For the second consecutive year, Front Run the Fed posted a narrow victory in the Van Clief Stakes at Colonial Downs; Sassy Beast upset the Andy Guest.
Colonial Downs hosts a pair of turf sprint stakes Saturday, with Front Run the Fed aiming to defend his title in the Van Clief.
Determined Kingdom defended his title in the Punch Line Stakes to top a Colonial Downs card with four stakes for Virginia-breds.
The first horses arrived at Colonial Downs June 19 as the track begins in earnest go gear up for its 27-day 2023 meet.
Virginia races contested in Maryland played a significant role in the career of Va-bred Queen Caroline, who became the dam of Kentucky Derby favorite Forte.
Forte’s rise to Kentucky Derby favorite has been a special journey for his breeder, Virginia-based Amy Moore, owner of dam Queen Caroline.
The Virginia-certified residency program, which encourages people to send young horses to Virginia, will operate with new limitations this year.
Its new owners are bullish about moving Colonial Downs to a Thursday-Saturday schedule, but they acknowledge the challenges ahead.
Colonial Downs will maintain a 27-day, nine-week schedule in 2023, but those live days will be Thursday through Saturday, the track announced.
Jill Byrne, who oversaw the rebirth of racing at Colonial Downs and led it to unprecedented success, has stepped down from the track.