Saturday, Sept. 7 marks the conclusion of Colonial Downs’ summer time meet, and the turf-centric racetrack winds up with a terrific 12-race card together with six stakes races on the grass.
The centerpiece is the $500,000, Grade 3 New Kent County Virginia Derby for 3-year-olds, which has been one in all Colonial’s calling-card races going again greater than 20 years. This would be the closing version of the Virginia Derby on turf because the race will likely be rescheduled to be held throughout a quick spring meet in 2025, switched to dust, and added to the Highway to the Kentucky Derby Introduced by Woodford Reserve prep sequence as a qualifying-points occasion.
1. Herchee (5-1 morning-line odds): Ships in from Kentucky for his stakes debut off of two spectacular wins going one mile on the grass, first at Churchill Downs after which at Ellis Park. It is a robust spot to increase a profession unbeaten streak however he’s able to pulling it off if he can proceed enhancing, particularly with a helpful draw which ought to enable him to save lots of floor earlier than pouncing in early stretch. This colt can be entered within the $1.5 million International Tote Gun Runner Stakes Sept. 8 at Kentucky Downs.
JOCKEY: Edgar Morales; TRAINER: Helen Pitts
2. Grand Mo the First (4-1): Was on the Highway to Kentucky Derby 2024 and earned sufficient factors for the Might 4 traditional, ending a distant 18th of 20. Resurfaced in a one-mile listed stakes on the grass at Gulfstream Park and gained by a neck because the 3-5 favourite after a poor begin. His kind on turf and all-weather tracks is healthier than on dust and he is usually a issue on this race.
JOCKEY: Paco Lopez; TRAINER: Victor Barboza Jr.
3. Deterministic (3-1): One other former Kentucky Derby path horse fizzled in his final two dust tries after which improved in pair of graded turf stakes, ending second to Neat within the Manila Stakes in late June after which third behind Carson’s Run and Legend of Time within the Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes Aug. 11. Holding his personal towards Neat and Carson’s Run ought to make him one of many betting favorites on this race, and deservedly so.
JOCKEY: Manny Franco; TRAINER: Christophe Clement
4. Izzy d’Oro (30-1): Ought to be a tempo issue primarily based on his final 4 begins, which embrace a win in a 1 3/16-mile April Keeneland allowance race after which fourth- and fifth-place finishes in stakes races gained by Carson’s Run, the place he led early however couldn’t seal the deal. Robust to see him hitting the board on this spot.
JOCKEY: David Cohen; TRAINER: Blake Kelly
5. Frontline Warrior (30-1): Confirmed promise final fall with a maiden win on turf at Keeneland however has failed attain the highest three in three stakes tries this yr, though he had a brutal journey within the 1 3/8-mile Kent Stakes final out, when he checked in fifth. Connections should be revered, and he can rally to seize a minor share.
JOCKEY: Vincent Cheminaud; TRAINER: Shug McGaughey
6. In a Jam (6-1): Has been energetic in 2024 with seven begins and completed fourth or higher in all of them, his final two coming at one mile on Colonial’s interior turf course. He pale to fourth within the Boston Stakes in mid-July, a race gained by Fulmineo, after which overcame visitors bother to complete third within the Grade 2 Secretariat Stakes on Aug. 11 behind budding star Trikari and Sensible Berti. Mark Casse has had a terrific meet at Colonial (as he has at different tracks this summer time) and that deserves respect. Would possibly want a bit shorter distance, although. This colt can be entered within the $1.5 million International Tote Gun Runner Stakes Sept. 8 at Kentucky Downs.
JOCKEY: Mychel Sanchez; TRAINER: Mark Casse
7. Desvio (8-1): Debuted on turf final fall after which made 4 consecutive dust begins earlier than transferring again to the garden in Might. He’s since gained a 1 1/16-mile allowance/elective claiming race on delicate turf at Pimlico after which rallied late to win the Kent Stakes on agency turf at Delaware Park. May be considerably ignored on the tote board, however that current kind makes him a contender right here.
JOCKEY: Ben Curtis; TRAINER: Madison Meyers
8. Massif (30-1): Deep nearer has a superb basis to compete, having made all 11 of his begins on turf together with 5 at Colonial. He gained a 1 1/16-mile allowance/elective claimer right here after a gritty stretch duel however then turned in a puzzling eighth-place end in one other Colonial allowance, this one on the interior turf course. Connections have had a lot success at this monitor, but the gelding’s previous performances point out a late-closing third or fourth is his ceiling.
JOCKEY: Sheldon Russell; TRAINER: Brittany Russell
9. Echo Lane (15-1): Figures to be one of many horses vying for the early lead primarily based on his last-out win on the interior turf course right here, when he pressed the tempo after which fought off a late problem to prevail by a head. That win at 1 1/8 miles got here in a starter allowance, nevertheless, and he was no match for In a Jam and Fulmineo in his prior two begins, each stakes races.
JOCKEY: Antonio Gallardo; TRAINER: Rohan Crichton
10. Oscar’s World (12-1): One other Kentucky shipper, he arrives off two races at Ellis Park: a four-length win in a 1 1/16-mile allowance/elective claimer after which a fourth-place effort within the KY Downs Preview Nashville Derby going 1 1/8 miles. He pressed the early chief in each begins and figures to take action on this race as effectively with good tempo jockey Martin Garcia retaining the mount. Not out of the query.
JOCKEY: Martin Garcia; TRAINER: Brian Lynch
11. Fulmineo (15-1): Briefly tried to affix the Kentucky Derby prep parade earlier this yr however his true calling is on turf and he proved that with back-to-back listed stakes wins within the one-mile James W. Murphy Stakes at Pimlico after which the one-mile Boston Stakes on Colonial’s interior turf. Each of these begins got here on delicate floor, and in his subsequent sixth-place end within the 1 3/16-mile Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes was on good turf. He was no menace in that Grade 1 occasion and will get class aid right here, which he ought to respect.
JOCKEY: Victor Carrasco; TRAINER: Arnaud Delacour
12. Zverev (10-1): Made his stakes debut final out in a troublesome spot, the one-mile Nationwide Museum of Racing Corridor of Fame Stakes at Saratoga in early August, and was solidly wager at 4-1 odds solely to endure a tough begin and end sixth of eight behind top-class Neat. He was not embarrassed, nevertheless, and a return to his race previous to the Corridor of Fame – when he pressed the tempo in a 1 1/16-mile Churchill Downs turf allowance after which gained going away by 2 ½ lengths – makes him a menace right here. Will want a clear breakn from the surface put up in an effort to use some early pace and acquire a safe spot close to the tempo.
JOCKEY: Jorge Ruiz; TRAINER: Cherie DeVaux
THE PICK: Deterministic
LIVE LONGSHOT: Desvio
SUPERFECTA: 3-1-7-2
