winner’s Circle

Champion Runhappy was represented by his first Oaklawn winner when Joyful Cadence ($6.40) broke her maiden by 8 ¾ lengths in Thursday's seventh race for fillies and mares, 3 and up, under apprentice Joshua Morales. It was her second career start.

Joyful Cadence, 3, is from the first crop of Runhappy, an Eclipse Award winner (male sprinter) in 2015 for colorful owner James “Mattress Mack” McIngvale who now stands at historic Claiborne Farm in Kentucky.

According to a news release from Claiborne, Joyful Cadence was the 11^th winner this year for Runhappy to lead the country's second-crop sires. Runhappy got off to a pedestrian start at stud, known more in 2019 and 2020 for a seemingly nonstop marketing push that tied the horse's name to stakes races, a race meet and six-figure bonuses for his progeny breaking their maidens in unrestricted races at a handful of major venues. Joyful Cadence is a half-sister to Grade 3 winner Country Grammer, who finished fifth in the $1 million Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) for 3-year-olds last August at Saratoga.

“I had high hopes for her from the very beginning,” said John Ortiz, who trains Joyful Cadence for WSS Racing (William Simon). “I just thought patience with these Runhappys was going to be a key and that turned out to be correct. A lot of Runhappys that are now running as 3-year-olds, they had a good month. Again, everybody's tracking them. I knew it was going to be an older-horse thing and we're lucky to have one.”

Simon, a former Walmart executive who has a home in Rogers, Ark., purchased Joyful Cadence for $235,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Ortiz said the filly made the short list of WSS's bloodstock agent, Jared Hughes, adding “she was one of the most beautiful yearlings we saw at the sale.”

“She was just athletic from Day 1,” said Ortiz, who has trained for Simon for approximately four years. “That's the biggest investment that we have made so far, in the hopes of finding that nice Grade 1 filly, or horse, period.”

Ortiz said he stopped on Joyful Cadence last summer to give her time to mature for a 3-year-old campaign. Joyful Cadence, in her career debut, finished seventh over a synthetic surface Jan. 15 at Turfway Park. Ortiz said he used the sprint for “education” and “fitness” purposes.

“I was not disappointed in that race at all,” Ortiz said. “That race, actually, showed me what I actually had. She wasn't 100 percent fit to run that day, but she didn't look like a loser. The track was very heavy on the rail. First time, going 6 ½, and on a dead rail, I think, took a lot out of her. Even then, she came back on her toes and I kind of got an idea what she had to do now and I think that's when she put it together. We brought her to Oaklawn right away.”

Racing over a fast track Thursday, Joyful Cadence covered 6 furlongs in 1:09.95 to earn a 93 Equibase Speed rating. Ortiz said Joyful Cadence came out of the race in “great shape” and he'll probably point for a conditioned allowance event and “see where that takes us.” Joyful Cadence, Ortiz said, is the only offspring of Runhappy he now trains.

“If anybody out there has one, send the Runhappys,” Ortiz said with a laugh.

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