PREAKNESS DOINGS

Orb, with exercise rider Jennifer Patterson aboard, gallops during a workout at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Thursday, May 16, 2013. The Preakness Stakes horse race is scheduled to take place May 18. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Kentucky Derby winner Orb shows off his now famous injury-enlarged right nostril while he grazes following a workout in preparation for the 138th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 16, 2013 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Jockey Kevin Krigger takes Preakness entrant Goldencents over the track in preparation for the 138th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 16, 2013 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Preakness entrant Oxbow is walked following a monring workout in preparation for the 138th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 16, 2013 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Preakness Stakes entrant and Illinois Derby winner Departing gallops the track at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Thursday, May 16, 2013, with exercise rider Trina Pasckvale in the saddle. (AP Photo/Garry Jones)

Preakness Stakes entrant Departing, left, waits with a pony to begin a morning workout at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Thursday, May 16, 2013. (AP Photo/Garry Jones)

Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness morning line favorite Orb, with exercise rider Jennifer Patterson up, gallops over the track in preparation for the 138th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 16, 2013 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)

NEW YORK TIMES VIDEO: MEET ORB

To see the video, click here.

CLN PREPARING FOR 17TH LIVE MEET OPENING JUNE 8TH

(NEW KENT, VA---5/15/13) Colonial Downs will open its 17^th season of pari-mutuel thoroughbred racing on Saturday June 8^th, and the barn area will be nearly full according to Director of Racing Tyler Picklesimer. The barn area will open two weeks in advance, on Saturday May 25th, and the track will open for training that same day. 

Top returning trainers include Ferris Allen with 30-plus head, Ham Smith with 20-plus, and Hugh McMahon, last year’s leading conditioner, with 30. New this year to the backstretch is trainer Wesley Ward, who will have a string of 15. Ward, a regular competitor at Gulfstream’s winter meet and at Keeneland’s spring session, has over 200 horses in training across the country.

Racing will take place every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 6 PM (EDT) and Sunday afternoons at 12:55 pm. Friday racing however won’t begin until June 21^st and several big race days will feature an early post at 5:00 PM.

Highlights of the meet include a pair of Grade II stakes. The $300,000 Colonial Turf Cup, which regained its graded status earlier this year, is slated for Saturday June 22nd while the 16^th running of the $500,000 Virginia Derby will close out the meet on Saturday July 13^th.

The $250,000 Commonwealth Turf Fest, a series of five Virginia-bred stakes worth $50,000 each, will be contested on Saturday July 6th.

Evening racing will again be a focal point of Colonial’s summer stand. In February 2012, the track repositioned nearly all of its light standards to illuminate the signature Secretariat Turf Course instead of its 1¼ miles dirt track. Since between 80-90% of the races are held on turf, the track is able to again have a later start time and not worry about running out of daylight, though first post will be an hour earlier (at 6 PM) than it was last summer (7 PM).

The 25-day meet is shorter than in past years, but Picklesimer is optimistic. “I’m looking forward to the revised schedule because it allows us to increase overnight purses, which should translate into higher quality racing.”

Stall applications, condition book #1, stakes schedules and Virginia Racing Commission license information are all available at colonialdowns.com. For more information, call the racing office at 804-966-7223, ext. 1056.

ORB DRAWS RAIL FOR PREAKNESS

VA-BREDS AT FASIG-TIPTON MIDLANTIC TWO-YEAR-OLDS IN TRAINING

PICTURE OF THE DAY

Jennifer Patterson grazes Kentucky Derby winner Orb outside the stakes barn as they prepare for the 138th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 14, 2013 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Rob Carr/Getty Images North America)

VIRGINIA-BRED WINNERS

Bella's Typhoon (f, 3yo), Deputy Storm - Typhoon Tessie by Not for Love. B - Rodger L. Smith.

Hollywood Casino At Charles Town Races, 5/8/2013, mdn clmg, $9,000, 4.5 f, 0:53.12.

Blue Mountain Cat (g, 4yo), Discreet Cat - Silentlea by Cherokee Run. B - Grace E. Ritzenberg.

Hollywood Casino At Charles Town Races, 5/10/2013, alwc, $17,400, 4.5 f, 0:51.69.

Brassy Kaz (f, 3yo), Here's Zealous - Brassy Boots by Dixie Brass. B - Kaz Hill Farm. Penn National, 5/8/2013, mdn clmg, $10,200, 6 f, 1:13.51.

Father Jones (g, 9yo), Lemon Drop Kid - Fabulous Fame by Cherokee Colony. B - Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin III. Turf Paradise, 5/6/2013, clmg, $3,683, 6.5 f, 1:14.85. ($5,000, yrlg, 2005, keesep)

Irsaal (g, 3yo), More Than Ready - Quiet Now by Tiznow. B - Edward P. Evans. Belmont Park, 5/8/2013, alwc opt clmg, $46,200, 8.5 f, 1:43.15. ($325,000, yrlg, 2011, keesep)

Jazz Tune (f, 3yo), Johannesburg - Rap and Dance by Pleasant Tap. B - Edward P. Evans. Parx Racing, 5/6/2013, mdn sp wgt, $27,000, 8 f, 1:41.31. ($7,000, yrlg, 2011, keesep)

Keystone Kid (g, 9yo), Service Stripe - Egret by Alwuhush. B - Keswick Stables. Fairmount Park, 5/10/2013, clmg, $3,480, 8 f, 1:42.40. ($22,000, yrlg, 2005, keesep)

Michaelmas (c, 2yo), Elusive Quality - Christmas Kid by Lemon Drop Kid. B - Estate of Edward P. Evans. Curragh, 5/6/2013, alwc, $21,316, 5 f, 1:04.58. ($525,000, Wnlg, 2011, keenov)

Moro Tap (c, 3yo), Tapit - Ghost Dancing by Silver Ghost. B - Edward P. Evans. Churchill Downs, 5/12/2013, alwc, $24,660, 9 f, 1:51.13. ($10,000, yrlg, 2011, keesep; $350,000, 2yo, 2012, keenov)

Pacmango (g, 4yo), Peak Dancer - Wish Alert by Gold Alert. B - Darlene H Bowlin. Hollywood Casino At Charles Town Races, 5/10/2013, alwc, $15,600, 6.5 f, 1:20.97.

Star Holiday (f, 3yo), Harlan's Holiday - May Star by Unbridled. B - Audley Farm. Pimlico, 5/11/2013, clmg, $17,100, 5 f, 0:59.61. ($13,000, yrlg, 2011, ftmoct)

Virginia Affair (g, 5yo), Black Tie Affair (IRE) - Right on the Money by d'Accord. B - Dresden Farm. Hollywood Casino At Charles Town Races, 5/12/2013, clmg, $6,600, 6.5 f, 1:22.11.

CLN OWNER JACOBS ENTERTAINMENT OFFERED TO MOUNTAINEER GAMING FOR $144.5 MILLION

Jeffrey Jacobs, whose company, Jacobs Entertainment Inc., owns and operates Colonial Downs and casinos in northern Nevada and in Colorado, has offered to sell his company to MTR Gaming Group Inc. (MNTG) for $144.5 million.

Jacobs Entertainment already owns 18.3% of MTR Gaming Group.

In suggesting that MNTG take over his company, Jacobs stated he believes the West Virginia-based casino operator needed “to diversify the geography of its business as a result of additional competition in its current markets.”

MRT Gaming Group operates the Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort in West Virginia, the Presque Isle Downs Racetrack & Casinos in Erie, Pennsylvania, and Scioto Downs harness track and slots facility near Columbus, Ohio.

Being offered by Jacobs are the Gold Dust West casinos in Reno, Carson City and Elko, Nevada; the Gilpin Casino and The Lodge Casino in Blackhawk, Colorado, Colonial Downs race track and off-track betting sites in Virginia, and a slots route in Louisiana.

In the non-gaming area, Jacobs Entertainment developed and operates the Nautica Entertainment Complex in Cleveland, Ohio. 

PICTURES OF THE DAY

Tom Queally riding Excellent Guest (C, blue cap) win The Betfred Victoria Cup at Ascot racecourse on May 11, 2013 in Ascot, England. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)

Charlie Em, left, and jockey Garrett Gomez, race to win the $100,000 Senorita Stakes Gr.3, Saturday, May 11, 2013, at Betfair Hollywood Park, Inglewood Calif. (AP Photo/Benoit Photo)

A. Foulon riding Cosmic Flame (L) win The Prix de la Celle Saint-Cloud at Longchamp racecourse on May 12, 2013 in Paris, France. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)

Freedom Child, with jockey Luis Saez, captures the $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes Gr.2 at Belmont Park on Saturday, May 11, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/New York Racing Association, Adam Coglianese)

Goldencents ridden by Kevin Krigger trains at Pimlico Race Course on Sunday, May 12, 2013, in Baltimore, in preparation for Saturday's $1 million Preakness Stakes. (AP Photo/Maryland Jockey Club, Jerry Dzierwinski)

Preakness Stakes contender Itsmyluckyday with jockey Elvis Trujillo in the saddle works 1/2 mile in 47 1/5 between the third and fourth races at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, N.J., on Sunday May 12, 2013. (AP Photo/EQUI-PHOTO, Bill Denver)

Runners make their way to the start at Longchamp racecourse on May 12, 2013 in Paris, France. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)

Christophe Lemaire riding Flotilla (2L) win The Poule D'Essai des Pouliches at Longchamp racecourse on May 12, 2013 in Paris, France. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)

Kentucky Derby winner Orb, with exercise rider Jennifer Patterson aboard, gallops at Belmont Park during his final workout before the Preakness, Monday, May 13, 2013 in Elmont, N.Y. Orb is scheduled to travel to Pimlico later in the day to prepare for the Preakness, Saturday, May 18. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

Thierry Thulliez riding Style Vendome (yellow) win The Prix D'Essai des Poulains at Longchamp racecourse on May 12, 2013 in Paris, France. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)

Maxime Guyon riding Tableaux (C) win The Prix Hocquart China Horse Club at Longchamp racecourse on May 12, 2013 in Paris, France.  (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)

Horses and Jockeys head past the grandstand during the Two Circles Handicap Stakes at Ascot racecourse on May 10, 2013 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)

In this July 3, 2005, file photo, Horses leave the gate during the Vanity Handicap horse race at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif. Splendid Blended ridden by Jerry Bailey, far right, won the race. Betfair Hollywood Park will close by year's end and the 75-year-old racetrack property will be developed by its owner. The track announced on Thursday, May 9, 2013, what had been anticipated since Churchill Downs sold it to Hollywood Park Land Co. in 2005. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, File)

Jockey Eduardo Pedroza from Panama on ' Novellist' on his way to win the Grand Prix of Baden Entrepreneurs on the last day of the spring meeting at the gallop course in Iffezheim, Germany, Sunday May 12, 2013. (AP Photo/dpa,Uli Deck)

In a move Shug McGaughey called "breathtaking," Orb worked four furlongs in 47.18. — at Belmont Park. (NYRA/FACEBOOK)

PICTURE OF THE DAY

Horses and jockeys jump a fence past the grandstand at Fakenham racecourse during racing at Fakenham on May 7, 2013 in Fakenham, England. (Jamie McDonald/Getty Images Europe)

VA-BRED WINNERS

Atajo (g, 3yo), Langfuhr - Kobla Road by Gone West. B - Edward P. Evans. Churchill Downs, 5/2/2013, clmg, $9,000, 8 f, 1:36.30. ($10,000, yrlg, 2011, keesep)

Broomsage (f, 3yo), Include - Elsoma by Tri Jet. B - MORGAN'S FORD FARM. Pimlico, 5/2/2013, mdn sp wgt, $22,800, 8.5 f, 1:50.23.

Clever Answer (f, 4yo), Fusaichi Pegasus - Captain's Daughter by Captain Bodgit. B - Atkins Homes, Inc. Hollywood Casino At Charles Town Races, 5/4/2013, mdn clmg, $6,600, 8.5 f, 1:52.17.

Commandingpresence (f, 7yo), Thunder Gulch - Sehra by Silver Hawk. B - Lazy Lane Farms, Inc. Kempton Park, 5/1/2013, hcp, $3,015, 6 f, 1:12.13. ($7,065, rac age, 2009, tatfeb)

Go Allie (f, 5yo), Eavesdropper - Alagaroo by Sultry Song. B - Lady Olivia @ North Cliff LLC. Pimlico, 5/5/2013, str alwc, $15,390, 5.5 f, 1:05.50.

Smoke Town (g, 3yo), Smoke Glacken - Early Mass by Pleasant Tap. B – Morgan’s Ford Farm. Belmont Park, 5/3/2013, mdn clmg, $19,200, 6 f, 1:10.09. ($100,000, yrlg, 2011, ftkjul)

Star Street (g, 3yo), Street Sense - Starr County by Ogygian. B - Edward P. Evans. Churchill Downs, 5/1/2013, mdn clmg, $15,420, 6 f, 1:10.35. ($230,000, yrlg, 2011, keesep)

The Best Lawyer (c, 4yo), More Than Ready - Miss Trinidad by Kingmambo. B - Lazy Lane Farm, Inc. Bordeaux Le Bouscat, 5/2/2013, alwc, $10,556, 9.5 f, 2:06.53. ($40,000, Wnlg, 2009, keenov; $134,001, yrlg, 2010, arqaug)

VIRGINIA HALL OF FAMER COLONIAL AFFAIR DIES

Virginia-bred Belmont Stakes winner Colonial Affair, who helped jockey Julie Krone make history in the classic, died in his stall the morning of April 23 at Haras El Paraiso in Capitan Sarmiento, Argentina, where he had stood for the last decade. He was 23.

Colonial Affair, trained by Scotty Schulhofer for Centennial Farm, won the Belmont Stakes in 1993 with future Hall of Fame jockey Krone aboard, making her the first female rider to win a Triple Crown event. He recorded three other graded stakes placings as a 3-year-old that season, including a runner-up effort against older horses in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Colonial Affair went on to a successful season in the handicap ranks in 1994, scoring Grade 1 victories in the Jockey Club Gold Cup and Whitney Handicap and also winning the Grade 2 Excelsior Handicap. However, an injury sustained prior to the Breeders' Cup Classic prevented him from contesting that year's running at Churchill Downs. He retired with seven wins from 20 career starts for earnings of $1,635,228.

Retired to Gainesway Farm in Lexington, Ky. in 1995, Colonial Affair also stood at Arrow Stud on the island of Hokkaido, Japan, before he was purchased by Haras El Paraiso and John Berendt of New York in 2003.

From 15 crops of racing age—including current juveniles—Colonial Affair sired 323 winners, including 21 stakes winners, for earnings of $18,960,942.  

Out of the Nijinsky II mare Snuggle, Colonial Affair was bred in Virginia by Herman Greenberg's Rutledge Farm, who sold him to Don Little’s Centennial Farm as a yearling for $100,000 at the 1991 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select sale. He was broken and received his early training by Paula Parsons at the Middleburg Training Center.

Colonial Affair was elected into the Virginia Equine Hall of Fame in 2008.

VIRGINIA GOLD CUP HANDLES $81,017

According to Equibase the Virginia Gold Cup meet at Great Meadow on Saturday handled $81,0017 in pari-mutuel wagers. It was the first time the famous Virginia timber race offered pari-mutuel betting and the first to do so since Morven Park did back in 1991 and 1992.

The betting windows and kiosk saw long lines throughout the day prompting Gold Cup consultant Mike Pearson to speculate that handle might have been “$182,000 instead of almost $82,000” if the lines had moved quicker.

The wagering platform was just the first step in the Virginia Gold Cup Association’s plan to offer pari-mutuel wagering at all of their meets.  The plan for the fall race – the International Gold Cup – is for the wagering to take place on cell-phones and handle held devices such as an iPad which should resolve any issues with lines and make the product easier for patrons to access.

The Gold Cup winner, Grinding Speed, paid $12.00 to win.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“It was an exhilarating feeling at the quarter pole knowing that I had a shot. I have never wanted to win a photo for third so bad in my life. The horse ran great, and the best part is I think he’s really going to move forward off of this, and I’m looking forward to his next race.”

-- Rosie Napravnik, only the third woman jockey to ride in the Derby.

A New Jersey native, Napravnik began her career at Pimlico in 2005 as a 17-year-old. She was a regular rider in Maryland through 2008 and topped the jockey standings there in 2006 and 2008.

Regarding the Preakness, Napravnik said, “There’s no other race I would rather be in and win.”

VA-CONNECTED FOAL

…and connected to Kentucky Derby winner Orb.

This foal was bred by James Falk, Sr. He is by Fairbanks, out of Sweet and Hot. His female family traces back to Laughter and the family of Ruffian, Icecapade, Buckfinder and now Orb.

He was born at Shamrock Farm in Woodbine, Maryland. 

PICTURES OF THE DAY

Leandro R. Goncalves (center) wins atop Berlino Di Tiger in the 19th running of the $125,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint Gr.3 at Churchill Downs on Saturday. May, 04, 2013. (David Lee Hartlage/Louisville Courier Journal)

Horses dig up the dirt on the all weather track during a trackwork session at Sha Tin racecourse on May 2, 2013, ahead of the Champions Mile this Sunday in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. (Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Jockey Damian Lane (2-R) rides Formidable to win race seven the Go Green Handicap during Melbourne racing at Flemington Racecourse on May 4, 2013 in Melbourne, Australia. (Graham Denholm/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Virginia Gold Cup winner Grinding Speed and Mark Beecher.  (Douglas Lees Photo)

Virginia Gold Cup left to right: #6 Foyle (Chris Read, up), who finished fourth and the winner Grinding Speed (Mark Beecher, up). (Douglas Lees Photo)

Liaison and Martin Garcia, left, run down Kettle Corn, with Victor Espinoza, in mid-stretch and go on to victory in the Mervyn LeRoy Handicap horse race Saturday, May 4, 2013, at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Benoit Photo)

Kevin Manning riding Dawn Approach wins The Qipco 2000 Guineas Stakes at Newmarket racecourse on May 04, 2013 in Newmarket, England. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)

Trainer Shug McGaughey (L) walks with Orb ridden by jockey Joel Rosario after winning the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 4, 2013 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Stephanie's Kitten, with Julien Leparoux aboard, center, wins the $250,000 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile. May 4, 2013. (Michael Clevenger/The Courier-Journal)

Orb enjoys a morning after treat at Churchill Downs. May 5, 2013. (Louisville Courier Journal Photo)

Rosie Napravnik aboard Delaunay wins the 79th Running of the $400,000 Churchill Downs Stakes Gr.2 at Churchill Downs on Saturday. May, 04, 2013. (David Lee Hartlage/Louisville Courier Journal)

Wise Dan, with Jose Lezcano aboard, wins the $500,000 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic G.1 May 4, 2013. (Michael Clevenger/The Courier-Journal)

 The water jump in the Virginia Gold Cup. L-R: Heron's Well, second place finisher Straight To It,  fourth place finisher Foyle and the winner Grinding Speed. (Douglas Lees Photo)