New Kent, Va (July 26, 2024) — With purse money totaling $2.5 million over seven stakes, nominations closed Wednesday for the 2024 Colonial Downs Festival of Racing program. Highlighted by the Grade 1 Arlington Million, the Grade 2 $500,000 Beverly D. and the Grade 2 $500,000 Secretariat Stakes, the Festival of Racing is slated for Saturday, August 10, the traditional weekend for the renowned trio.
Two of the headliners among the 28 3-year-olds and up nominated to the 1¼ miles Arlington Million (G1) are trained by Charlie Appleby. Godolphin’s pair Measured Time (Ire) and Nations Pride (GB) finished first and second in the Manhattan (G1), respectively. The winningest Arlington Million trainer with four titles,
Chad Brown’s trio of nominees is led by e Five Racing Thoroughbreds’ three-time graded stakes winner Carl Spackler. Finishing second to Carl Spackler last out in the Kelso (G3), Allen Stable and CHC’s Talk of the Nation is one of three nominated by Todd Pletcher.
Notable nominations include Million Preview winner Integration, who is trained by Shug McGaughey and owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, Woodford Racing, Pine Racing Stables, William Freeman, Michael Valdes, and John Ballantyne. Two-time winner of the Million, Aidan O’Brien nominated the 3-year-old Diego Velazquez (Ire), a dominant winner against older rivals last out in the Meld Stakes (Group 3).
Once again, the 1 3/16 miles Beverly D. has been selected as a Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” race for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf to be held at Del Mar in California on Saturday, November Looking to defend her crown for Mark Casse, Tracy Farmer’s Fev Rover is nominated to the Beverly D. With both the Wilshire (G3) and the Beverly D. Preview on her 2024 resume under the care of Neil Drysdale, Nadette (Fr) was nominated just one day after being purchased for $420,000 by Stepaside Farm
at the Fasig Tipton’s July Digital Sale.
The top six finishers in the Diana (G1) are among the 40 older fillies and mares nominated to the Beverly D., including three trained by Chad Brown: two-time Diana winner Whitebeam and Coppice, both owned by Juddmonte, together with Peter Brant’s multiple Grade 1 winner Gina Romantica. Brown, who won five consecutive runnings of the race at Arlington Park from 2015-2019, nominated six in total. Second to Whitebeam in the Diana, Lanni Bloodstock, Madaket Stables, and SF Racing’s Moira is nominated to both the Beverly D. and the Arlington Million. Winner of the New York (G1) before her 4th-place finish in the Diana for trainer Ignacio Correas IV, Merriebelle Stables and Resolute Racing’s Didia (Arg) is nominated to the Beverly D., eyeing a return to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
The Grade 2 $500,000 Secretariat Stakes, named after the Virginia-bred 1973 Triple Crown hero, is a one mile race for 3-year-olds and attracted 36 nominations. Amerman Racing’s Belmont Derby (G1) winner Trikari is nominated for trainer Graham Motion. With a pair of Grade 3 titles for trainer Rob Atras, Red White and Blue Racing’s Neat is nominated. Cherie DeVaux has two nominated, led by Klein Racing’s Brilliant Berti. The last out winner of the American Derby at Churchill Downs has strung together three consecutive wins.
Expanded for 2024, Festival Day includes four additional stakes: the $100,000 Petramalo Mile, a one-mile dirt race for 3-year-olds and its sister race, the $100,000 Penny Chenery at seven furlongs; the $150,000 Van Clief for 3-year-olds & up at 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf and its distaff companion event, the $150,000 Andy Guest.
Tami Bobo, Julie Davies, and George Isaacs’ Florida Derby (G1) runner-up runner Catalytic, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., leads the 24 3-year-olds nominated to the Petramalo Mile. Other top nominees from the Derby trail include D.J. Stable and Robert Cotran’s Holy Bull (G3) winner Hades, Average Joe Racing Stables and Dan Wells’ Mugatu, and Mellon Patch’s Illinois Derby winner Patriot Spirit.
Of the 36 3-year-old fillies nominated to the Penny Chenery, Brad Cox leads all trainers with seven, led by Stonestreet Stables’ Emery, who has strung together three consecutive wins including the Victory Ride (G3) at Churchill Downs and Red White and Blue Racing’s dominant Beaumont (G2) winner, Denim and Pearls.
Stablemates Nobals and One Timer are among the 49 nominated to the Van Clief Stakes. Trained by Larry Rivelli, Patricia’s Hope’s Nobals ended 2023 winning four of five, including the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1). The 5-year-old One Timer, owned by Richard Ravin and Patricia’s Hope, boasts five stakes victories, including the Franklin-Simpson (G2).
The Andy Guest closed with 45 nominations, including a quartet trained by Christophe Clement. The 2023 and 2024 Caress (G3) winners, Cheyenne Stable and John O’Meara’s Roses for Debra and West Point Thoroughbreds, Scarlet Oak Racing and Titletown Racing Stables’ Dontlookbackatall. West Point Thoroughbreds, Larsen, Chris and Titletown Racing Stables’ Gal in a Rush took the Hendrie at Woodbine
in early July.
Entries for the Colonial Downs Festival of Racing will be drawn Saturday, August 3. Tickets for the Colonial Downs Festival of Racing can be purchased at www.colonialdowns.com.