Monthly Archives: June 2018

Special Envoy Takes Streak Into $75,000 Edward Evans Stakes On Saturday

The following appeared on Laurel’s website June 20th and is a MJC release.

Queen Caroline Seeks to Regain Crown $75,000 Nellie Mae Cox

11-Year-Old Two Notch Road Returns in $75,000 White Oak Farm
Do What I Say Set for Title Defense in $75,000 M. Tyson Gilpin
LAUREL, MD – Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Firestone’s homebred Special Envoy, who capped last season with three consecutive stakes victories, is set to launch his 7-year-old season against familiar company in Saturday’s $75,000 Edward Evans Stakes at Laurel Park.
   The one-mile Edward Evans is among four $75,000 stakes restricted to Virginia-bred/sired horses 3 years old and up over Laurel’s world-class turf course that help comprise the 11-race program. It is joined by the Nellie Mae Cox at one mile and M. Tyson Gilpin at 5 ½ furlongs, each for fillies and mares, and the 5 ½-furlong White Oak Farm.
   First race post time is 1:10 p.m.
   Special Envoy, trained by Fair Hill, Md.-based Arnaud Delacour, was a comfortable 1 ½-length winner of last year’s Evans to begin a sweep of Laurel’s trio of Virginia-bred/sired stakes that included the Hansel and Bert Allen, both at 1 1/16 miles.
   Since the Bert Allen Sept. 30, Special Envoy was given the winter off before being brought back to prepare for his 2018 campaign at Fair Hill, where he shows a steady string of seven works dating back to late April, the most recent being a bullet five furlongs in 1:00.20 June 15.

Special Envoy turned the tables on Rose Brier as the two battle to the wire in the 2017 Edward Evans Stakes. photo by Jim McCue.

   “We’ve done that for the last couple of years with him and it seems to be working. He always comes back fresh and I think he likes to run like that,” Delacour said. “If we go all year round with him we would probably have to give him a break right in the middle of the summer, which isn’t really the point.
   “The point is to get him ready for the beginning of the season, especially the Virginia-bred stakes which are fitting for a horse like him,” he added. “He runs well, he’s consistent and those three races mean a lot. If you run well in those three, that pretty much makes a year. It was important that we gave him a little break.”
   Jockey Daniel Centeno, aboard for all three stakes wins last year, gets the return call from Post 3 on Special Envoy, runner-up in the 2015 Bert Allen and 2016 Evans who also ran second in the 2015 Cliff Hanger (G3). All horses will carry 118 pounds.
   “He should be good in there. I’m very happy with him,” Delacour said. “He’s run well anywhere between a mile and a mile and an eighth, really. He’s a little bit better on firm turf. Last year he won [the Hansel by 8 ¼ lengths] on the soft turf but I think it was because he was the best horse in that spot; it’s not really his best footing. He’s more efficient on firm turf.”
   Quest Realty’s Speed Gracer, third in the Evans and Hansel and second in the Bert Allen last year, and Mr. Magician, second in the Hansel by 2 ½ lengths over Speed Gracer, are entered to return for another try against Special Envoy.
   Speed Gracer, a gelded 4-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid, opened his season running second in a 1 1/16-mile optional claiming allowance April 22 at Laurel. Mr. Magician has run twice this year, finishing off the board in a pair of starter optional claimers, the latter May 25 at legendary Pimlico Race Course.
   Carbon Data, racing first off the claim for trainer Mary Eppler; Officer’s Oath, fifth in last year’s Evans; River Deep, four-for-six lifetime at Laurel; New York shipper Sticksstatelydude, winner of the 2016 Discovery (G3) on dirt; and Trustifarian complete the field.
Queen Caroline Seeks to Regain Crown in $75,000 Nellie Mae Cox
   Amy Moore’s multiple stakes winner Queen Caroline, unraced since testing graded-stakes company last fall, looks to return to her winning ways against fellow state-breds in the $75,000 Nellie Mae Cox.

Queen Caroline won the Nellie Mae Cox Stales for the second straight year at Laurel June 24th. Photo by Jim McCue.

   A 5-year-old daughter of Grade 1 winner Blame, Queen Caroline won twice in eight 2017 starts, both Virginia-bred/sired stakes at Laurel. She took the Nellie Mae Cox by 1 ¼ lengths in front-running fashion, and returned to win by the same margin in the fall’s Brookmeade Stakes.
   In between, the Michael Matz trainee finished third as the favorite in the William M. Backer Stakes over a yielding course at Laurel and was second in the Steve Pini Memorial at Suffolk Downs, capping her campaign running ninth in the 1 1/16-mile Athenia (G3) Oct. 28 at Belmont Park.
   “She’s doing well. I wish we would have had a race before but none of the allowance races went, but she’s doing great,” Matz said. “She’s ready to run. We’ll see if she needed a race or not, but I think she’ll do well.”
   Queen Caroline had two starts going into last year’s Nellie Mae Cox, including a fourth in the Stella Artois Gallorette (G3) at Pimlico. She has breezed six times since April 30 at Fair Hill for her return.
   “She was ready to run a month ago. She’s ready to go. We were trying to get a prep race into her before but none of the races went so this is where we’re starting,” Matz said. “She’s pretty fresh right now. But, she’s an older mare and she knows what she’s doing so I don’t think it should be a problem.”
   Alex Cintron, up for last year’s Nellie Mae Cox victory, rides again from Post 4 in the seven-horse field.
   Among Queen Caroline’s rivals will be the first three horses that finished behind her last year – Armoire, Complete St. and Secret Or Not. Armoire ran second in all three Virginia-bred/sired stakes in 2017, beaten less than three lengths combined, and is unraced since the Brookmeade.
   Complete St., winner of the 2015 Brookmeade, has gone winless in her last 13 starts but was second in the 2016 Brookmeade and 1 ¼ lengths behind runner-up Armoire in last year’s Nellie Mae Cox. Secret Or Not is 0-for-2 this year, most recently third in a one-mile, 70-yard optional claiming allowance May 31 at Delaware Park.
   Also entered are Armoire’s stablemate Well Blessed, making her stakes debut; 120-pound topweight Drop Dead Red, winner of the off-the-turf Politely Stakes May 19 at Monmouth Park; and Zenbennie.
11-Year-Old Two Notch Road Returns in $75,000 White Oak Farm
   Two Notch Road, a stakes winner in five of his seven racing seasons, looks to carry that streak into his 11-year-old year in the $75,000 White Oak Farm.
   The White Oak Farm will be the 41st career start and third this year for Two Notch Road, bred by James Hackman, who co-owns the Partner’s Hero gelding with trainer Glenn Thompson. Four of his seven lifetime victories have come in Virginia-bred stakes, all run in Maryland, most recently in the Meadow Stable Stakes last August, also his latest win.

Julian Pimentel directed Two Notch Road to an upset win in the 2016 White Oak Stakes. Photo by Jerry Dzierwinski.

   “I feel good about the race. There are some tough horses in there,” Thompson said. “I feel good about the way he’s coming into the race. I’m happy with him.”
   Two Notch Road, a winner of $522,163 in purse earnings during his career, began this year in a pair of optional claiming allowances, finishing sixth in his 11-year-old debut April 29 at Laurel and fourth in race taken off the turf May 28 at Monmouth Park. It was only the fourth time he had raced on dirt and first since his 2-year-old season.
   “When they took it off the turf, he had had some decent breezes on the dirt so I wasn’t really concerned about him running on it. Normally I would have scratched him, but because of the way it fit in with the Virginia-bred races I went ahead and let him go out there and run a little bit,” Thompson said. “I felt good about his performance. He was climbing; I think he was in shock. He was like, ‘What the hell is this?’ But, I think it was a decent performance and I think it will tighten him up so I think we’ll be in good shape.”
   Wildcard Stable’s Lime House Louie, third in last year’s White Oak Farm and Meadow Stable, is among eight rivals set to line up against Two Notch Road, along with 2016 Punch Line Stakes runner-up Available; Charles Town-based Braxton, a winner of five of nine lifetime starts including three of five this year; Determined Vision, Fly E Dubai, Hatteras Bound and Tiz Unbeatable.
Do What I Say Set for Title Defense in $75,000 M. Tyson Gilpin
   R. Larry Johnson homebred Do What I Say will break from the far outside post in a field of eight as she looks to defend her 12-1 upset last year in the $75,000 M. Tyson Gilpin.
   Do What I Say, a 5-year-old daughter of Street Magician, earned her first career stakes victory in last year’s Gilpin, a race where she was steadied and lost ground but rallied from well back to win by a length.
   The Gilpin will be just the second start this year for Mike Trombetta-trained Do What I Say, a rallying second in a 5 ½-furlong optional claiming allowance May 5 at Laurel, where she has a record of 2-2-2 from seven career races. Julian Pimentel rode last time and will be up again at 118 pounds.
   From the barn of trainer Hugh McMahon are the experienced pair of Northern Eclipse and Up Hill Battle, who have combined to win 13 of 49 starts and $389,972 in purse earnings. Toby Roth’s Northern Eclipse, 6, won the Camptown Stakes and was second in the Oakley Stakes last summer and fall at Laurel, while Dan Limongelli’s Up Hill Battle, 5, is seeking her first turf win having run third in the Oakley and Politely Stakes last year and fourth in the Conniver Stakes on dirt March 17.
   Altamura, Dixie Dazzle, Sister Says, Virginia Fable and What the Beep round out the field.

HBPA President David Ross’s Honorable Duty Finishes Second In Grade I Stephen Foster Stakes

Congratulations to Honorable Duty (owned by Virginia HBPA President David Ross), who finished a solid second to Pavel in Saturday’s Grade I Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs. The 6 year old Distorted Humor gelding, shown in red silks (inside) in the photo below, saw his bankroll rise to $937,396 with the runner-up finish.

Honorable Duty, second inside in the red silks of jockey Corey Lanerie, held on for second in the 2018 Stephen Foster Stakes (Gr. I). Photo by Coady Photography.

Saturday’s field included some strong contenders including Irish War Cry, Patch, Lookin At Lee, and betting choice Backyard Heaven. Honorable Duty finished a neck ahead of third place finisher Matrooh, who was just a head ahead of fourth place finishing Hawaakom.  It was the second straight year Ross’s charge took second in the Foster — in 2017, he was a runner-up to Gun Runner.

Honorable Duty is shown winning at Keeneland in April, 2016. Photo courtesy of Coady Photography.

A Kentucky-bred, out of the A.P. Indy mare, Mesmeric, Honorable Duty has 8 wins, 5 runner-up finishes and one third from 19 career starts. In 2017, he won a trio of stakes — the Mineshaft and New Orleans Handicaps at Fair Grounds, and the Lukas Classic Stakes at Churchill. His only start ins 2018 prior to the Foster was May 20th, when he captured an allowance optional claiming event at Churchill.

 

 

 

Altamura Captures $40,000 Maiden Special Weight Race For Virginia-Breds At Laurel On June 15th

Congratulations to Altamura, winner of the June 15th $40,000 maiden special weight race for Virginia-breds at Laurel. The 3 year old Artie Schiller filly chased dueling leaders Kuznetsov and Virginia Fable at the top of the stretch, caught them in mid-stretch and edged clear before the wire. The winner crossed one length ahead of Virginia Fable. She completed the 5 1/2 furlong turf test in 1:02.42.

Altamura got her first lifetime win June 15th in a $40,000 maiden special weight race for Virginia-breds at Laurel. Photo by Jim McCue.

Altamura was bred by Chance Farm, was ridden by Jairo Rendon and is trained by John Stephens. She is out of the Jump Start mare, Delta Weekend. Prior to her winning effort, the filly had a respective fifth and fourth place finish at Monmouth this spring.

Altamura kicked off a series of 2018 Virginia-bred races at Laurel with a win June 15th. Photo by Jim McCue.

Here’s the rest of the field in finishing order with each breeder’s name: Virginia Fable (2nd – Becky Lavin), Holiday Hopes (3rd – William Backer Revocable Trust), Kuznetsov (4th – Larry Johnson), Miss Gray (5th – Lady Olivia at North Cliff), Kitten’s Friend (6th – Phyllis Jones), Wicked Sister (7th – Lady Olivia at North Cliff), Wolverette (8th – Mr. & Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin, III) and Gingeresk (9th – Nancy Rizer & Eric Rizer).

 

Defending Champs Among Nominees To Virginia-Bred Stakes June 23rd At Laurel Park

Four Stakes Worth $300,000 Saturday, June 23 Over World-Class Turf Course
Super Hi-6 Carryover of $1,193 for Return of Live Racing Friday, June 15

The first of three Virginia-Bred Stakes Days this summer at Laurel takes place on Saturday June 23rd. Here is a release provided by the Maryland Jockey Club on nominations to the 4 stakes. 

LAUREL, MD – Defending champions Special Envoy, Queen Caroline and Do What I Say are among 112 nominations to a quartet of $75,000 stakes restricted to Virgina-bred/sired horses hosted by Laurel Park Saturday, June 23.

The one-mile Edward Evans and 5 ½-furlong White Oak Farm for 3-year-olds and up, and the one-mile Nellie Mae Cox and 5 ½-furlong M. Tyson Gilpin for fillies and mares 3 and older will be contested over Laurel’s world-class turf course.

It is the first of two days during Laurel’s summer meet, which runs June 1 to Aug. 19, to feature four $75,000 Virginia-bred/sired grass stakes. The Hansel, Meadow Stable, William M. Backer and Campton will be run Saturday, Aug. 4.

Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Firestone’s homebred Special Envoy won the Edward Evans en route to a sweep of Laurel’s Virginia-bred stakes in 2017 that included the Hansel and Bert Allen, the latter Sept. 30. The Arnaud Delacour-trained 7-year-old Stroll gelding has not raced since that victory, and has been working steadily for his return at the Fair Hill Training Center.

Amy Moore’s Queen Caroline was a popular front-running winner of the Nellie Mae Cox last year, one of two wins from eight starts in 2017, the other coming in Laurel’s Brookmeade Stakes, also against fellow Virginia-breds. She last raced Oct. 28 when off the board in the 1 1/16-mile Athenia (G3) at Belmont Park, and has also been prepping for her return at Fair Hill for trainer Michael Matz.

R. Larry Johnson homebred Do What I Say has finished in the top three in six of seven career tries at Laurel, two of them wins, including a come-from-behind triumph length triumph over Sister Says in the 2017 White Oak Farm. The 5-year-old Street Magician mare made her seasonal debut running second in an optional claiming allowance going 5 ½ furlongs May 5 at Laurel.

Lawyer Dave and Lime House Louie, separated by a half-length when second and third, respectively, in last year’s race, top White Oak Farm nominees. Lawyer Dave went on to win the Punch Line Stakes at Laurel in the fall and has made one start this year, running fifth in an off-the-turf five-furlong claiming sprint May 26 at legendary Pimlico Race Course.

Also prominent among nominees are Two Notch Road, an multiple stakes-winning 11-year-old gelding with more than $522,163 in lifetime earnings who captured the 2016 White Oak Farm; and multiple graded-stakes winning millionaire Long On Value.

Super Hi-5 Carryover of $1,193 for Return of Live Racing Friday, June 15

Live racing returns with a 10-race program Friday, June 15 that includes a $1 Super Hi-5 carryover of $1,193.44 in opener. First race post time is 1:10 p.m.

Six races are scheduled for Laurel’s world-class turf course over the Kelso and Fort Marcy layouts. A total of 60 horses were entered, an average of 10 starters per race.

Friday’s feature is a $47,000 third-level optional claiming allowance for fillies and mares 3 and up at 5 ½ furlongs on the Kelso turf course featuring stakes winners Anna’s Bandit, Daylight Ahead and Deer Valley.

Commonwealth Day Stakes For Virginia-Bred/Sired Horses Set For June 23rd At Laurel

The series of Virginia-bred races in Maryland that has been so popular the past several years will return again in 2018 and will feature a new format. Previously, the three separate Saturday programs shared a combination of thoroughbred stakes and maiden events. The new version will offer maiden races on Friday and stakes exclusively on Saturday. A total of 18 races will be carded — 13 stakes at $75,000 each and five maiden races at $40,000 each. They will all be contested on turf.
The Saturday stakes event days are June 23rd, August 4th and September 22nd. A four-pack including the Edward Evans, Nellie Mae Cox, White Oak Farm and Tyson Gilpin Stakes kicks off the series, coined “Commonwealth Day”. The first pair will be held at the one mile distance; the other pair at 5 1/2 furlongs. The middle leg features the Hansel, William Backer, Meadow Stable and Camptown Stakes. The first two will be at 1 1/16th miles and the last two at 5 1/2 furlongs. The series concludes with five more on September 22nd — the Bert Allen, Brookmeade, Punch Line, Oakley and Jamestown Stakes. The first pair are at the 1 1/8 miles distance and the final trio will go 5 1/2 furlongs.

Special Envoy (outside) battled with Rose Brier (inside) in the $75,000 Edward Evans Stakes in 2017. Photo by Jim McCue.

Two other aspects are new.  A $20,000 Trainers and Owners bonus program will offer awards to the overall top five leading trainers and owners that participate in the series. Points over the 18 scheduled races will be totaled at the end. Trainers and owners will be awarded five points for a win, four points for second, three points for third, two points for fourth and one for every finisher after fourth place.  $10,000 will be awarded for first place, $4,000 for second, $3,000 for third, $2,000 for fourth and $1,000 for fifth.

Queen Caroline captured the 2017 Brookmeade Stakes at Laurel September 30th. Photo by Jim McCue.

Horses that entered the new Virginia certified residency program will be eligible to compete in one of the maiden races and could potentially enter a stakes race as well. A 5 1/2 furlong maiden sprint for two-year-olds is slated for Friday August 3rd and is open to Virginia-bred, sired or certified horses. The Jamestown Stakes, slated for September 22nd, could include certified horses if there are less than six Virginia-bred or Sired entered.

Long On Value Becomes First Millionaire Horse From Augusta County

The following piece was written by Nick Hahn and appeared in The News Leader. 

Robert Powell has bred Augusta County’s newest millionaire, a seven-year old thoroughbred horse that has traveled the long way from Churchville to Churchill Downs.

After coming out last out of the gate in a field of six, Long On Value, ridden by jockey Florent Geroux, won the $70,000 Mighty Beau Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs June 2.

By adding a little over $40,000 to his earnings sheet, Long On Value is believed to now be the first millionaire thoroughbred to be bred in Augusta County.

The accomplishment is remarkable in a county that hasn’t seen a significant thoroughbred interest in over a generation and where hoof heritage lies with cattle that outnumber horses 10 to one.

The Virginia breeder had just recently moved his Snow Lantern farm from Charlottesville to western Augusta County when Long On Value was foaled in March 2011. The brown horse is sired by Value Plus out of the Orientate-sired mare Long Message.

Powell didn’t have to go far to see his new weanling as the foaling shed is located just across the reflecting pond that lies off of his front step.

“I’m very excited that he’s finally reached the million-dollar mark because he’s been in the high nine-hundred thousands for some time and he’s been laid off for eight months,” said Powell about the horse he sold as a yearling.

Long On Value broke poorly from the starting gate, coming out last before circling the field on the outside to win a five-furlong turf sprint by length and three-quarters in 57.31 seconds.

The Mighty Beau was his first start in 2018 for Long On Value who has now summed $1,022,073 in earnings.

“He broke a little slow but once he got settled, he got into a great rhythm. He closed really fast,” Geroux explained postrace.  “I think this horse could have a really solid campaign the rest of the year.”

It’s not a bad start for a horse that appeared to be headed for retirement.  Last year, trainer Brad Cox purchased Long On Value for $100,000 out of Keeneland’s November Breeding Stock Sale for new owners Madaket Stables, Ten Strike Racing and Steve Laymen.

“This horse was doing really good coming into the race. He showed today he’s a legitimate graded stakes-type horse,” praised Cox.  “Florent had a perfect trip and he closed really strong down the lane. We’ll look at the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint as the ultimate goal for him in the fall.”

For once in his career, Long On Value, should he make that race, may not be looking at a long commute. This year’s Breeders Cup is held in November at Churchill Downs where he is now regularly stabled.

With his racing history, Long on Value could easily be described as journeyman. After a win in his maiden start at Delaware Park, Long on Value won the 2013 edition of the $60,000 Jamestown Stakes for two-year olds at Colonial Downs in his native Virginia.  In his career, he has gathered eight wins in 31 starts to include stakes wins at Santa Anita Park, Saratoga Racetrack, Canterbury Downs, Gulfstream Park and now Churchill Downs.

In 2017, Long On Value went global racing in Dubai, England and Canada, competitive at racing’s highest levels while still cashing the accumulating checks. In Dubai he finished second in the $1 million Al Quoz Sprint that is part of the Dubai World Cup card.

It’s conceivable that Long of Value could return to race at Colonial Downs should the track reopen in 2019.

The new owner of Colonial Downs, Larry Lukas of the newly formed Colonial Downs Group, has indicated that racing could occur as early as 2019.

Colonial Downs last held thoroughbred racing in 2013 prior to the surrender of the racing license of then owner, Jeffrey Jacobs, after a dispute with Virginia horsemen.

Powell currently owns only one horse, a three-quarter sister to Long on Value from the same mare named Keepupthemessage.

The three-year-old filly trained by Mary Eppler runs in the opener at Laurel Park on Friday afternoon in a $25,000 maiden claimer.  However, through the recently created incentive program named the Virginia Certified Residency Program, Powell is getting interest from New York and Maryland to board thoroughbreds on his farm that overlooks the central Shenandoah Valley.

Though he no longer breeds horses, he maintains interest in the game.

Colonial Downs Controlled Track Burn — Before & After Pictures

With the recent sale of Colonial Downs in place,  work has taken place the past several weeks on the Secretariat Turf Course. A controlled burn was conducted by Virginia Equine Alliance Track Superintendent J.D. Thomas in conjunction with the New Kent Fire Department and the Department of Forestry. The purpose of the burn was to rid the course of dead cover in a quick and efficient manner, in hopes of having a more green, plush and safe racing surface blossom soon after. Based on these before and after pictures, the process appears to have been a success.  Thanks to Jeff Wingrove & Tom Cade for providing some of these photos.

Before #1

 

Before #2

Before #3

 

After #1

 

 

After #2

After #3

After #4

Colonial Downs: Packed Town Hall Welcomes Rebirth Of Racetrack

The following appeared in The Racing Biz

by Nick Hahn

A capacity crowd attended the Thursday, May 24 town hall hosted by the New Kent County Board of Supervisors to learn about the reopening of Colonial Downs and quickly emerging Pamunkey Indian Casino project. Though the locations of the gaming sites are relatively close geographically, their reception by County officials residents is far apart.

Those arriving late to the meeting were forced to watch via streaming in a library used to accommodate the overflow of hundred or so that were turned away by the fire marshal after the auditorium met the occupancy count of 400.

Many of the attendees were content, even excited, about the potential reopening of Colonial Downs, which offered pari-mutuel racing from 1997 to 2013. The track location is nearly in the geographic center of the County, which is largely rural and is in between Richmond on its west end and Williamsburg on its east end. It’s served by an interchange of Interstate I-64 in a largely rural section of the county.

Historically, the track generally directly paid a half-million dollars in taxes to the County, and indirectly through visitation had an even larger financial impact, while causing only a minor impact on services.

“There would be a traffic influx and increase for calls such as disabled vehicles, lock-ins, and minor accidents,” said Sheriff Joe McLaughlin, Jr. after the meeting. “There wasn’t a dramatic increase for service. It was about what you would expect with a temporary increase in population.”

(Here are related Colonial Downs articles that appeared in The Racing Biz)

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New Kent County, which has a population of approximately 20,000, modified its county logo several years ago to include the profile of a horse. As an identifying feature of the County, the hosting of racetrack in the locality has enjoyed broad support, once passing a required referendum by an 85-15 margin in the mid-1990s. The five member Board of Supervisors has been focused on reopening the track since its closure in 2014 after running the one-day spring steeplechase meet formerly known as the Strawberry Hill Races.

County officials applauded the outreach efforts of the Colonial Downs.

“From day one, the representatives of Colonial Downs have been in contact with the County and discussed their plans,” said Board chairman Thomas Evelyn in his opening remarks. “The Board, along with County staff members, have been working along the Colonial Downs group since the fall of 2017, up through and including the legislative process in Richmond this past spring.”

That process involved passing House Bill 1609, sponsored by Delegates Michael Webert (R-18) Christopher Peace (R-97), which allows the Virginia Racing Commission to license historical horse racing at the track and it satellite off-track betting network. The passage of the bill was a condition of the sale to Revolutionary Racing, LLC. now operating Colonial Downs.

New Kent residents packed the Middle School auditorium for the recent Town Hall meeting.

It appears that the Board of Supervisors went from working with Colonial Downs representatives on day one to one day learning about the Pamunkey Indian Casino project.

“None of the members of the Board of Supervisors has spoken with anyone from the Pamunkey tribe or the landowner who purchased the property in question,” announced Evelyn. “The BOS learned of this rumored casino just one day before the news broke in the Daily Press.”

Afterward representatives of the law firm Foley Quigley PLC, a Minnesota-based firm which specializes in Indian casino development, reviewed the path that could lead to the opening of a casino in New Kent’s west end. The counsel was hired by the New Kent Board to advise and educate the five-member board and its residents of how such an undertaking gains approval. Under the current, complicated process, it is estimated that it would take eight or more years before a casino could be opened. Oddly enough, the local governing body does not have final say on either gambling project.

Photo by Laurie Asseo.

There’s another complication in Pamunkey Indian casino bid. The Trump administration is currently considering revisions to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act that would make the opening of an off-reservation casino even more difficult.

“Colonial Downs has a tremendous reputation for the best track/best turf course in the country,” said Stefan Huba, on being introduced as the Chief Development Officer for Colonial Downs, adding the recent burning of the turf course was “more than just a burning of the track. It represented the rebirth, regrowth and revitalization not only of the track but of the industry.”

During his brief presentation, Huba expressed his intent to keep the residents informed on the progress and updated on monthly basis. He has experience working at racetracks in Louisiana, specifically Evangeline Downs and Delta Downs, as well as other ventures in the hospitality industry.

“Colonial Downs has a building and is updating and remodeling that facility,” expressed Evelyn. “We are excited to have live horse racing again within the County.”

An informal poll of attendees afterwards seemed to back up the in-meeting reaction that supported the reopening of Colonial Downs, yet a bitter aversion to the Pamunkey Indian casino by county residents. Neither the approach of the different entities to the County, nor their reception by the County, could be much more different.

Special Envoy Scheduled To Make 2018 Debut In Edward Evans Stakes

From a Maryland Jockey Club release

Mr. and Mrs. Bertram Firestone’s multiple stakes-winning homebred Special Envoy breezed five furlongs Friday morning ahead of his scheduled season-opening engagement in the $75,000 Edward P. Evans Stakes Saturday, June 23 at Laurel Park.

Special Envoy, a 7-year-old Stroll gelding trained by Arnaud Delacour, worked in 1:01.40 over the all-weather surface at the Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Md. His time was the fastest of four horses at the distance.

It was the fifth timed work since late April for Special Envoy, given the winter off after ending his 2017 campaign with three consecutive victories at Laurel against Virginia-bred/sired horses starting with a nose decision in the one-mile Evans last June.

Special Envoy turned the tables on Rose Brier as the two battle to the wire in the 2017 Edward Evans Stakes. photo by Jim McCue.

Special Envoy went on to easy wins in the Hansel Aug. 5 and Bert Allen Sept. 30, both at 1 1/16 miles, the latter marking his final start at 6. He returned to Delacour’s string earlier this spring.

“He’s doing very well. We just gave him a break this winter and we’re going to try to do the Virginia-bred stakes again. That’s the idea. He won [all] of them last year so we’ll try to do as well as we did last year, but it will be difficult,” Delacour said.

“We know him pretty well now, and he’s got his streaks. He’s a pretty smart horse and it seems that he still has plenty of energy and is willing to run,” he added. “He has been breezing very well since we got him back. He’s been working every week like a young horse so we’re very happy with the way he’s doing.”

Special Envoy has a record of eight wins, five seconds and three thirds from 22 career starts, with a lifetime bankroll of $287,650. He finished second in the 2016 Evans and 2015 Bert Allen, both times behind Rose Brier.

Special Envoy (outside) battled with Rose Brier (inside) in the $75,000 Edward Evans Stakes in 2017. Photo by Jim McCue.

Delacour is following a similar blueprint this year for Special Envoy, who went nine months between the 2016 Evans and a fourth-place finish in an optional claiming allowance last March at the trainer’s winter base of Tampa Bay Downs.

“The turf options in the winter are not that great in Florida. You can either run in very difficult stakes or there are no easy races, and to me it’s kind of a waste of a race especially with an older horse, because there’s only so many bullets left,” he said. “So, we tried to time it right. He doesn’t owe us anything. He’s done great and we decided to give him the winter off and let him just relax.”

Delacour said another Firestone homebred, 5-year-old mare Armoire, is being pointed to the female division of Laurel’s Virginia-bred/sired stakes which begins with the $75,000 Nellie Mae Cox June 23. The daughter of Grade 1 turf winner Artie Schiller finished second in all three races last year, including the William M. Backer and Brookmeade Stakes, and has posted back-to-back bullet works at Fair Hill for her first start in nine months.

“She’s doing well. She’s on the same schedule,” Delacour said. “She didn’t breeze today but she’s back breezing and I’m very happy with her. She seems to be doing well and we look forward to bringing her back in the races there.”