VA-BREDS AT FASIG-JULY

163 LIMEHOUSE/APPEALING FLOWER, F EATON SALES, AGENT…$70,000, DOGWOOD STABLE INC

177 DOMESTIC DISPUTE/BOLTIN' BRIDE, C GAINESWAY, AGT FOR MORROWDALE FARM & ANNE TUCKER…$65,000. ZAYAT STABLES

326 PLEASANT TAP/MAGICAL CHASE, F BILL REIGHTLER, AGENT…$65,000, ALEX SOLIS BLOODSTOCK

357 ROYAL ACADEMY/PART WITH PRIDE, F SKARA BRAE STABLES, AGENT…$85,000, BLANDFORD BLOODSTOCK LTD.

358 GRAND SLAM/PEACEFALLY (IRE), F TAYLOR MADE SALES AGENCY, AGT. FOR LADY OLIVIA @ NORTH CLIFF…$50,000, BLUEBIRD THOROUGHBREDS.

391 MARIA'S MON/SHOULD EXCELL, C BILL REIGHTLER, AGENT…$67,000, MAVERICK RACING LP

474 STORMY ATLANTIC/CANADIAN ALLIANCE, F BILL REIGHTLER, AGENT…$42,000, G WATTS HUMPHREY JR.

513 GULCH/EVANGEL, F BILL REIGHTLER, AGENT…$30,000, JAMES J. SMITH, AGENT.

VIRGINIA-BREDS AT SARATOGA SELECT

Hip No. 19 – F. by Gulch, out of Patelin’s Legacy by Cherokee Colony, Easton Sales, Agent. Barn 8-9.

Hip No. 66 – C. by Five Star Day, out of Strawberry’s Charm by Strawberry Road (AUS), property of North Wales LLC, Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services, Inc. (John Stuart), Agent. Barn 6 East.

Hip No. 78 – F. by Mr. Greely, out of Testy Trestle by Private Account, Eaton Sales, Agent. Barn 8-9.

Hip No. 171 – C. by Forestry, out of Hilarity by Kingmambo, property of Lady Olivia at North Cliff, LLC, Taylor Made Sales Agency, Agent. Barn 7A-B.

VIRGINIA CONNECTIONS WIN TIPPET

Hickory Tree Farm's Glamorous Gal won the $60,000 Tippet Stakes. She is trained by Simon Hobson. Both owner and trainer reside in Northern Virginia.

(Photo by Jeff Coady/Coady Photography)

MORE PICTURES OF SOUTHWEST

Lazy Lane's Southwest is believed to be the first Virginia-bred to run in the Virginia Derby. It's possible that Morgan's Ford Farm in Front Royal bred a starter a few year's back, but we can't confirm it...

Wayne? Susie? Anybody?

(Photos by Jeff Coady/Coady Photography)

PUNCH LINE WINNER

A REAL BUSTER

(Photo by Jeff Coady/Coady Photography)

SARATOGA UP AND RUNNING

Dale Tillotson of Burlington, Vermont, watches the first race during the opening of the 140th horse racing season at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Wednesday, July 23, 2008.
In this photo provided by the New York Racing Association, race horse Commentator, ridden by John R. Velaquez captures The Whitney Handicap at the Saratoga Race Course, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. on Saturday, July 26, 2008.

Forever Together, ridden by Garrett Gomez , front left, pulls away from Dynaforce, ridden by Kent Desormeaux, right, to win The Diana Gr. I at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Saturday, July 26, 2008.

Ginger Punch, ridden by Rafael Bejarano, wins the the Go For Wand Handicap horse race at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Saturday July 26, 2008.

In this photo provided by the New York Racing Association, Desert Party, ridden by Edgar Prado, captures The Sanford Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. on Thursday, July 24, 2008.

Robert Clark of Indian Harbour Beach, Fla., paints a portrait of a horse in the paddock area at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Saturday, July 26, 2008. (AP Photo/Hans Pennink)

PICTURE OF THE DAY

5,000 AND COUNTING...In a photo provided by the New York Racing Association, Kent Desormeaux captures his 5000th win aboard Bella Attrice at the Saratoga Race Course on Sunday, July 27, 2008, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

(AP Photo/New York Racing Association, Adam Coglianese)

A NOSE FOR VICTORY

Gio Ponti’s nose is highlighted by a bit of sunshine in this photo by Nick Hahn at VirginiaRaceHorse.com. That very same nose would prove the margin of victory later in the day in the $750,000 Virginia Derby Gr. II.

Virginia-bred Southwest became the first homebred to start in the Virginia Derby. He finished fifth and earned $22,500 plus a $22,500 100% Owners Bonus for owner/breeder Lazy Lane Farm.

According to VirginiaRaceHorse.com, ridden by John Velazquez and trained by Rodney Jenkins...the "Virginia bred couldn’t go on versus the tough trio but manage to cash a $45,000 check for their efforts. Local horsemen can benefit from a high dollar stakes without winning it."

(Photo by Nick Hahn)

ANOTHER CLOSE GRAND SLAM FINISH

Gio Ponti and Garret Gomez survived a thrilling stretch duel with Court Vision to win the $750,000 Virginia Derby by a nose in front of 9,061 fans at Colonial Downs.

(Photos by Jeff Coady - Coady Photography)

IT MUST BE THE CHOOS

Edgar Prado’s patience combined with I Lost My Choo’s dramatic stretch run were an unbeatable combination in the $200,000 Virginia Oaks (gr. III).

(Photo by Jeff Coady - Coady Photography)

OLD MAN MIDWATCH DOES IT AGAIN

On Derby day, Edgar Prado scored a front running victory aboard Jim Falk’s Midwatch in the $60,000 Kitten’s Joy Stakes.

Midwatch set a pressured pace in the 1 1/16-mile turf test before opening up a 2½ length lead in midstretch. The 9-year-old Sea Hero gelding had to dig deep in the final furlong to hold off Hunting Print’s furious late rally by a slender nose.

Midwatch likes big days. He previously won an overnight stake on the same card as the $600,000 Colonial Downs Turf Cup Gr. III.

(Photo by Jeff Coady - Coady Photography)

VA CONNECTIONS ON DERBY DAY

Kinross Farm’s Poplar Grove broke his maiden on Virginia Derby day. Trained by Neil Morris, the gelding by Albert the Great out of Cactus Bell by Gone West won by two lengths.

(Photo by Dee Leftwich - Coady Photography)

VA-BRED WINS ON DERBY DAY

On Virginia Derby Day, Virginia-bred Cryptogram won the second race. By Expelled, out of Uncanny Ability by Cryptoclearance, Cryptogram won for owner/breeder Lady Olivia at North Cliff, LLC and trainer Carla Morgan.

(Photo byJeff Coady - Coady Photography)

BROOKMEADE STAKES

Virginia-bred Debbie Sue powered past six horses in the stretch to score a 4¼-length victory in the $60,000 Brookmeade Stakes for the second time in three years July 12th at Colonial Downs. Debbie Sue, a former Virginia-bred Champion, was bred by Jill Gordon-Moore.

(Photo by Jeff Coady - Coady Photography)

DA HOSS STAKES

Marshall Dowell’s Mint Slewlep closed stubbornly to wear down 8-5 favorite Salinja for a sharp win in the $60,000 Da Hoss Stakes July 5th at Colonial Downs.

(Photo by Coady Photography)

CHASING THE PRIZE JUST MISSES TRACK RECORD

David A. Ross’ Chasing the Prize just missed earning the honor of track record holder by a fifth of a second with a dominating allowance win at Colonial Downs on July 7th.

Chasing the Prize ran the six furlongs on Colonial’s main track in 1:08.76, just a tick off Satan’s Code record 1:08.48 clocking.

Chasing the Prize willingly rated off a brisk early pace set by longshot Frankie W, who spurted to the lead through a quarter in :21.86 while Chasing the Prize sat a length and a half back in third under jockey Luis Garcia.

Frankie W continued to fly around the turn to get the half in :44.49 as Chasing the Prize edged closer with a two-wide move to get into second as they turned for home.

Garcia let Chasing the Prize roll as they straightened for the 1300-foot stretch run and the 4-year-old Pure Prize gelding instantly ended things with a devastating burst speed to open up four lengths on the field at the eighth pole. Revelations launched a bid at the center of the track but Chasing the Prize was long gone, drawing off to win by seven over Revelations with Seeking Flight another 2¼ lengths back in third.

Chasing the Prize improved his record to four wins from seven starts. All four wins were blowouts by margins ranging from 5½ to 9¼ lengths, including a 6¼ length win for a $7,500 tag opening week at Colonial.

Michael Pino trains Chasing the Prize.

Ross is the all-time leading owner at Colonial Downs with 76 wins and is well on his way to another leading owner title with 11 wins this season, nearly triple the second-place tie between George W. Parrish, Sr. and A. Claire Silva, Jr.

(Photo by Coady Photography)

PICTURE OF THE DAY

A BETTER MOUSE-TRAP? A new starting gate designed with the safety of horses and jockeys in mind is used for the first time in Race One the Lord Reims Handicap during the Sir John Monash Stakes Day at Caulfield Racecourse July 19, 2008 in Melbourne, Australia.

(Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images)