Virginia-breds will be well represented in stakes races around the country this week. Entries for Saturday’s “Virginia Day” at Laurel Park”, featuring a four pack of Virginia-bred stakes, will be drawn Wednesday (August 2).
Fall Colors, bred by Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Smart, will compete in the $75,000 Mrs. Ogden Phipps Steeplechase Stakes Thursday at Saratoga. The event is for fillies and mares four and up, and is at the 2 1/16th miles distance. The James Day trainee is by Northern Spur out of Leaves of Autumn by Expelled. The 7 year old mare has earned $45,036 from 20 career starts. The stakes will kick off Saratoga’s card at 1 PM.
American Dubai, captured his first race of 2017 Feb. 14 at Sunland. Photo courtesy of Coady Photography.
On Saturday, Virginia-breds American Dubai and Code West will face each other again in the $200,000 Downs at Albuquerque Handicap. The pair finished third and fourth respectively last month in the Grade 3 Cornhusker Handicap at Prarie Meadows. American Dubai was bred by Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin and has earned $292,122 from 14 outings. Code West, a 7 year old bred by Edward Evans, has earnings of $726,227. The stakes has been carded as race 6.
Ned Evans-bred Code West won the Governor’s Stake at Remington Park in August,. 2014, one of his seven lifetime victories. Photo Courtesy Dustin Orona Photography.
Check back mid-week for a preview of the four Virginia-bred stakes at Laurel Saturday. It should be a fun week!