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With nominations for the $500,000 Virginia Derby closing Wednesday, Feb. 25, GSW Incredibolt (Bolt d'Oro) and Ocelli (Connect) have emerged as likely starters, Colonial Downs said in a press release on Friday. The 1 1/8-mile Virginia Derby will be run Saturday, Mar. 14, highlighting Colonial Downs's three-day meet held Mar. 12-14. Nominations for all seven opening week stakes also close Feb. 25. Held just under two months from the GI Kentucky Derby, the Virginia Derby awards 50-25-15-10-5 qualifying points to the top five finishers toward a berth in the “Run for the Roses.” Trained by Riley Mott, Incredibolt earned 10 Derby qualifying points with his victory in October's GIII Street Sense at Churchill Downs. Owned by Pin Oak Stud, the colt was sixth in the GIII Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park in his lone start this year. Another potential starter in the Virginia Derby is Whit Beckman trainee Ocelli, who has generated buzz with three in-the-money finishes. “I've always seen the talent that this colt has,” Beckman said. “We're excited to point him toward the Virginia Derby.” Owned by Ashley Durr, Anthony Tate and Front Page Equestrian, the colt finished sixth behind Renegade (Into Mischief) in the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs earlier this month. Ocelli has faced 3-year-olds in all four of his starts, including a third-place finish to Reagan's Honor (Honor A.P.) on the Lecomte undercard in New Orleans. This week, Reagan's Honor earned a 96 Beyer in an allowance win at Fair Grounds. “He's had some excuses, some tough trips, faced some very good horses,” Beckman added. “I think it will be a really good spot for him. Looking over the condition book, there are some good races for us and we'll have a few more entries for the week.” Gates will open at 10 a.m. ET for Virginia Derby Day and post time is Noon ET. All reserved tickets are sold out, but a limited number of general admission tickets remain available. The post Incredibolt, Ocelli Willing To Take Aim At Virginia Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

A classy sprinter since he burst on the racing scene as a juvenile, 6-year-old Damon's Mound pursues a seventh stakes victory in his 19th career race in the Feb. 21 Gulfstream Park Sprint Stakes.View the full article

12th-GP, $84k, Msw, 3yo, f, 7 1/2fT, post time: 5:50 p.m. ET Dreaming of Joy (Into Mischief), a half-sister to brilliant two-time champion, GI Breeders' Cup Distaff and GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Malathaat (Curlin), debuts on the lawn for trainer Brad Cox. Owned by Whisper Hill Farm and bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, the daughter of Broodmare of the Year and GISW Dreaming of Julia (A.P. Indy) RNA'd for $875,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. TJCIS PPs 5th-AQU, $80k, Msw, 3yo, 1m, post time: 3:12 p.m. ET Pauillac (Gun Runner), a $750,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase for Robert LaPenta, William Lawrence and CHP Racing, gets his career started going a one-turn mile for trainer Chad Brown. He is a half-brother to MGSW & GISP Family Tree (Smart Strike) and GSW & GI Kentucky Oaks runner-up Liora (Candy Ride {Arg}). Brown also trains fellow first-time starter and 2-1 morning-line favorite Tariff Mindset (Tiz the Law), a $250,000 Keeneland September graduate. TJCIS PPs The post Saturday’s Racing Insights: Half-Sister to the Mighty Malathaat Debuts at Gulfstream appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Can't find that on their website - has it been removed?

Since you asked readers for input at the end of Carrie Brogden's letter, I'll offer what I've observed over the 38 years that I've been a racing fan. First: look at how U.S. racing regards races for fillies and mares. The distances are shorter and purses are smaller. Getting a filly to the Kentucky Derby has become much harder ever since a points system was implemented. Plus, there's no Triple Crown equivalent for fillies. Every other top level racing country has Grade I classics for each gender… the U.S. has a faint memory of NYRA's now-defunct Triple Tiara. Then when racing is done, stallions are lauded for having 50 stakes winners from 1200 foals, but mares who produce a single stakes winner from seven foals are anonymous. Second: media coverage is insufferable any time a filly races against colts, a female jockey rides in a major race or when a female trainer has a top contender. Instead of presenting human and equine females as competent, worthy competitors, publicity amounts to “oh wow, it's a woman!” or “this frail filly is trying to overcome all obstacles by running here, remember Ruffian?” Third: this is the most complicated piece–social norms. Women are busy. They have horses, careers, families, laundry, bills, etc. I don't blame anyone for not wanting added responsibility of having to kiss someone's a@# and navigate male hierarchy. Having said that, I don't know how most board members are selected… are they chosen? Do they have to campaign for a spot? No one will give you anything if they don't know that you want it. Hopefully we women can organize and speak up. –Anna Montanucci The post Letter To The Editor: Women Need To Organize And Speak Up appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article