Poised for repeat titles, jockey Ben Curtis and trainer Mike Trombetta lead their respective standings halfway through the summer meet at Colonial Downs.
Through 20 days of the 41-day meet, Curtis leads all riders with 24 wins from 90 mounts, a 27% win rate. He capped a six-win week by giving Giocoso a perfect trip to win the Grade 2 $500,000 Secretariat Stakes on Festival of Racing Day. Curtis, who moved his tack from England less than two years ago, surpassed $10 million in North American earnings on Saturday.
Last year’s leading rider, Curtis holds a seven-win advantage over Paco Lopez going into Wednesday’s card.
Seeking his third consecutive Colonial Downs title, Trombetta tops all trainers with 17 wins, three more than Brittany Russell. Since the end of July, his barn has been hot, winning 10 of its last 25 starts, including saddling Hollywood Walk, winner of the Andy Guest Stakes on Festival of Racing Day.
“We have a lot of turf horses, and Colonial does more turf than most, so that’s a big part of it,” Trombetta said. “It’s a good program; there’s a lot of variety. Your 2-year-olds get to run on the grass. I think each year it’s getting a little more difficult to get it done. All in all, it’s a good place to run in the summer.”
Claiming Crown Preview Day Entries Taken Thursday
Entries will be taken Thursday for Claiming Crown Preview Day at Colonial Downs. Serving as qualifying races for the Claiming Crown, the top two finishers in each race automatically earn a spot in the corresponding race at Churchill Downs.
Purses will total $550,000 for the eight Claiming Crown Preview races, run under starter-allowance conditions. The Colonial Downs qualifiers will carry purses ranging from $50,000 up to $100,000 for the signature Claiming Crown Jewel, run at 1 1/8 miles for 3-year-olds and up. Winners will also receive a travel stipend of up to $2,000 from the Virginia HBPA, provided the horse starts in the championship races in Louisville.
Festival of Racing Day Wrap-Up
Trainer of the first- and third-place finishers in Saturday’s Grade 1 Arlington Million, Shug McCaughey said Fort Washington and Integration shipped back to Saratoga and are doing well.
McCaughey said Fort Washington is under consideration for a start at Kentucky Downs, while Integration, after a steady campaign, will likely get a rest.
In his first turf start, Mystik Dan finished fourth in the Arlington Million. Trainer Kenny McPeek said the Kentucky Derby 150 winner could return to the turf in his next start.
“I thought he ran OK,” McPeek said. “Could I have worked him harder? Did he get tired? We’ll look at all that. It was a respectable run. He jumped into deep waters. We’ll have to see what’s out there. The way he ran today, maybe a flat mile on the grass at Kentucky Downs in a month. Maybe one mile back on dirt. We’ll find a good spot for him.”
Ed Moger Jr,. said Saturday’s Grade 2 Beverly D. Stakes winner Charlene’s Dream came out of the race in good shape. With 12 points on the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Divisional Leaderboard, she is under consideration for the Breeders’ Cup Filly &Mare Turf (G1).
After running seventh in the Grade 2 Secretariat Stakes (G2), trainer Graham Motion said End of Romance is being considered for the 1 1/8-mile Grade 3 Old Dominion Derby on turf at Colonial Downs on Sept. 6. Barn mate and multiple graded-stakes winner Test Score could also start in the Old Dominion Derby.
Gigante Returns for Saturday’s $125,000 Find Stakes
Two sibling stakes are scheduled for Saturday, August 16 at Colonial Downs, headlined by the return of L and N Racing and Clark Brewster’s millionaire Gigante for the $125,000 Find Stakes. Along with the $125,000 All Brandy Stakes, which drew eight older fillies and mares, both races are restricted to Virginia- and Maryland-bred or -sired Thoroughbreds and will be run at 1 1/16 miles on turf. Saturday’s stakes begin with the Find Stakes in Race 5, the first leg of the Old Dominion 6, and conclude with the All Brandy Stakes in Race 9. First post for the 10-race card is 12:30 p.m. ET.
