Dream Big Racing, LLC’s Winfinity and Mary Lightner’s Candycrumbs each captured a $150,000 Virginia-Restricted dirt stakes for 2-year-olds August 3 at Colonial Downs in a similar, dramatic come-from-behind running style. The former was 1-1/4 lengths the best in the Keswick for fillies while the latter crossed 1-1/4 lengths in front in the Hickory Tree for colts & geldings. The stakes, contested at 5-1/2 furlongs, were open to Virginia-Bred, Virginia-Sired and Virginia-Certified horses.
Winfinity, making her first lifetime start, was last through much of her stakes as Diakonissa controlled the field early until Sail Theseven Seas gained the lead at the top of the stretch. Jockey Tyler Conner led Winfinity into fifth coming out of the turn and surged on the far outside late passing four frontrunners including Sail Theseven Seas in deep stretch.
The winner, a Not This Time filly, is trained by John Alexnder Ortiz and was bred by Ann Mudge Backer/Smitten Farm. She paid $25.80 in her first career start.
“She’s a big girl,” said jockey Tyler Conner. “I’d never been on her before. She was just green and didn’t know what she was doing up there. She was all over the place, running everywhere. She straightened up when she hit the top of the stretch though and just kept surging.”
Larry Johnson and RDM Racing Stable’s Sail Theseven Seas finished second and Barak Farm’s Safe Trust finished third.
Candycrumbs, a Valiant Minister colt fresh off a runner-up at Gulfstream in his career bow June 8th, was last in tenth place through the 3/8th mark, moved up to sixth at the top of the stretch and won by 1-1/2 lengths over Do It For Michael. The winner, who paid $14.00, was ridden by Trevor Mccarthy for Lightner, who is both trainer and owner.
“When he got squeezed at the start, it was really a blessing,” said jockey Trevor McCarthy. “Everyone has the same mentality in these two-year-old races. When I saw the race before mine (Keswick Stakes), the winner came outside and was running late, and I said great. My horse took to the dirt really well. He switched leads and once we got into the turn, there were a lot of horses wide and I just sat at the rail for a while. He got into a really good rhythm and once we hit the stretch, I just said we’re going wheel it and fire. He’s got a lot of talent.”
No Guts No Glory Farm’s Do It For Michael finished second while Lynn Ashby and William Gotwals’ Re Markably took third.
Colonial Downs cancelled the final two races on its nine-race card due to storms in the area. The summer racing season in New Kent resumes with a 12-race program Thursday August 8 at 11:45 AM. The “Festival of Racing” card, which features seven stakes including the G1 Arlington Million, is set for Saturday August 10 and will feature a rare appearance by the Budweiser Clydesdales.
