Tag: Racing

Colonial Downs To Open 21-Day Meet With Minimum $500,000 Average Daily Purses

Virginia's racing revival continues into its third season with the upcoming opening of Colonial Downs.  A total of 25 stakes races worth more than $2.7 million will be offered at the upcoming seven-week Thoroughbred racing season at Colonial Downs — from July 19 through Sept. 1 — featuring a minimum $500,000 in average daily purses, the Grade 3 $250,000 New Kent County Virginia Derby on Aug. 31, enhanced horsemen incentives, and an expanded racing program for Virginia bred, sired, and certified horses. The 2021 meeting will be scheduled every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday with daily first post time at 1:45 p.m. ET. All Colonial Downs races will be televised on TVG.

Colonial Downs welcomes back fans to this year's 21-day meeting with free admission.  This meet marks the third consecutive increase in scheduled race days as Colonial Downs continues to emerge. Purses at the upcoming meet will start at an average minimum of $500,000 per day, with maiden races offered at $50,000. 

The Colonial Downs barn area opens on Monday, July 5. The condition and stakes book, stall applications and all horsemen information are available at colonialdowns.com/racing.

Colonial Downs began racing again in 2019 under new management of Colonial Downs Group. According to a newly released study conducted by Chmura Economics & Analytics, Virginia's horse racing and breeding industry generated an estimated economic impact of $542.1 million in the Commonwealth in 2019. Industry jobs, racing related expenditures and tax revenue have all risen since the General Assembly passed legalization of Historical Horse Racing machines in 2018, which enabled Colonial Downs to open and fuel the sport's revitalization.  

At the forefront of safety and integrity, Colonial Downs this year became a member of the Mid-Atlantic Strategic Alliance to reduce equine fatalities and supports the federal legislation of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA). 

 

Among the stakes program highlights for this year are:

  • The July 19 opening day program will feature four $100,000 stakes on turf, three Virginia restricted, The Bert Allen (3-year-olds and up, 1 1/16 miles) The Meadow Stable Stakes (3-year-olds and up, 5 ½ furlongs) and The M. Tyson Gilpin Stakes (3-year-olds and up, Fillies and Mares, 5 ½ furlongs) and the Virginia Bred/Sired The Nellie Mae Cox Stakes (3-year-olds and up, Fillies and Mares, 1 mile)
  • The Monday, July 26 card will include three open stakes on turf, headlined by the $150,000 Buckland Stakes for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles, along with two 5 ½-furlong $100,000 races in the Andy Guest for fillies and mares, and the Da Hoss Stakes for 3-year-olds and up. 
  • On Monday, Aug. 23, Colonial will host four $100,000 stakes in the Mid-Atlantic Championship Series (MATCH) Series on the dirt track: The Victory Gallop, for 3-year-olds and up, and Love Sign, for fillies and mares, are both at 1 1/16 miles while the Chesapeake, for three-year-olds and Seeking The Pearl, for fillies and mares, are at six and seven furlongs, respectively. The 2021 MATCH Series is a cooperative venture between the Virginia Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, Colonial Downs, the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association and Laurel Park.
  • Virginia Derby Day is slated for Tuesday, Aug. 31, and in addition to the 18th annual renewal of the G3 Virginia Derby that features some of the country's top trainers, jockeys, and three-year-old turf horses, four other grass stakes will be on the card — the $150,000 Virginia Oaks, listed (3-year-old fillies, 1 1/8 miles), $150,000 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Old Nelson Stakes (fillies and mares, 1 1/16 miles), $100,000 Exacta Systems Rosie's Stakes (2-year-olds, 5 ½ furlongs), and $100,000 Kitten's Joy Stakes (2-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles). Horse Racing Radio Network (HRRN) will broadcast live from Colonial Downs on Virginia Derby Day. 

Popular horsemen incentive bonus programs also return this season: 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 is pleased to extend a $15 donation per starter to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA), which will be matched by the VHBPA.

Informing fans throughout the meeting, Colonial Downs is also extremely proud of this year's talented broadcast team, led by the ever-popular Jason Beem, who is returning for his third season as the Colonial Downs track announcer. Jessica Paquette will be this year's paddock host and handicapper, and Merv Huber will continue to provide morning line odds and guest analysis.

“Since we announced our race dates and purse program for the 2021 season, response from horsemen across the country has been extremely positive,” said Jill Byrne, Vice President of Racing Operations. “Our lucrative daily purse structure, attractive horsemen incentives, two fantastic racing surfaces and a varied stakes program, are key ingredients to launching an exciting and successful race meet.

“We are also very excited that this year's meet is open again to fans, who can enjoy the thrill of the live racing experience.” 

“Virginia's horse owners and trainers are delighted to see an increase to seven weeks of racing with great purses,” said Frank Petramalo, Virginia HBPA Executive Director. “We can't wait to break out of the gate for a successful summer meet.”   

Benefits to Virginia-bred, sired and certified horses 

As a sustaining benefit to the Virginia Thoroughbred program, 12 stakes races, worth a combined $1.2 million, will be offered between Virginia-bred, sired, and certified horses. 

Six $100,000 turf stakes for Virginia-bred/sired horses are scheduled, including five on the closing- day card. The Jamestown, Camptown, Brookmeade, Edward P. Evans and Punch Line will highlight the Sept. 1 finale in addition to The Nellie Mae Cox, on opening day. All are black-type events except for the Punch Line. 

The Virginia restricted $100,000 Hickory Tree for 2-year-olds and $100,000 Keswick Stables sprint stakes highlight the Aug. 2 program, while the Aug. 9 $100,00 Van Clief Stakes (fillies and mares, 1 1/16 miles) will co-headline with the $75,000 Randolph Rouse Steeplechase Stakes that day.

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Familiar Foes Completed Pass, Hollis Clash Again In Jim McKay Turf Sprint

Robert D. Bone's Completed Pass is a neck away from being a two-time champion of the $100,000 Jim McKay Turf Sprint.

Saturday on the Preakness day card at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md., the 7-year-old gelding will attempt to get back to the winner's circle in the five-furlong race when he starts in it for the third time. Named for the late Hall of Fame sportscaster Jim McKay, the Turf Sprint is for 3-year-olds and up.

After winning the Jim McKay by a length in 2019, Completed Pass lost the 2020 version by a neck to Hollis, who is also entered this year.

Trained by Claudio Gonzalez, Maryland's leading trainer for the past four years, Completed Pass is an Indiana-bred son of Pass Rush that has won two of three career starts at Pimlico, Overall, he has four wins, three seconds and two thirds in 12 career starts on grass.

In his only start this year, Completed Pass won the King Leatherbury – a race named for Maryland's legendary and still active Hall of Fame horseman – on April 24th. He was ridden in that race by Angel Cruz, who will be on board Completed Pass for the fifth straight time on Saturday.

“He came back and ran a really nice race the last time,” Gonzalez said. “He proved he still can compete with the top ones.”

Completed Pass definitely has the home course advantage with his two wins in three starts on the grass at Pimlico.

“I do believe it is an advantage because he knows the course and he likes the track,” Gonzalez said. “He proved he loves it.”

The biggest obstacle facing Completed Pass could be the post. He will start from the far outside 13 post position.

Boldor, trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, has a win and a second in three career starts on grass. In his last start, on turf course labeled good April 155 at Keeneland, Boldor finished second in a 5-½ furlong allowance race.

A 5-year-old son of Munnings, Boldor has done most of his running on dirt. In 13 starts on dirt, he has four wins, two seconds and a third. Six of his starts have been on off tracks where he has two wins and two seconds.

“He tries hard every time,” Asmussen's assistant Scott Blasi said. “Hopefully, he gets a good trip.”

Ricardo Santana Jr. will ride Boldor from Post 1. He is the fourth different rider the gelding will have this year.

Also entered for the Jim McKay are 8-year-old Dubini, based at Parx Racing with six wins in 24 starts on the grass; Ron Moquett-trained Firecrow, who has shown speed on the dirt but is winless in two starts on grass; first-time turf starter Grab the Gold, another that has shown speed on the dirt; Hollis, who gets the services of three-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.; Laurel Park based 7-year-old Jammer, a winner of five of 22 career starts on grass; 7-year-old Love You Much, winless in his last seven starts over two years; Push To Start, making his grass debut after two wins and three thirds on dirt; Robey's Boy, fifth in the King Leatherbury in his second start of 2021; So Street, a non-factor when  finishing eighth in the King Leatherbury; The Connector, winner of four of nine turf tries; and The Critical Way, a winner of three of nine starts at the Jim McKay distance.

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 T D Dance Seeks First Stakes Win In James W. Murphy At Pimlico

For T D Dance, the best is yet to come.

At least that's what reigning Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox is hoping for the son of Can the Man, who is owned by Madaket Stables LLC, Wonder Stable, Paul Farr and Team Hanley.

T D Dance will look to improve his record to three wins in four starts on grass when he runs in Saturday's $100,000 James W. Murphy, a one-mile race on the turf at Pimlico Race Course on Preakness day in Baltimore, Md. Eight 3-year-olds are entered in the race and T D Dance will start from outside Post 8.

All runners will carry 120 pounds.

The race was first run in 1966 as the Woodlawn Handicap then as the Woodlawn Stakes from 1967 in honor of the Woodlawn Vase, the trophy presented to the winner of the Preakness Stakes (G1). It was renamed in 2010 for the late trainer James W. Murphy, who was a stalwart in Maryland racing.

T D Dance is coming off a win as the favorite in an allowance March 21 at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, winning the 1 1/16-mile race by 1 ¾ lengths.

“I'm looking forward to giving him an opportunity in a stakes,” Cox said.

Two starts ago, T D Dance had his first try in a stakes race, but it didn't go well. He finished fifth out of eight in the $75,000 Black Gold Stakes, also at 1 1/16 miles. T D Dance did have some trouble at the start when he was bumped after the break.

Cox had reason for optimism in the next start, albeit against lesser company.

“Two races back, he didn't perform quite as well as we were hoping,” Cox said. “He was able to rebound and come back and win the allowance race.”

In the James Murphy, T D Dance will be ridden by Hall of Famer Javier Castellano. He will be the fifth rider in as many starts for the colt.

T D Dance began his career as a 2-year-old at Indiana Grand, breaking his maiden with a two-length win going a mile on the grass last Oct. 6. He followed that with a neck loss Dec. 4 at Fair Grounds in a race that was run at a mile and taken off the grass.

Competition will come from the Wesley Ward-trained Outadore, who is owned by Breeze Easy, LLC and will be ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr. Outadore has won two of three starts on the grass. The last time he ran, March 27, he won at Turfway Park in a race that went 6 ½ furlongs on its all-weather surface.

Also entered in the James Murphy are Indian Lake, making his first career start on the grass; Kasim, who has two wins and two seconds in six starts on turf; Pimlico-based Reassured, also making his turf debut; Extrasexybigdaddee, fourth in his first start on grass, the April 17 Woodhaven at Aqueduct, and Mike Trombetta-trained stablemate Arzak; and Charles Chrome, a son of Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness (G1) winner and two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome (2014, 2016) making his 2021 debut.

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