COLONIAL TURF CUP REUNITES PAST WINNERS

When racing officials opened the $500,000 Colonial Turf Cup to older horses last year they were hoping to see a field like this year's edition.  Twelve starters, including last summer's Virginia Derby and Colonial Turf Cup winners, are entered in Saturday's mile and three-sixteenths turf race.  

Last summer, Rahystrada arrived several days early in Virginia and spent some time on the backstretch, the first to arrive on the grounds for the race.  Jockey Sheldon Russell delivered the win finding room between the rail and Smart Bid for trainer Byron Hughes.  Russell referred to it as the biggest win of his career to that point.  Hughes and owner Robert Courtney rewarded with a return mount in the Arlington Million, in the same state where he would win the Illinois Derby with Done Talking this spring.


Rahystrada won the Kentucky Cup Turf at a mile and a half last September.  The eight year old has only started once this spring in an optional claimer at Churchill Downs.

As the only older horse to win the Colonial Turf Cup, Rahystrada eyes another one.

Air Support may be coming back to his own after a lengthy layoff that began with his win in the Virginia Derby.  Trainer "Shug" McGaughey, who will be a guest on Off to the Races Friday evening, turned the Smart Strike colt out after his closing bid on Banned in July.  McGaughey "couldn't get him the way he wanted," and passed on the Secretariat Stakes and the rest of the year.  Stuart Janney's four-year old campaign that began with a substandard outing this April at Keeneland improved with his effort the Dixie at Pimlico on Preakness day. 

Air Support with Alex Solis aboard was a big price in last year's Virginia Derby.

Casino Host may be currently running best among the previous Colonial Downs past starters in the field.  He ran third in the Virginia Derby last summer at a huge price with Malcolm Franklin aboard.  He returns to Colonial win a pair of wins underneath him this spring and outfinished Air Support in the Dixie, running fourth.

Casino Host in the Andy Guest paddock with Malcolm Franklin aboard prior to last year's Virginia Derby

Smart Bid was the favorite in the 2011 Colonial Turf Cup for trainer Graham Motion who was just off his Kentucky Derby winning campaign with Animal Kingdom.  Edgar Prado returns to ride yet another Smart Strike sired entry in the field.  The six year old won the Fairgrounds Handicap (G3) in February.

At certain points of the 2011 Colonial Turf Cup, Smart Bid (#4) led the field.

Silver Tie Affair who won the Van Clief on Colonial's closing weekend last year in his only start on the Secretariat Turf Course.


Not only will these Colonial Downs alumni battle each other this Saturday evening, there will be some viable first timers to New Kent that have been impressive this spring.  Forte Dei Marmi and Turbo Compressor have confirming wins that justify the class they have been running against.  Humble and Hungary outfinished five starters in the field last month in the Dixie Stakes.