Eleven 3-year-old turf horses competed in the 19th run of the $300,000 Virginia Rowing Race (G3T) New Kent County, the culmination of a high stakes hand at Colony Downs September 6th.
Since its start in 1998, the race has been won by the ultimate champions English Channel (2004), The joy of kittens (2005), and Gio Ponti (2008).
Klaravich Stables ‘like England’ Agreed , a Chad Brown intern, is a favorite of the 3-1 morning lineup. The consistent runner started his career with three straight wins, including a win over Woodhaven Stakes at Aqueduct race track in April. inside Almanzor colt’s most recent appearance, he finished a solid fourth in the Pennine Ridge Stakes (G2T) at Belmont Park June 4. Manny Franco rides.
Coach Graham Motion, three-time race winner, runs Highclere Thoroughbred Racing’s Royal patronage . He lost twice started buying a combined spread of only 2 1/2 length.
The Wootton Bassett colt has started its previous nine in the UK, with wins coming last year in Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (G2) and Tattersalls Acomb Stakes (G3). Protect Eclipse award-winning rider Joel Rosario riding the Royal Patronage from the tracks.
Limited is a Kitten’s Joy puppy from the same owner/trainer as the 2011 Virginia Derby winner Air support —Owner Stuart S. Janney III and coach Shug McGaughey. Limited liability has been shown to be competitive in classed share events. When he was just 2 years old, he finished third in the Expected (G3T) and Pilgrimage bets (G2T) competitions. As a sophomore, he finished third in the Pennine Ridge Stakes (G2T). Jose Oritz was up.
Grand David , California Frolic , Wow Whata Summer , Scholar Vance , Capensis and Catnip are other leading contenders in a race where every starter races against the diuretic Lasix. Most of the races without it in recent stakes started in other states.
Four additional stakes will take place before the Virginia Derby: Joy Shares of Woodford Reserve Kitten, Da Hoss Shares, Exacta Systems Rosie Shares and Woodford Reserve Virginia Oaks.
Little Red Feather Racing’s Oakhurst likely started as a favorite in Virginia Oaks for Brown. Fifth in the last Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes (G3T) she was placed in the Wild Applause Stakes a previous race at Belmont Park. Those races followed consecutive victories at Gulfstream Park and Keeneland. Franco is on board.
The Virginia Derby will be televised by FanDuel TV (formerly TVG), will provide local coverage and will be broadcast by Horse Racing Radio Network which can be found on Sirius216/XM 2014 and on the internet at Horseracingradio.net.
Item: New Kent County Virginia Derby (G3T)
Colony DownsTuesday, September 6, 2022, Race No. 10
- Level IIIT
- 1 1/8 minutes
- Turf
- 300,000 dollars
- 3 yo
- 6:14pm (local)
Item: Woodford Virginia Oaks Preserve
Colony DownsTuesday, September 6, 2022, Race No. 9
- STK
- 1 1/8 minutes
- Turf
- 200,000 dollars
- 3 yo Fillies
- 5:29 pm (local)
This press release has been edited for content and style by the BloodHorse Staff.
