It’s Virginia’s love affair with turf racing that sees the 18th Virginia Derby Day being staged at Colonial Downs on Tuesday 31 August, again on its magnificent Secretariat Turf Course.
As a comfortable winner on turf in the Bald Eagle Derby at Pimlicio, the Jamie Ness trained Indian Lake who heads the 12 turf 3yo’s aiming for the New Kent County Virginia Derby of 1 1/8 miles.
Starting from Gate 2 for Ruben Silvera and owners Gallagher’s Stud, Indian Lake was also second in the Jersey Derby with earnings in 16 of 17 starts, and is by Champagne Stakes sire Daredevil.
With all attention being centre on the Bald Eagle Derby, its runner-up and race favourite Experienced is also favourite in this 18th Virginia Derby for Augustine Stables and trainer Jonathan Thomas.
To be ridden by Manuel Franco from Barrier 7, Experienced with be challenged by Bald Eagle third placed Wotton Asset, who was also third in the Kent Stakes and will start from 6 for Joel Ortiz.
Trained by Graham Motion for Madaket Stables, Wootton Asset was a juvenile winner in France, and was just a €37,000 buy at the Deauville October Sale being by champion sire Wootton Bassett.
Although the creator of Tapeta all-weather tracks, its Maryland trainer Michael Dickerson who heads for his first Virginia Derby victory with Search The Truth drawing the rails for Joseph Rocco.
In coming off a first start 1 1/8m maiden turf winner at Colonial, Search The Truth is looking to be his trainer’s 25th major stakes winner, having twice won the Breeders’ Cup Mile with Das Horse.
Although an exponent of US flat and steeplechase racing, Michael was born in Yorkshire UK and in Britain’s National Hunt racing he achieved 378 wins as a champion jumps jockey.
As a British Steeplechasing Hall of Fame inductee, he was NH Campion Trainer in 1982, 1983 and 1984 having twice won the Cheltenham Gold Cup and three wins in the King George VI Chase.
In training the ‘Dickerson Five,’ Michael had the first five placegetters of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1983, while his Laurel Futurity winner Tapit went onto to be three-times Champion US Sire.
In not having a starter at Colonial Downs since 2007, Michael Dickinson is looking to Belle Belisa as his first Virginia Oaks winner, in also being a first start 1 1/8m Special Maiden winner.
To be ridden by Charlie Marquez and starting from Gate 6 the Irish bred Belle Belisa has definitely drawn attention and will be challenged by race favourite Gold For Kitten starting in Gate 8.
Unbeaten this year in both career starts Gold For Kitten is by outstanding Champion US Turf Sire Kitten’s Joy, and will be ridden by Joseph Rocco for veteran trainer Brendan Walsh.
In North America’s expanding interest in turf racing, what has New York learnt from Colonial Downs with its highly rated two track Secretariat Turf Course, and its 80% turf race programme.
New York has successfully targeted the major European racing stables with its expanding Derby and Oaks turf events being promoted to Grade 1 status and rising to $1million in prizemoney.
In July Ireland’s Aiden O’Brien won the Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes of 1¼m with his unplaced Epsom Derby favourite Bolshoi Ballet, with the French visitor Tokyo Gold in second.
Next it was Aiden O’Brien, Ryan Moore and Coolmore again, with their Epsom Oaks unplaced favourite Santa Barbara winning the Belmont Oaks invitational, and next the Beverley D Stakes on turf.
In fact, the Coolmore connection had previously won the Belmont Derby in 2016 with Deauville, ridden by Jamie Spencer, and the Belmont Oaks with Athena in 2018 for Ryan Moore.
This year the Belmont Gold Cup Invitational Stakes of 2m on turf was won by Baron Samedi trained by Joseph O’Brien, Aiden’s son, with the last four winners all being European visitors.
Joseph O’Brien struck again with his 3yo State of Rest winning the third running of the Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes of 1 3/16 mile on turf, with Bolshoi Ballet being the unplaced favourite.
At Woodbine, the former harness track has been replaced by a 1½m turf track, the Northern Dancer Course, with Godolphin’s Hawkbill invited to defend his upcoming Northern Dancer Turf title.