Middleburg Preview:

Top hurdlers return to action in Virginia, while timber veterans square off in Maryland.

BY TOD MARKS

It has been 20 months since steeplechase fans watched Bruton Street-US’ mighty gray Moscato in action. Following 2020 victories in the G2 Temple Gwathmey at Middleburg and the G1 A.P. Smithwick at Saratoga, the 9-year-old British-bred son of Hernando was third in the G1 New York Turf Writers Cup at the Spa. But his two masterful performances were enough to earn Moscato the Eclipse Award in the pandemic-shortened season.

A tendon injury forced Moscato, now 11, to the sidelines for lengthy rest and rehab, and Middleburg will mark his official return, once again in the $75,000 Gwathmey, at 2 ½ miles. Jamie Bargary has the mount for trainer Jack Fisher. If there’s an optimal meet for Moscato to get back into the swing of things, Middleburg is it. Moscato has taken the Gwathmey twice, having defeated along the way Grade 1 winners Rashaan, Surprising Soul, Zanjabeel, Scorpiancer, and All the Way Jose in the historic contest. 

But he’ll have to be at his best to do so, as he lines up against his brilliant stablemate, Snap Decision, also trained by Fisher. Snap Decision made history last season when he tied Thrice Worthy’s long-standing record of nine straight hurdle victories, in the Grade 1 Iroquois, a streak that came to an end in September against rival and 2021 Eclipse Award champion The Mean Queen in the Lonesome Glory at Belmont Park.

Both Snap Decision, who will be ridden by regular rider Graham Watters in the Gwathmey, and Moscato stretched their legs on the flat in preparation for their 2022 debuts at the Green Spring Valley Point to Point in Cockeysville, Md., on April 3. Snap Decision won pretty much as he pleased.

Also in the field is Irv Naylor’s Amschel, who chased The Mean Queen and Snap Decision in major races last year, and completed the season with a close second to Hudson River Farm’s Iranistan in the Noel Laing Stakes at Montpelier. Barry Foley rides.

Iranistan returns in the Gwathmey as well, as does another horse he defeated in the Laing, Sharon Sheppard’s Redicean, trained by Leslie Young. Iranistan, trained by Keri Brion, turned heads with three straight wins in his first three tries over hurdles, including a blowout score in the Marcellus Frost novice stakes in Nashville. He finished second and third in his initial efforts against open stakes competition, in the Smithwick and Turf Writers Cup, both G1s at Saratoga. After taking two handicaps at Saratoga in 2020, he was off for more than a year, and his win at Montpelier came in his second race back. 

Redicean has been a tough competitor since coming to the U.S. from England in 2019. He won his American debut in the Jonathan Kiser novice stakes at the Spa, the scene of one of his best races, a second in the 2020 Turf Writers Cup. Last year, he was second in the G2 Zeke Ferguson at Great Meadow and third in the G1 Lonesome Glory. Tom Garner has the mount.

There are a total of eight races in the Middleburg Spring lineup, with $215,000 in purses. First race post time is 1 p.m.

The co-feature is the $25,000 Middleburg Hunt Cup timber stakes, at 3 ¼ miles, with a field of five expected. The field includes 2019 timber champion, Ballybristol Farm’s Andi’amu, a previous winner of this race along with the National Sporting Library & Museum Cup stakes over the same Glenwood Park course. The Hunt Cup is Andi’amu’s first race back since June 2020. Tom Garner rides for trainer Leslie Young. Also in the field are Sheila Williams and Northwoods Stable’s Storm Team, one of the top timber horses of 2021 and a stakes winner of more than a quarter-million dollars; Four Virginia Gents’ First Friday, who broke his maiden over the course last year; Buttonwood Farm’s The Silent Trainer and Crooked Run Racings Love of the Bay, both maidens.

The day’s other races include a $30,000 allowance hurdle; a $20,000 filly & mare hurdle; $25,000 maiden hurdle; a $20,000 maiden claiming hurdle; the $20,000 Alfred Hunt steeplethon over mixed obstacles; and a training flat race.

Virginia 2021 Breeder’s Champions Announced; Awards Night Set at Great Meadow

The annual Virginia Breeder’s Awards program has been scheduled at Great Meadow Friday May 6^th — the evening before the Virginia Gold Cup Races — in a return to more of a “normal times” format for the first time since 2019. The event will take place in a trackside tent on Member’s Hill overlooking the deep stretch and finish line areas where steeplechase horses are set to compete the next afternoon. A list of awards to be presented that night follows. 

Horse-of-the-Year honors go to Chess Chief, who was also recognized as Virginia-Bred Older Horse Champion based on two stakes wins and $446,290 in earnings. The Dallas Stewart trainee struck early and late in the year, connecting at Fair Grounds twice in the Grade 2 New Orleans Stakes March 20 and in the Tenacious Stakes December 26. Bred by Morgan’s Ford Farm, the 6-year-old Into Mischief horse heads into spring with $865,338 in winnings overall.

Honors for Virginia-Bred Turf Horse Champion go to Passion Play who was a perfect 2-for-2 in 2021. Both wins came in Virginia-Bred stakes at Colonial Downs — the Bert Allen in July and the Edward P. Evans in September. Jockey Horacio Karamanos delivered both wins for trainer Mary Eppler. The 5-year-old Hold Me Back gelding was bred by Mr. & Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin III and bankrolled $120,000 from the pair.

Boldor, with three wins in 2021, was named Virginia-Bred Sprint Champion. The 6-year-old Munnings gelding captured a trio of stakes — -the Punch Line at Colonial, King Cotton at Oaklawn and Sam’s Town at Delta. The Steve Asmussen trainee, who won $217,675 last year, was bred by Carlos S.E. Moore and Jill Gordon-Moore.

Urban Fairytale, courtesy of five “in the money” finishes from six starts and $102,418 in earnings, was named Virginia-Bred Older Filly Champion. The 5-year-old Distorted Humor mare made her presence felt in New Kent, winning the Brookmeade Stakes as betting favorite then finishing third in the Nellie Mae Cox Stakes. Trained by Ian Wilkes, Urban Fairytale was bred by Audley Farm Equine.

Repo Rocks, who made 12 of his 13 starts in New York last year, secured Virginia-Bred 3-Year-Old Colt Champion honors with 9 “top three” finishes from that group. The son of Tapiture won a $90,000 maiden special weight at Belmont June 21 then had back-to-back allowance wins at Aqueduct in fall. Bred by Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin III, Repo Rocks accumulated $198,246 from the “baker’s dozen” outings.

Oviatt Class, a west coast competitor who was named Virginia-Bred 2-Year-Old Colt Champion, captured a maiden special weight August 27 at Del Mar, then went on to compete in a pair of Grade I’s — the American Pharoah at Santa Anita where he finished third and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile where he was fifth. The Keith Desormeaux trainee was ridden by brother Kent in all five starts. The Bernadini colt was bred by Godolphin and Morgan’s Ford Farm.

Sparkle Sprinkle, who kicked off her racing career with back-to-back wins, was named Virginia-Bred 2-Year-Old Filly Champion. The daughter of Holy Boss led nearly every step of the way in a Timonium maiden score August 28 and in a Laurel allowance three weeks later. She prevailed by 3 1/2 and 6 1/4 lengths respectively. The John Robb conditioned filly was bred by Nancy Rizer and Eric Rizer. 

M. Buff, whose career bankroll is $1.4 million, continued to flourish as a 7-year-old and as a result, was named Virginia-Sired Champion. The 2019 Horse of the Year was bred to Friend or Foe — who stands at Robin Mellen’s Smallwood Farm in Crozet — by Chester and Mary Broman.  Mr. Buff had a pair of stakes scores last year in the Jazil and Stymie, both held at Aqueduct, and a third in the Grade 3 Westchester Stakes which was held at Belmont. For the year, Mr. Buff added $162,750 to his already stout resume.  

Lobsta, with a trio of 2021 wins at Aqueduct, earned Virginia-Certified Colt Champion honors. The now 4-year-old son of Emcee captured a maiden special weight and an allowance optional claimer early then capped off his sophomore campaign with a victory in the $150,000 New York Stallion Series Stakes. Owned by Eddie F’s Racing and trained by Gary Sciacca, Lobsta had six top three finishes last year, good for $218,600 in earnings. 

Virginia-Certified filly Street Lute came on the scene in September 2020 with a flourish, winning seven of her first eight races. The final two in that streak came at Laurel in 2021 and were stakes scores in the Xtra Heat and Wide Country. Later in the year, the Street Magician filly captured the Stormy Blues Stakes at Pimlico and the Tax Free Shopping Distaff Stakes at Delaware. That four-pack, along with a trio of thirds, enabled her to receive Virginia-Certified Filly Champion recognition. 

Extravagant Kid, who retired from racing earlier this year at the age of 9, bankrolled $751,923 in 2021 from five runner-up stakes finishes and a Group 1 win in the Al Quoz Sprint. The Kiss The Kid gelding will be recognized as Virginia-Owned Champion given those impressive credentials. The Brendan Walsh trainee is owned by Virginia businessman David Ross who races under the stable name DARRS, Inc. Upon retirement, Extravagant Kid’s winnings total stood at $1,704,683.

Virginia-Bred Over Fences Champion honors went to 6-year-old Paynter gelding, Vincent Van Gogo. The Neil Morris trainee had a three-race win streak last year that included a pair at Colonial — one on the flat and one over jumps. The first in that streak came in a Tryon hurdle which he won by a neck, followed by New Kent triumphs at tight margins of one-half length and a neck. Owned by the Flying Elvis Stable, Vincent Van Gogo was bred by Jim & Katie Fitzgerald. 

Susan Cooney was named Top Virginia Trainer, while Morgan’s Ford Farm was named Top Virginia Breeder. Cooney’s horses earned $622,309, firing at a 9% win and 36% “in-the-money” percentage clip. Her four wins at Colonial last year were with Pauping, Shelly Island, Skylark and Elementary. Horses bred by Morgan’s Ford Farm earned $1,240,346 in purse monies and of course their Chess Chief led the way with $446,290.         

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The following appeared at theracingbiz.com on April 8 and was written by Nick Hahn.

The winds of change are blowing in horse racing, and in Virginia, at least, the prevailing winds are out of Kentucky.

Churchill Downs CEO Bill Carstanjen blew into town to meet with the Virginia Racing Commission April 6 and, at an at-times spirited public question-and-answer session, outlined a vision for the future that’s sure to please many stakeholders but may cause angst in other quarters.

Churchill Downs, Inc.  earlier this year entered into an agreement to purchase Colonial Downs and all of its associated Rosie’s properties, as well as additional properties owned by Colonial parent company Peninsula Pacific in Iowa and New York. The deal is expected to close by year end.

Carstanjen’s appearance provided some of the first public candid comments to Virginia stakeholders and the Commission on the pending sale – a sale that caught many Virginia horsemen by surprise. 

“Virginia has a chance to be reborn,” Carstanjen told the gathering. “In Virginia, this is a really good framework and structure and foundation from which to build on.”

Under Virginia’s law, purses are powered in large part by so-called historical horse racing machines, which are essentially slot machines but powered by the results of past horse races. The law permits up to 5,000 machines around the state, under various conditions, and for each 100 deployed, the licensee is required to run one race day.

Colonial Downs is slated to run 27 days in 2022, up from 21 a year ago. Carstanjen intimated that the number could grow, and quickly.

“This is an accelerated change, accelerated growth environment,” he said, later adding, “You’ll see us try different things. You’ll see us push the envelope because we’re very focused on staying relevant, not just in the wagering world but in the entertainment world.”

Carstanjen told the Commission that, in broad strokes, the company’s number one goal would be “to get all these [HHR] machines deployed,” which would increase the flow of purse revenue and allow for the growth in race days. With 5,000 machines deployed, the law will require 50 days of live racing.

For one thing, Carstanjen said, the company will be looking “where we need to bifurcate the meet.”

Why a bifurcated meet? One obvious reason would be to give the turf course a rest.

Another reason: “We want to look at [Kentucky] Derby prep races so that we can have a Virginia horse going to the Derby.”

Since Colonial’s rebirth in 2019, most of the purse money has gone to overnight races. While purses for those races are higher than they are in other regional tracks, stakes purses are substantially similar. Carstanjen sees bolstering the stakes program as an important goal.

“We want to look at stakes races that we can move here from our other facilities and our available stakes race program,” he said. “Let’s turbo-charge the racing here.”

Carstanjen said Churchill looks at racing not just as a wagering product but also as entertainment. The buzz around the Kentucky Derby, he said, is driven not so much by passionate racing fans and bettors as by casual fans who pay attention to the Triple Crown but perhaps not day to day racing. And while casual fans aren’t worth as much, financially speaking, as are hardcore players, “There’s a lot more casual fans out there than there are hardcore horseplayers.”

“We have to give the community in this region an opportunity to experience horse racing as entertainment,” he explained. “So you will see us reach into our bag of tricks from Derby to build interest here.”

One of the state’s big successes in recent years has been the Virginia Certified Residency Program. Under that program, horses that spend at least six months in the Commonwealth before the end of their two-year-old year earn their “developers” – the person who owned them during their period of residency – bonuses when they win anywhere in the Mid-Atlantic.

Virginia horsemen credit the program with filling up their barns once again. Some 3,500 horses have gone through the program to date.

But Carstanjen said it’s time to start thinking about changing the program.

“I don’t like your purse construct where you’re paying purse money to horses that are winning out-of-state,” he said. “Now that you’re running race days here, it’s puzzling why you’re paying horses to win races in a different jurisdiction. That’s your purse money that should be invested in your racing program.”

Carstanjen wants to direct those funds to horses that win in Virginia, and to promoting the Virginia breeding industry and the growth of a critical mass of Virginia-breds that would book fields with increasing racedays at Colonial Downs.  That would promote the development of the “equi-structure” of stallions, layup facilities, local feeds and other supportive services.

“All programs started as the right thing for the moment, but we’re going to be on an accelerated development schedule, so we have to be looking at these programs to make sure that we’ve got what’s best as we grow,” continued Carstanjen.  “If you just stand around with a Virginia-certified program, that’s all you’ll ever have….it will require change.  The incentive programs that are in place right now are increasingly designed for the past.  They are not designed for the future.”

In the minds of many since the announcement of the purchase of Colonial Downs has been the demise of the Churchill-owned Arlington Park last year. Carstanjen addressed that question without prodding. 

“Racing doesn’t work everywhere,” he said. “Racing is something that can get screwed up and it’s been screwed up in a whole bunch of jurisdictions, and it got screwed up in Virginia for a while. Illinois is an example of where racing is really screwed up, and it doesn’t work well.”

Carrying the weight of a year-round racing season has never been a burden in Virginia racing. While in years past that might have seemed a liability, Carstenjen perhaps sees it as an asset. 

For the longest time Virginia was referred to as a breeding state and not a racing state. Since Colonial opened in 1997, that view has largely reversed. Either way, the state doesn’t carry the burden of memories of long-gone “glory days,” or expectations that a very different future will somehow become like the past.

By design or accident, Carstanjen likes the opportunity he sees in Virginia.

“In Virginia there been some up and downs, and Virginia struggled for a while,” he said. “But then it put together a framework that’s going to stand the test of time off into the horizon, as far as the eye can see.”

Join the authors of Secretariat’s Meadow – The Land, The Family, The Legend — Kate Chenery Tweedy, daughter of Penny Chenery, and Leeanne Meadows Ladin along with special guests for a reception, video presentation, and book signing. Special memorabilia will be on display. Light hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar with wine, beer, and a special Meadow Farm Mint Julep will be available.

An exclusive screening of the film “Remembering Riva Ridge” by John Tweedy will be shown and a model of the magnificent Secretariat statue proposed for Virginia will be on display.

Tickets are $20 in advance. Tickets at the door will be $25. Registration and payment details are below, and interested parties can email ashlandmuseum@comcast.net for details. Proceeds will benefit the Ashland Museum.

Questions? Call 804-368-7314, or email ashlandmuseum@comcast.net or through the Contact page. Information also available at Secretariat’s Meadow Facebook page or SecretariatsMeadow.com.

AFTERCAREMarch 28th, 2022BYLeigh Beamer MollerThe author with her OTTB Fin as they begin training for the Thoroughbred Makeover in October. (Courtesy of Leigh Beamer Moller)

It’s a 20-hour round-trip journey from Wytheville, Va., to Troy, N.Y. As it turns out, that’s also the perfect amount of time to impulse purchase a horse. 

I have a rather unfortunate track record of my personal horses becoming unsound (pasture accidents, navicular, etc.) and had recently come to terms with needing to retire my horse Blade in the very near future. My two most recent personal horses had been OTTBs, and as I casually began the search, I knew I wanted another one for my next partner. I have loved Thoroughbreds since I was given and restarted my first OTTB, Larry, while I was in high school. They have huge hearts, are great athletes, and make wonderful partners. As a public school teacher, I also realistically knew that a horse right off the track would be all my budget would allow. For me though, that was not a problem as I love the journey and work of restarting OTTBs. Fin, formerly known as Hot Gurl Summer. (Courtesy of Leigh Beamer Moller)

I came across Changing Saddles LLC while scrolling through Facebook and her ad was at the top of the page. Hot Gurl Summer had been posted a few days earlier and was a striking chestnut filly complete with adorable face and lip markings and a video that made her look like she was absolutely full of herself; I was in love. I sent the payment and found out quickly that she would be arriving at the farm on Monday, Oct. 4, which left me with no time to question my decision making skills. 

What I did have time to consider though, while she was making her trip to Virginia, was the Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover. She was never entered into a race but had published track works that made her eligible to enter. It sounded like such a wonderful opportunity and experience, but I had a hard time convincing myself that I was capable of being accepted.

I have been riding horses since I was 4 years old. Growing up in rural southwestern Virginia though, I had very limited options for showing (think fun show at the lesson barn). When I was a teenager, I had my first OTTB, Larry, at my grandparents’ farm but no trailer. So showing still was not an option for me. Throughout college, I took dressage lessons when I could and rode my own horse during my summer breaks. 

After I graduated college, I lived in Washington, DC, for four years. I quickly grew tired of the city life and greatly missed riding. When I finally convinced my now husband, Mike, to move home to Wytheville with me, we bought a farm. Shortly after acquiring the farm, Blade, an OTTB, and his trusty quarter horse friend Midge made their move to live with us. I had high hopes of accomplishing some of my dressage dreams with Blade, but an old pasture injury laid those dreams to rest the further we got into our training.

Fast forward to the day of her arrival. I knew that I would need to come up with a barn name for Hot Gurl Summer. She had been in training at Belterra Park near Cincinnati, and as a self-proclaimed Jimmy Buffett fanatic it made obvious sense to me that her name would be Fin. As she made her way down from Cincinnati it felt like Christmas Eve while I tried to wait patiently at work. The hauler was wonderful about sending me pictures and updates during her journey and it helped to make the waiting more bearable. It was late and dark when they arrived, but she unloaded like a champ in the middle of our country road. I led her down the farm road in the dark and to the round pen for her to spend her first night. Fin says hello. (Courtesy of Leigh Beamer Moller)

The next morning, I was able to finally get a good look at her. She was really beautiful in person, overflowing with personality, and had the droopiest lip I had ever seen on a horse. The boys were absolutely fascinated by this high-strung filly that had been brought into their territory. For the next several weeks they spent their days reorganizing their pecking order and settling into their new roles. Fin currently jockeys back and forth with my mini and her nemesis, Bert, for the bottom spot. 

The first month and a half was spent letting her adjust to her new farm life. Understandably, she had a lot of spunk about her for the first few weeks she was there, and I was worried about the red mare syndrome that I had heard so much about. Quite quickly, and to my surprise, she calmed down to the point of seeming mature way beyond her years. Once we started groundwork and began getting to know each other better, I knew that the bond that was forming would be strong. I have not had a mare in 10 years and had forgotten what that partnership was like. 

After she settled in and I got to know her a little better, I figured I had nothing to lose by applying to the Makeover. I did not have a sound horse to film my entry video on though, so I roped my friend and fellow 2022 Makeover participant, Sara, into using her lovely gelding for the entry. I had never ridden her horse before and we got the videos filmed the day before a big snowstorm hit our area – just in the nick of time! I spent the week off of school filling in my application and getting my ducks in a row for submission. My hopes are for Fin to become my dressage partner, so that is what discipline I selected. 

While I waited for the decision date, I had told myself I would not be disappointed if we did not get accepted. I have no show record to my name, can count on one hand the number of times I’ve ridden in a covered arena, and do all my riding out in the fields so I was not expecting to be accepted. After all, my plans for Fin would be the same whether we got in or not – minus a very awesome week in October.  

Trainer acceptance day came and I refreshed my email every 30 minutes. Finally, around noon, there it was…accepted. I was floored. I still cannot believe we get to be a part of such a wonderful event. Working towards the Makeover this fall will be such a great way to kick off the first year of our partnership together and I am so excited to watch her grow and mature over the next few months. Off we go!

Horse racing, spring fashions and Virginia hospitality highlight D.C.’s premier spring event

THE PLAINS, Va., March 24, 2022 – One of the nation’s oldest and largest steeplechase events celebrates its 97^th anniversary this year on Saturday, May 7, at Great Meadow in The Plains. Last year, the event was held with a limited number of spectators. This year, tailgate packages and hospitality tents are available.

As one of the Washington, D.C. region’s largest and oldest outdoor events, more than 50,000 people come out in their race-day finest to socialize and entertain. The fashion at the event has become as popular with a variety of hats and a fiercely competitive hat contest. Celebrity judges will decide whose hats are the most impressive in the day’s hat contest. There is also an equally competitive tailgate contest with prizes for the top three winners.

The Gold Cup’s long-standing tradition beckons to national celebrities, local VIPs, D.C. politicians as well as visitors from around the world. Characterized by lavish tailgate spreads, sleek thoroughbreds and exciting hoof-pounding competition, many companies have capitalized on what the day has to offer by getting involved with sponsorships, purchasing tents to entertain, and some actually end up doing business there.

Steeplechase and flat racing offer a fast-action sport in a refined social setting and, at the Gold Cup, some of the best horses and jockeys compete over hurdles, timber and on the flat. Held every year on the first Saturday in May, the Virginia Gold Cup enjoys a spectacular setting in the heart of Virginia’s horse country with the Blue Ridge Mountains serving as the backdrop. It is Virginia’s answer to the Kentucky Derby.

The 97^th Annual Running of the Virginia Gold Cup will take place on Saturday, May 7 at Great Meadow in The Plains. Gates open at 10 a.m. with pre-race entertainment starting at 12:30 p.m. with the Color Guard presented by St. Andrew’s Society Pipes and Drums and a performance of the National Anthem by Angela Knight. The first of seven horse races will be underway at 1 p.m.

After two years of adjusting the event for Covid, the Gold Cup returns this year with a revised format. Tailgate packages, which now include tents in some areas, and Members Hill tenting options are available. Purchases can be made online at www.vagoldcup.com/va/tickets or by calling 540-347-2612. Attendees must be an invited guest of a tailgate or an invited guest of a hospitality tent. General admission passes will not be offered for this year’s event.

Great Meadow is located just 45 minutes west of Washington, D.C. and is in close proximity to Dulles International Airport. To get there from Washington, D.C., take I-66 west to The Plains exit. Turn left at the end of the ramp onto The Plains Road (Route 245 south), follow signs to Great Meadow which will be on your left. Call 540-347-2612 for additional information or visit the web site at www.vagoldcup.com.

The 2022 Virginia Gold Cup Races are presented by Atlantic Union Bank, Charles Schwab, Virginia Equine Alliance, VHBPA, and the Virginia Thoroughbred Association.

Sunday, March 13, 2022 at 2:32 pm | Back to: Top News

Green Up | Ryan Thompson

The following piece appeared in Thoroughbred Daily News and was written by Alan Carasso. Green Up is a Virginia-bred filly that was bred by Robin Richards.

Sent off a mortal lock at odds of 2-5, Team Valor International’s Green Up (Upstart) improved off a big-figure debut second for previous connections and galloped her six overmatched rivals into the ground, earning ‘TDN Rising Star’ honors for a 6 3/4-length tour-de-force.

Having dramatically outrun odds of 25-1 to be runner-up at Churchill Downs last May behind the subsequently stakes-placed Ontheonesandtwos (Jimmy Creed) for owner Leonard Mattingly and trainer Chris Melton, the $10,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearling graduate was acquired by these high-profile connections a short time thereafter, according to Team Valor’s Barry Irwin.

“She’s tall and immature. She had a few issues and we gave her plenty of time,” he explained. “We were actually going to run her next week going a mile, but we started getting worried that the race wouldn’t fill, so we sprinted her even though she doesn’t want to sprint.”

Green Up’s most recent breeze, a five-furlong bullet at Palm Beach Downs in 1:01 Mar. 6, had the Virginia-bred sitting on ready. Irwin said the drill was very much in character.

“Her works are unbelievable,” he said. “She goes out there, she stays with her company and just before the wire, she moves a little bit ahead and then on the gallop out she opens up 12 or 15 lengths every time.”

Off to an uneventful beginning for the in-form Irad Ortiz, Jr., Green Up tracked longshot pacesetter Teasing (Tapit)–a full-sister to GI Belmont S. winner Tapwrit–through solid opening splits. Easing alongside that one as the quarter pole loomed, Green Up quickly put daylight on her rivals and stopped the timer in 1:10.04 while never asked through the final eighth of a mile. 

“It was as much as I expected and I expected a lot,” Irwin commented. “About three weeks ago, Todd called me and goes, ‘this Green Up, she’s a graded stakes winner, she’s unbelievable.’ He says, ‘I know trainers never call people up with anything but bad news, so I want to call you with some good news and tell you what a good filly you’ve got. Pretty exciting to have one like this.”

The winning jockey added: “She did everything right. She did it the right way. She put me in a good position. She did everything so easy. Going to the turn, I just rode her, biding my time. When I asked her she responded really well. She took off.”

A May 9 foal, Green Up is out of an unplaced half-sister to the solid Midlantic handicap horse Just Call Kenny (Jump Start)–also a paternal descendant of A.P. Indy–who counted the GIII Philip H. Iselin S. as his major career victory and who won the 2014 Spectacular Bid S. over this main track. Green Up holds an entry for the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks and is the second Rising Star for Upstart, who is already represented on the Oaks trail by GII Davona Dale S. heroine Kathleen O.

4th-Gulfstream, $53,000, Msw, 3-13, 3yo, f, 6f, 1:10.04, ft, 6 3/4 lengths.
GREEN UP, f, 3, by Upstart
1st Dam: Green Punch, by Two Punch
2nd Dam: Green Jeans, by Green Dancer
3rd Dam: Duds, by Ack Ack
Sales history: $10,000 Ylg ’20 EASOCT. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $44,360. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
O-Team Valor International LLC; B-Althea Richards (VA); T-Todd A Pletcher.

General Admission is Free

Live racing returns to Colonial Downs Racetrack® in New Kent County on July 11 through September 7. Premium tickets are now on sale while general admission and parking are free.

Top thoroughbred horses from around the country will run every Monday, Tuesday,
and Wednesday with post time at 1:45 pm. Premium tickets, full racing schedule and information are available at www.colonialdowns.com.

Colonial Downs Racing presented by Woodford Reserve offers a family friendly atmosphere, casual dining, private suites for larger parties, outdoor clubhouse boxes, reserved grandstand seating and a hospitality tent trackside open to everyone. Concessions are available throughout the facility and food trucks stationed on the grandstand apron. Call 804-557-5684 or inquire at sales@colonialdowns.com to book your group’s private suite for the
perfect weekday matinée outing. Suite catering serviced by Deep Run Roadhouse.

Fans can catch the action up close from our open-air paddock and watch the horses and jockeys as they prepare to race and then head trackside to cheer their favorite horses on as they charge down the stretch.

Five different promotional giveaway days are slated this summer that feature items like a Secretariat t-shirt on opening day, a Colonial Downs water bottle on July 19, a cooling towel on August 3 and a camouflage hat on Military Day, August 16. A plush horse giveaway will highlight Family Day festivities on August 23. And for the first time in 21 years, Colonial Downs will race on Labor Day afternoon, giving families a chance to enjoy summer’s last holiday in an affordable and fun atmosphere.

The racing season is topped by the Grade 3 $300,000 Virginia Derby® for 3-year-olds which will be run on Tuesday, September 6 along with the $200,000 Virginia Oaks® for 3-year-old fillies both of which will be raced over the renowned Secretariat Turf Course named for the famous Triple Crown champion who was born in Doswell, Virginia.

Horsemen will be competing for an average of $600,000 in daily purse monies including more than $3.5 million in stakes races.

John Marshall, Executive Vice President of Operations at Colonial Downs Group added, “Our theme his year is more racing, more fun! With everything we have to offer, including free general admission, Colonial Downs makes for an entertaining afternoon and evening out for everyone. Colonial Downs and Rosie’s remain loyal to our promise of advancing the quality of Virginia horseracing and delivering positive impacts on our communities.”

About Colonial Downs Group
Colonial Downs Group is a proud business operator in Virginia employing more than 1,000 team members in the Commonwealth, paying over $30 million in annual salaries, wages, and benefits. Rosie’s Gaming Emporiums® in Richmond, Hampton, New Kent, Vinton, and Dumfries offer innovative historic horseracing (HHR) gaming technology and full card simulcasting. Colonial Downs Group also operates a Rosie’s Game Room in Collinsville, which features a limited selection of some of their best HHR titles. Colonial Downs Racetrack in New Kent County hosts live thoroughbred racing on two nationally renowned surfaces – Secretariat Turf Course, the widest turf course in North America at 180 feet wide and on a 11/4-mile dirt track, second in length to only the world-famous Belmont Park. Colonial Downs Group has made a $300 million investment in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The company pays more than $32 million in annual state and local taxes plus an additional $12 million in racing industry payments annually.

Colonial Downs Racing presented by Woodford Reserve, which kicks off its 27-day “More Racing, More Money and More Fun” Thoroughbred racing season July 11, unveiled a $3.5 million stakes schedule highlighted by the 19th running of the Grade 3 Virginia Derby.

In all, 24 stakes will be contested over the 9-week campaign, 20 of which are scheduled for the
Secretariat Turf Course, the widest grass racing surface in the country. Purses for the 2022 stakes program will increase by $850,000 over 2021 totaling over $3.5 million in stakes dollars up for grabs.

Racing will take place every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 1:30 PM (EDT)
through September 7. Daily average purse monies will rise to $600,000 for the summer from $522,000 in 2021. Maiden special weight races will carry a $60,000 purse. The highly successful 2021 meet awarded a total of $10.4 million in purse monies and average field size was a healthy 8.36 starters per race.

“With increased purses, an expanded stakes schedule and more race days, we are looking
forward to hosting horsemen and women, players and patrons from across the country again this season,” said Jill Byrne, Vice President Racing Operations. “Colonial Downs offers a fantastic facility for horses and staff and two of the best surfaces known for safety and sound returns to the barn.”

The $300,000 G3 Virginia Derby headlines a showcase day on Tuesday September 6 which also
includes four undercard turf stakes. The Commonwealth’s richest annual race is open to 3-year-olds at 1-1/8 miles on grass. Purse for $200,000 Virginia Oaks increases by $50,000 over last
year while the Da Hoss purse also rises by $50,000 to $150,000. The two remaining undercard
events, the Rosie’s and Kitten’s Joy, each enjoy a $25,000 bump to $125,000.

The Mid Atlantic Thoroughbred Championship (MATCH) Series returns for a second straight
year August 16 with a quartet of stakes worth a combined $600,000. A pair of dirt sprints, the
Chesapeake and Seeking The Pearl, complement a pair of longer turf stakes, the Buckland and
Old Nelson. Each will carry a $150,000 purse.

Opening and closing day programs at the expanded meet will feature a healthy slate of $125,000 stakes with Virginia tie-ins. The July 11 kickoff card includes four Virginia-bred/sired turf events. The Punch Line and Camptown are both 5½-furlong sprints, the latter for fillies & mares, while the Edward P. Evans and Brookmeade are at 1-1/16 miles, the latter again for females.

A four-pack of $150,000 Virginia-restricted stakes will help close out the meet on September 7.
Open to Virginia-bred, -sired and -certified horses, offerings include the Meadow Stable, Tyson
Gilpin, Bert Allen and Nellie Mae Cox Stakes. The $125,000 Jamestown Stakes for Virginiabred/sired 2-year-olds is also on the season’s final program.

Additionally, a pair of $150,000 Virginia-restricted dirt stakes for 2-year-olds will occur mid-meet. The Hickory Tree and Keswick, both 5-furlong sprints, will be held August 9, the latter one for fillies.   

New to the lineup this year is the Colonial Cup Stakes for 3-year-olds & up, which will be
contested over 1½ miles on the turf July 25.

Colonial’s meet-long steeplechase program will be highlighted by the $100,000 Randolph Rouse Stakes at 2 miles on August 22.

The stable area opens June 27 and horsemen will see continued backstretch improvements
including free washing machines at each of the 14 barns, plus large tents, picnic tables and grills at each of the dorm building locations.

“Our horsemen are chomping at the bit for more summer racing with great purses at Colonial,”
said Frank Petramalo, Virginia HBPA Executive Director. “To help horsemen get good stable
help, the VHBPA is sponsoring formal training programs for hot walkers and grooms. The
VHBPA will also offer its usual benevolence programs, including medical/dental benefits,
recreational programs, and our chaplaincy.”

The complete stakes schedule, along with stall applications for the upcoming meet, can be found at www.colonialdowns.com/horsemen. The 2022 condition book will be available later this month with stall applications due by May 2.

The following appeared in The Racing Biz March 8 and was written by Jennifer Kelly.

Even in a sport often dominated by breeders and owners with international reach, small breeders still thrive, their knowledge and experience with the horses they breed and race passed down through the generations. The Rizer family have built their Virginia farm from a couple of pregnant mares in the mid-1990s to a healthy breeding and racing operation with a stakes winner.

This Mid-Atlantic success story that started with a discussion about growing a family has grown into much more.

His wife Nancy, however, did not.

By the mid-1990s, the couple’s sons Nicholas and Alex were four and five years old, and Nancy and Eric were discussing adding a third child to the mix. Eric had a different idea.

“We’ll get horses,” he said.

He purchased a couple of mares in foal, persuading his wife with the promised cuteness of young horses to care for. The Rizers took on the task of foaling and caring for their mares. Eric would take the boys with him when they were on foal watch, the younger Rizers getting experience with foaling and caring for young horses. That has inspired both Nicholas and Alex to continue working with their parents both on their Grey Lady Farm and in their family businesses, two pawn shops near their Virginia home.

Both sons have their roles alongside their parents, a cohesive unit that enjoys working together on the farm and in their shops. Every member’s daily routine involves caring for their horses from the moment they rise until the end of the day.

The Rizer horses, including their current star Princess Kokachin, are all part of the barn of longtime mid-Atlantic trainer Jerry Robb. Robb, who, along with wife Gina, also breeds and races horses in the colors of No Guts No Glory Farm, currently leads all Laurel Park trainers with 20 wins at the meet.

“Jerry and Gina have been like family to us. I can pick up the phone anytime and just call him,” Eric Rizer says. “I give him my point of view on an issue, and he gives me his. I’ve had a lot of trainers in my time, but we feel so comfortable with Jerry. He has a happy barn where everything works well.”

The Rizers typically keep six to eight horses in training, preferring to race on the mid-Atlantic circuit exclusively. Whether it’s a stakes race or a maiden claimer, at least one Rizer tries to be on hand whenever their horses run.  

“They’re our babies,” Nancy says. “We want to be there. We love them all.”

Their enthusiasm for their horses also tends to draw in others to cheer for their blue and yellow silks. After their most recent victory, Princess Kokachin’s easy win in a Laurel Park allowance February 20, the winner’s circle was full of friends and fans that the Rizers pulled in to join them.

“Nancy gets their addresses and send them copies of the photos. It’s our way of drawing more people into the sport,” Eric says.

The Rizers have been racing horses nearly as long as they have been breeding them. Starting with Cool N Easy at Charles Town in the early 2000s, they have raced horses like Subject to Change and Princess Kokachin, both sired by Graydar, and Boppin Anda Weavin, Yellattheminister, and Sparkle Sprinkle. Each horse has a story behind their names.

“I try to keep it by lineage,” son Alex says, but his brother Nick was inspired to name Yellattheminister after an incident at church one Sunday. Nancy named Sparkle Sprinkle years after the boys suggested that name when they were much younger. Eric also credits whatever television shows or music they are currently into for suggesting names whenever they are registering a new horse.

Princess Kokachin, winner of last November’s Politely Stakes at Laurel Park, is the best horse to come out of the Rizer operation. They plan to keep her close to home, perhaps to try graded stakes company this spring.

The Rizers also have four mares in foal right now, with seven to be bred, including the Speightstown mare Serenity Hill, their best producer. She’s the dam of Princess Kokachin and of the stakes-placed Sparkle Sprinkle.

The family plans to race and breed for the foreseeable future, with the boys committed to taking over once Nancy and Eric retire.

Above all, the horses keep them coming back for more. Many of the Rizers’ homebreds return to the farm once their careers are over, the family continuing to care for them long after they have retired.

“When you see your horse win, whether it’s a stakes race or a claimer, that means so much,” Nanyc says. “We’re proud of all of our horses.”