Derby Fever Arrives At Colonial Downs

[Wandering Eyes]

by Stefanie Grimm & Alan Carasso

For the first time in it's 24-year history, Virginia's Colonial Downs will play host to a Kentucky Derby winner as 2024 winner Mystik Dan (Goldencents) will make his turf debut in Saturday's 1 1/4-mile GI Arlington Million.

Trainer Kenny McPeek has had his eye on the turf for his Derby winner for quite some time, telling the TDN this week that the idea had been on his mind for at least a year.

“It was kind of an audible at the line of scrimmage,” McPeek told the TDN's Tim Wilkin Wednesday at Saratoga. “He was doing really well and the (Million) seems to be modest in depth. We decided to put him in.”

The rail-drawn Mystik Dan will line up against seven rivals Saturday, each of whom has a plethora of prior turf experience. But McPeek isn't worried, saying, “Good horses will run on anything. We are going to prove it Saturday.”

Perhaps his strongest challenge will come from the widest gate as horse-for-course and 8-5 morning-line favorite Integration (Quality Road) returns to the scene of his early success. The 5-year-old broke his maiden on the Secretariat turf course in August 2023 and came right back in his next start to take the GIII Virginia Derby for Shug McGaughey. Returning for the 2024 summer meet, he added a win in the listed Million Preview Stakes before having to settle for second behind MGISW Nation's Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the Million itself one year ago. And while he hasn't visited the winner's circle in taking the GII Red Smith Stakes at Aqueduct late last year, Integration's gave a good account of himself with runner-up spots in the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational, the GI Maker's Mark Mile and, most recently, the GI Manhattan Stakes at Saratoga June 8.

Sandwiched between that pair, European invader Cairo (Ire) (Quality Road) ships in for Alice Haynes and owner Refal Alghraiban off a third (at odds of 100-1!) in the G1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot June 17.

“He's fit coming here,” Haynes said. “We just gave him a two-furlong blow and let him have a look at the track so he's all set for Saturday.”

The well-traveled Coolmore bred is making his first trip to the States having made prior starts in England, Ireland, Hong Kong and the UAE.

“We took off from England, landed at JFK and quarantined there before (coming to Colonial Downs),” Haynes continued. “He's a seasoned traveler–he loves it. Another stamp for his passport.”

Another runner knocking on the Grade I door is McGaughey stablemate Fort Washington (War Front) who has racked up nearly three-quarters of a million in career earnings on the turf and put up back to back graded stakes wins this year in the GIII Canadian Turf at Gulfstream and the GIII Dinner Party Stakes at Pimlico on the Preakness undercard. Regular pilot, this year's Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Junior Alvarado, stays aboard. He and Grand Sonata (Medaglia d'Oro), the 6-year-old Todd Pletcher entry for Whisper Hill Farm, both seek their first Grade I win after lengthy, successful careers.

Beverly D. Runs Through Be Your Best

Five-year-old mare 'TDN Rising Star' Be Your Best (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) stepped up her game to take down Santa Anita's GI Gamely Stakes at 1 1/8 miles May 26 and it would appear that anyone looking to have success in the GII Beverly D. Stakes would need to conquer the Saffie Joseph Jr. entry first. Cross-entered in the GII Ballston Spa Stakes at Saratoga Friday, the millionaire opts for Colonial Downs and the 1 3/16-mile spot as she seeks a fifth win in her last six starts.

Be Your Best | Benoit

Just to her outside, Beach Bomb (SAf) (Lancaster Bomber) put in a game rally to outrun her 17-1 odds and nab second just a half-length behind She Feels Pretty (Karakontie {Jpn}) in the GI New York Stakes at the Spa June 6. She's been speedy since starting her 5-year-old campaign, taking both the GIII The Very One Stakes and the GIII Orchid Stakes in gate to wire fashion for owner Cayton Park Stud.

Other challengers include the GIII Gallorette Stakes winner Charlene's Dream (Qurbaan) who impressed at 1 1/16 miles on the Preakness undercard at Pimlico May 17 for Ed Moger Jr. Drawn widest of the six-horse field, Duvet Day (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) seeks her first win of 2025 having taken the GIII Cardinal Stakes at Churchill to close out her 5-year-old season.

“She seems to be in the best form of her career, numbers-wise,” trainer Michael McCarthy said of Duvet Day. “It's a big ask to run in a prestigious race like (the Beverly D.), but it's always nice to be able to participate in those kinds of races.”

Secretariat Has Plenty Of Takers

A group of eight has assembled for the one-mile GII Secretariat Stakes with the top two finishers coming out of the GIII Penn Mile led by Dream On (Not This Time) for Mark Casse while Cairo Caper (Cairo Prince) was one length back.

Bill Mott brings Simulate (Kitten's Joy) here for his stakes debut off a strong win at Saratoga in allowance company

July 18.

   Maui Strong (Kitten's Joy) has been knocking on the stakes door but still seeks his first win since breaking his maiden at Churchill going the mile in early November. Since, he's been on the board in the Kitten's Joy, the GIII Transylvania and just two lengths back of GISW Zulu Kingdom (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) when fourth in the GIII Manila Stakes in New York July 4 for Dale Romans.

Giocoso (Not This Time) ran in four of the prep races ahead of the Run for the Roses and managed to be third in the GII Iroquois Stakes last year but ultimately wound up back on the grass for Keith Desormeaux.

“I tried to make a Derby horse out of him, but he's just not as good on dirt,” Desormeaux said. “He's ready to go for the second half of the year. He's always been a high-level horse. I expect a big race out of him in the Secretariat.”

Godolphin Pair Look To Make Amends in Sword Dancer

Charlie Appleby will send out a Godophin-owned duo in Saturday's GI Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes at Saratoga, a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders Cup Turf at Del Mar in about three months' time.

The globetrotting Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) could have been programmed for a defense of his Arlington Million title, but instead returns to the site of his victory in the 2022 GI Saratoga Derby. The globetrotter struggled in his two starts after the Million, finishing 10th in the G2 Bahrain International Trophy and ninth as the favorite in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes, but bounced back with a smooth success in the G2 Singspiel Stakes at Meydan Mar. 1.He could do no better than 10th in a red-hot renewal of the G1 Dubai Turf and is unraced since. He tries a 12-furlong trip for the first time since finishing fifth to stable companion Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the 2022 Turf at Keeneland.

“I think the step up to a mile and a half at this stage of Nations Pride's career is needed to hopefully get him back on track at the top level,” Appleby said. “I'm looking forward to stepping him up and if he brings his 'A' game, he will be a big player around there, especially with his experience.”

Nations Pride with Kieren Fallon | Sarah Andrew

El Cordobes (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) tries top-level competition for the first time and loses William Buick to Nations Pride, but enters off a two-length victory in the G2 Princes of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket July 10. Flavien Prat rides.

Far Bridge (English Channel) looks to make it back-to-back wins in the Sword Dancer, having been ridden enterprisingly when outbattling Rebel's Romance's ill-fated half-brother Measured Time (GB) (Frankel {GB}) here 12 months ago. Whereas he came into last year's renewal off a sound defeat in the GII United Nations Stakes, he is in search of his fourth win from five runs this season, including a three-length score over El Rezeen (English Channel) in a yielding-turf running of the GII Bowling Green Stakes July 12.

“He's in tip-top shape and I'm bullish about him and hoping for the same result as last year,” trainer Miguel Clement said. “If you look after these horses, they'll look after you and have longevity and that's why we have had so many older horses come back.”

Laurelin Brings Unblemished Mark Into Oaks

The waters get significantly deeper for Laurelin (Ire) (Zarak {Fr}) in Saturday's GII Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational, but with a career mark of four wins from as many starts, she certainly has earned a crack at a race of this quality.

Winner of the Tepin Stakes at two, the chestnut hasn't broken any clocks this term, but also hasn't been beaten, including a 1 1/4-length success in the postponed Penn Oaks in easy ground June 27.

“We got a little messed up with the race at Penn that kept getting pushed back, but maybe in the end, that'll be a blessing,” trainer Graham Motion said. “She's kind of bred to do this, so I don't have any concerns about the step up. She's very kind to train, but she can also be very tough and straightforward.”

Laurelin | Sarah Andrew

Opulent Restraint (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), whose dam won the 2019 GII Ballston Spa Stakes in the colors of Stephanie Brant, was beaten a neck into second by Laurelin in the Apr. 27 Memories of Silver Stakes at Aqueduct and made the majority of the running in the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational on July 5 before yielding grudgingly to be third.

The Clement barn is represented by Bobby Flay's European import Go Go Boots (GB) (Night of Thunder {Ire}), whose two victories to date have come over the all-weather track at Lingfield for John and Thady Gosden. If forgiving a distant ninth in the G1 Epsom Oaks, her third to the high-class Whirl (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in York's G3 Musidora Stakes in May and a decent fourth of 11 in the G2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot last time June 19 suggest that she is not out of her depth at this level.

“She's a very straight-forward, typical European filly,” Clement said. “She came to me in great condition from Mr. Gosden and I'm very excited to train her for Mr. Flay, who gave our stable our only Breeders' Cup winner Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), so we'll do our best with this talented filly.”

Juvenile Colts Get Their Shot In Best Pal

A compact field of five will head to the gate for Saturday's GIII Best Pal Stakes, where Pegram, Watson and Weitman's impressive debut winner Desert Gate (Omaha Beach) looks to have his rivals over a barrel.

The chestnut colt was hammered into 2-5 favoritism for his five-furlong debut at Santa Anita June 13 and settled kindly enough off the pace set by the well-meant firster Acknowledgemeplz (Bucchero), then took over a furlong out before edging away by 2 1/4 lengths. The 86 Beyer Speed Figure for covering the distance in a slick :57.35 is far superior to anything else posted by the other four juveniles.

Brigante (More Than Ready) is a bit of an 'X'-factor as he transitions to the dirt for the first time. In retrospect, his debut second in a Santa Anita turf sprint on June 1 looks strong, as the winner of that event, Hey Nay Nay (Ire) (No Nay Never), romped by seven lengths in the Tyro Stakes at Monmouth Park last weekend. In preparation for this, the Calumet homebred worked a bullet half-mile from the gate on the main track in :46 4/5 (1/99) on Aug. 3.

The afternoon's final graded event is the GII Yellow Ribbon Stakes, where a legitimate case can be made for at least half of the eight turf distaffers. Making her seasonal debut for Phil D'Amato, the rail-drawn Hang the Moon (Uncle Mo) is a tepid 3-1 favorite on the morning line.

The post Derby Fever Arrives At Colonial Downs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article