(NEW KENT, VA — 8/17/19) —- Despite the fact that Da Hoss Stakes winner Extravagant Kid was invading from Kentucky (via Toronto), the son of Kiss the Kid has strong Virginia ties with owner David Ross of DARRS Inc. who was instrumental in bringing racing back to the Commonwealth. Sheldon Russell rode the 6-year-old gelding to a one-length victory covering the 5-1/2 furlongs over firm turf in 1:02.08.
“It’s just wonderful to see a great horse win a great race,” Ross said. “We actually had a horse years ago win this race when it was written at a mile called Pass Play. This horse has not won only here but he’s won at Churchill, he’s won at Woodbine and he won at Saratoga last year. He’s just a terrific horse.”
“I can’t tell you how impressed I am with the operation here — it’s just been a step above anything I could ever have imagined,” he continued. “We’ve been supporting Colonial for years and it’s so good to be back and so good to see the quality of the operation. It’s only going to get better from here.”
“I spoke to Brendan (trainer Walsh) this morning and he said the key to this horse is to take your time, just ride him with confidence,” said winning jockey Sheldon Russell. The faster they went early on the better. He made a really nice move around the far turn and if anything, he may have made the front a little too soon.”
Longshot American Sailor set a wicked early pace through fractions of :21.45 and :43.80 before giving way. Meanwhile Russell kept Extravagant Kid mid pack before launching his move on the turn grabbing the lead approaching the furlong marker.
The winner’s share of the $75,000 purse was worth $45,000 and took Extravagant Kid’s earnings past the $600,000 mark ($632,901) while improving his record to 11-10-6 from 36 starts.
Sent off as the 2-1 second choice, Extravagant Kid paid $6.20, $4 and $2.80. Justaholic finished second and returned $3.60 and $2.80. Dubini was another length back in third and paid $5.
Oak Bluffs, Dirty, Smokin Nitro, American Sailor and Fairweather Friend completed the order of finish in the eight-horse field.
Earlier in the evening, Mr. Jagermeister, the Minnesota-bred champion 3-year-old of 2018, took his act on the road and won the $100,000 Chesapeake Stakes in wire-to-wire fashion. The son of Atta Boy was ridden by Leandro Goncalves and took the field of five through fractions of :22.35, :45.19 and :56.98 en route to an easy 1-1/4 length score covering the six furlongs over a fast track in 1:09.69.
“I just hoped I’d break good and see where he put me,” Goncalves said. “Every time they came to me I had more and more. It’s a long stretch and this was the first time I have ridden here. He’s an awesome horse and he’s been training good. He just proved again how good he is.”
Trained by Valorie Lund, who co-owns the 4-year-old colt with her sisters Kristin Boice and Leslie Cummings, Mr. Jagermeister earned $60,000 for the win, his ninth in 16 starts, and boosted his bankroll to $433,537.
“This is the first time I’ve ever been to Virginia or to Colonial,” said Lund. “I haven’t run here before. I came because I was looking for a place to run this horse and just happened when I talked to the stakes coordinator (Shane Burke), he’s a guy I knew from the west coast years and years ago and he talked me into coming.”
“He’s getting better with age,” she continued. “I didn’t really expect him to run at all at two but he wouldn’t let me not run him. Even at three I was very conservative with him. I didn’t think he was going to be good until he hit four. This is his year. He’ll get even better yet. He is a Minnesota-bred. I foaled this mare that my sisters and I were partners with in Minnesota because that’s where we run in the summer”
Sent off as the 11-10 favorite, Mr. Jagermeister paid $4.20, $2.80 and $2.10. Lewisfield overtook Speightsong in mid-stretch to secure the place spot, returning $2.60 and $2.20. Speightsong paid $3.40. Old Time Revival and Petrov completed the order of finish.