HIGHTLIGHTS OF THE $250,000 COMMONWEALTH TURF CUP

A LOVER'S QUESTION (Jeff Coady/Coady Photography)

(From CLN) Owner Larry Johnson, trainer Mike Trombetta and jockey Julian Pimentel combined forces to capture the first two stakes races in Friday’s five race, $250,000 Commonwealth Turf Festival, which went off without a hitch at Colonial Downs despite periods of rain.

A Lover’s Question scored a near gate to wire victory in the $50,000 Jamestown  Stakes to kick off the second annual Virginia-bred showcase event. The Sprint at Last filly, one of only two females in the race, won easily by 3 ¾ lengths over Vestry in the 5 ½ furlong sprint. The Johnson-Trombetta-Pimentel trio won last year’s edition of the Jamestown with Harbingerofthings and didn’t wait long to return to the winner’s circle Friday.

HEAVEN KNOWS WHAT (Jeff Coady/Coady Photography)

The same connections won the $50,000 Oakley Stakes, next up in the Virginia-bred quintet, with Heaven Knows What. The 3 year old Holy Bull filly led throughout the 5 ½ furlong race and finished 2 ½ lengths better than Seaside in 1:03.97.  Johnson, who bred both winners, capped off a nice day that started much earlier at Saratoga where scored with a victory in the first race with Strike The Moon, also trained by Trombetta.

Embarr, In The Rough and Cobbley’s Breeze finished one-two-three in the 2011 Brookemeade Stakes and the trio scored an identical finish a year later in the ’12 edition Friday. Jockey Forest Boyce led the effort for winning breeder, owner and trainer Susan Cooney in the one mile turf stakes. Embarr came from behind gamely after sitting fifth midway through. The 4 year old Royal Academy filly maneuvered to second at the head of the stretch and nosed by front running In The Rough shortly after en route to a 1 ¼ length victory. She is now a perfect 3-for- 3 at Colonial Downs.

STAGED AFFAIR  (Jeff Coady/Coady Photography)

The best comeback of the evening though belonged to Phil Schoenthal’s Staged Affair, who stormed past six frontrunners outside in the stretch to capture the $50,000 Bert Allen Stakes by an open length. The 6 year old Not For Love mare has won back to back stakes at Colonial this summer. She scored a tight nose win in the Punch Line July 4th, and with Friday’s win, gave jockey Richard Monterrey three wins on the night. Staged Affair was bred by Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin III.

DANNHAUSER  (Jeff Coady/Coady Photography)

It took leading rider Sheldon Russell nine races to get to the winner’s circle Friday, but the wait paid off as he guided Kathleen O’ Connell’s Dannhauser to a three-quarter length win in the Daniel Van Clief Stakes. Coming off a fourth place finish in the June 16th Da Hoss, the 4 year old Johannesburg colt had to rally in deep stretch after Navy Brass and Hugo stormed out to huge early leads and maintained healthy cushions until the final straightaway. Dannhauser, who was bred by the Audrey farm, came on strong to beat Powder Mountain and finished the 1 1/16th mile stakes in 1:44.53.   

THE DÉJÀ VU TRIFECTA

It would seem impossible that the same three mares would finish 1-2-3 in the same race one year apart, but that is exactly what Embarr, In The Rough and Cobbley's Breeze did Saturday night in the $50,000 Brookemeade Stakes.

In 2011, the triple paid a whopping $5,107 as Embarr paid $51.20 for a $2 win ticket. In 2012, the clever or clairvoyant bettor got back a paltry (by comparison) $58.50 for the same three horses.

EMBARR (Jeff Coady/Coady Photography)

LEADING OWNER, RIDER AND TRAINER AT CLN 2012

LEADING OWNER: David Ross
LEADING TRAINER: Hugh I. McMahon
LEADING JOCKEY: Sheldon Russell

Photos by Jeff Coady/Coady Photography

VA-BRED WINNERS

A Lover's Question (f, 2yo), Spring At Last - Kelly's Question by Mr. Greeley. B - R Larry Johnson. Colonial Downs, 7/27/2012, stk, $28,500, 5.5 f, 1:06.41.

April's Dixie Bell (f, 5yo), Parker's Storm Cat - Kim's Victory by Spartan Victory. B - Sandy Valley Farms. Colonial Downs, 7 /28/2012, clmg, $9,976, 5 f, 0:58.51.

Available (c, 3yo), Bop - Morelias Star by Star Trace. B - Dempsey Suzanne A. Colonial Downs, 7/28/2012, mdn sp wgt, $16,675, 5.5 f, 1:04.33.

Black Tie Dinner (g, 6yo), Black Tie Affair (IRE) - Find The Queen by Lost Code. B - Donna M Hayes. Colonial Downs, 7/27/2012, mdn clmg, $8,816, 10 f, 2:08.51.

Brudda Clyde (c, 3yo), Political Force - Flying Kitty by Lord Carson. B - James S Carter. Emerald Downs, 7/27/2012, alwc, $10,395, 6.5 f, 1:15.27. ($7,500, yrlg, 2010, keesep)

Class Cap (c, 4yo), Hap - Class Citi by Citidancer. B - Mede Cahaba Stable And Stud, LLC.
Colonial Downs, 7/28/2012, clmg, $12,296, 5.5 f, 1:04.62.

Dannhauser (c, 4yo), Johannesburg - Hatpin by Smart Strike. B - Audley Farm. Colonial Downs,  7/27/2012, stk, $28,500, 8.5 f, 1:44.53. ($270,000, yrlg, 2009, keesep; $350,000, 2yo, 2010, ftffeb)

Embarr (f, 4yo), Royal Academy - In Too Deep by The Deep (IRE). B - Susan S Cooney. Colonial Downs, 7/27/2012, stk, $29,000, 8 f, 1:38.25.

Heaven Knows What (f, 3yo), Holy Bull - What Do I Do by Two Smart. B - Johnson R. Larry.
Colonial Downs, 7/27/2012, stk, $28,200, 5.5 f, 1:03.97.

Humming Along (g, 9yo), Demidoff - Emma's Girl by Palace Music. B - Sally Ann Yeckley & Gerald B Yeckley Jr. Colonial Downs, 7/27/2012, clmg, $9,976, 5 f, 0:59.32.

Jake's Lil Man (c, 5yo), Defrere - Wish Alert by Gold Alert. B - Marjorie Flowers & Marjim Farms. Colonial Downs, 7/28/2012, clmg, $9,976, 8 f, 1:38.81.

Lion Down By Me (f, 4yo), Lion Heart - Eugapae by El Prado (IRE). B - English II Sam E.
Colonial Downs, 7/27/2012, mdn sp wgt, $16,675, 5.5 f, 1:05.24.

Morada Choice (f, 6yo), Purple Passion - Country Choice by Thirty Eight Paces. B - Franklin Denise. Colonial Downs, 7/28/2012, mdn clmg, $17,052, 5.5 f, 1:05.30.

My Queen (f, 4yo), Forestry - Midtown Miss by Yes It's True. B - Audley Farm. Colonial Downs, 7/26/2012, clmg, $14,616, 5.5 f, 1:03.76.

No Offence (g, 4yo), No Armistice - Offensively by Beau Genius. B - Tommy White. Colonial Downs, 7/28/2012, mdn clmg, $17,052, 8 f, 1:40.24.

Noel T (f, 4yo), Langfuhr - Best Victory (FR) by =Cadoudal (FR). B - Eldon Farm Racing Stable. Colonial Downs, 7/26/2012, clmg, $6,148, 8.5 f, 1:44.94.

Pagan Priestess (f, 4yo), Oratory - Friend's Gold by Compadre. B - B G 'Bob' Sowder. Colonial Downs, 7/26/2012, clmg, $9,976, 8 f, 1:38.71.

Private Tale (c, 4yo), Tale Of The Cat - Taint by Private Account. B - Mr & Mrs Frank Zureick Mr & Mrs. PRX, 7/29/2012, alwc, $28,800, 8 f, 1:37.32. ($50,000, yrlg, 2009, ftmoct)

Staged Affair (f, 6yo), Not For Love - Colonial Stage by Pleasant Colony. B - Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin, III. Colonial Downs, 7/27/2012, stk, $28,500, 5.5 f, 1:04.58.

Star Money (f, 5yo), Not For Love - Meteor Star by Louis Quatorze. B - Iselin III C. Oliver Mrs. Colonial Downs, 7/25/2012, clmg, $9,976, 8 f, 1:39.52. ($6,000, yrlg, 2008, ftmoct)

Virginia Dream (f, 4yo), Aldebaran - Ritual Dance by Runaway Groom. B - Mrs C Oliver Iselin III. Delaware Park, 7/28/2012, clmg, $7,200, 6 f, 1:10.73.

Wolverton (c, 4yo), Not For Love - Valcrest by Val De L'Orne (FR). B - C Oliver Iselin III. Colonial Downs, 7/25/2012, clmg, $9,976, 8 f, 1:38.64.

PICTURES OF THE DAY

The Chincoteague Pony Swim, in Chincoteague, Va., during the 87th go-round for the famous summer event. (Sean Proctor/AP Photo)

Alpha, with jockey Ramon A. Dominguez, captures the Jim Dandy at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, July 28, 2012, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (AP Photo/New York Racing Association)

Sanford and Spawr's Amazombie and jockey Mike Smith, left, winning the Grade I $300,000 Bing Crosby Stakes Sunday, July 29, 2012 at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif. (AP Photo/Benoit Photo)

Kieren Fox riding Barnet Fair (R, yellow) win The Betfred Mobile Sports Handicap Stakes at Ascot racecourse on July 28, 2012 in Ascot, England. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe)

 Winning owner, trainer and breeder Susan Cooney talks to Nick Hahn in the winner's circle following her Embarr's second consecutive victory in the $50,000 Brookemeade Stakes at Colonial Downs on Friday night. (A. Petty/VTA Photo)

Currency Swap capturing The Amsterdam at Saratoga Race Course, New York, Sunday, July 29, 2012. (AP Photo/New York Racing Association, Adam Coglianese)

VTA president Wayne Chatfield-Taylor and wife Susie in the winner's circle for the televised presentation of Redeemed's M. Tyson Gilpin Virginia-bred Horse Of The Year Award on Friday night at Colonial Downs. (A. Petty/VTA Photo)

Demonstrative, left, Robert Walsh up, and Wanganui, Paddy Young up, compete in the Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Thursday, July 26, 2012. Demonstrative won the race. (AP Photo/NYRA, Adam Coglianese

This photo released by the New York Racing Association shows Lunar Victory capturing the Evan Shipman horse race at Saratoga Race Course, New York, Monday July 23, 2012. (AP Photo/New York Racing Association, Adam Coglianese)

Jay Em Ess Stable's Rail Trip and jockey Jose Valdivia, Jr. winning the Grade II, $200,000 San Diego Handicap, Saturday, July 28, 2012 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Del Mar, Calif, (AP Photo/Benoit Photo)

 A rainbow appeared after the fourth race at Friday night's Commonwealth Turf Festival at Colonial Downs.  (G.Petty/VTA Photo)

This photo released by the New York Racing Association shows Rosa Salvaje capturing The Shakespeare Caress at Saratoga Race Course, New York, Monday July 30, 2012. (AP Photo/New York Racing Association, Adam Coglianese)

In this image made available by Jake Warren, Usain Colt ridden by Richard Hughes wins The Download The Blue Square Bet App EBF Maiden Stakes at Newbury racecourse Newbury England, Oct. 21, 2011. Watch out Usain Bolt! Usain Colt is running. And with four legs, he is fast. Like Bolt, Colt is determined to win. And off the track he has royal connections to attract attention and make up for his inability to strike the pose before he runs. Even though the thoroughbred, named after the world's fastest man is not competing at the Olympics, his owners are hoping he will triumph by meeting up with his more famous namesake while he's in London, and perhaps serve as a good luck charm for the Jamaican sensation at the games. (AP Photo/Mark Cranham)

Centre Court and jockey Julien R. Leparoux capture the Lake George Stakes, Wednesday, July 25, 2012, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (AP Photo/New York Racing Association, Adam Coglianese)

Paynter with jockey Rafael Bejarano wins the $1 million Haskell Invitational, Sunday, July 29, 2012, at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J. (AP Photo/EQUI-PHOTO, Ryan Denver)

Starlight Magic and jockey Rafael Bejarano win the $200,000 Fleet Treat Stakes, Saturday, July 28, 2012, at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif. (AP Photo/Benoit Photo)

Winter Memories, with jockey Javier Castellano, captures the Grade 1 Diana at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, July 28, 2012, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (AP Photo/New York Racing Association, Adam Coglianese)

This July 20, 2012 photo shows Michael Blowen, founder and president of Old Friends farm, feeding carrots to Zippy Chippy at Old Friends farm near Georgetown, Ky. Zippy Chippy failed to win one of his 100 start. Now the 21-year-old is emerging as a lovable ambassador for the humane treatment of horses no longer able to bring in money to pay their feed and veterinarian bills. (AP Photo/Bruce Schreiner)

COMMONWEALTH TURF FESTIVAL

Julian Pimental won handily with A LOVER'S QUESTION in the two-year old $50,000 Jamestown Stakes for owner/breeder Larry Johnson and trainer Michael Trombetta.

Don't let the saddlecloth fool you.  This is not the same thoroughbred.  A pair of 8s came up in the Commonwealth Turf Festival Friday evening when Julian Pimentel won the $50,000 Oakley, a turf sprint for fillies & mares.  Pimental prefers rides like winner HEAVEN KNOWS BEST in lieu of his Virginia Derby mount where the saddle slipped going up the backstretch.

Owner Larry Johnson swept the opening double of the Commonwealth Turf Festival.

Jockey Forest Boyce's smile shined through the darkness after Susan Cooney's EMBARR won the $50,000 Brookmeade for the second year in a row.

Susan Cooney bred, owns and trains EMBARR.  When it comes to Virginia thoroughbreds, the most beneficial and satisfying wins on the industry are when a winning owner trains their own home-bred.

One of Richard Monterry's four wins on Friday night was aboard STAGED AFFAIR in the $50,000 Bert Allen shown here returning his tall mount to the winner's circle. 

2012 leading jockey Sheldon Russell won the $50,000 Van Clief with Dannhauser for Vision Racing and trainer Kathleen O'Connell as a handler's T-shirt shows when lining up for the winner's circle photo.

KO didn't need a whole lot of help training the Van Clief winner but decided to phone a friend anyway.

NICK'S PICKS, CLOSING DAY AT COLONIAL DOWNS

SOLID RACING IN SOGGY TURF FESTIVAL

Despite the soogy conditions of Friday night's Commonwealth Turf Festival, the racing remained solid with standout performances and stretch duels.  Who else but Virginian Larry Johnson led off the winners in the stakes program when A Lover's Question controlled the pace for a 3+ length win the Jamestowns as a solid favorite.  Jockey Julian Pimental scored a riding double when once again he controlled the pace with Heaven Knows What in the Oakley Stakes this time as a $17.80 winner.  Trainer Michael Trombetta conditioned both of Johnson's winners.   Embarr who is  bred, trained and owned by Susan Cooney added the Brookmeade as her 3rd win this year.  In similar fashion as last year's victory, the 4-year old filly closed after finding a lane in the stretch with Forest Boyce aboard.  After being seventh at the top of the lane Richard Monterrey circled the field to prevail by a length in the Bert Allen.  Monterry had 4 winners on the night.  The meet's leading rider, Sheldon Russell, delivered Dannhauser for trainer Kathleen O'Connell in the Van Clief to close out the festival.  Dannhauser started the meet with an optional claiming win closes the meet with an impressive win in a Virginia-bred stake.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Boot, saddle, to horse, and away!"
- Robert Browning, Poet

HORSES AROUND

Owned by Danny Limongelli and trained by Hugh McMahon, TOO CLEVER BY HALF went 3 for 3 during the Colonial Downs meet, tapped for Nick's Picks "Horse of the Meet."  HESAGOLDMINE, KING'S CORONATION and BOOK THE CROOK also collected 3 wins but had one setback along the way.   There were 28 repeat winners during the meet.

COMMONWEALTH TURF,  A LOOK BACK AND FORWARD

Last summer, racing officials at Colonial Downs decided to stack the Virginia-bred stakes races into one day.  The decision provided plenty of excitement closing weekend for fans and participants alike.  It's alway a good sign for the concept when many of it past participants return.  One storyline missing this year is that trainer Ferris Allen does not have a horse in the Bert Allen.  Deputy Fling won the first running of the Bert Allen under the name of Colonial's "First Fan".  It didn't not make ESPN's "Sportscenter" but was a great story despite of its exposure.  Virginia owner Larry Johnson and trainer Michael Trombetta captured the two opening stakes races last year.  Julian Pimental delivered the double aboard Harbingerofthings in the Jamestowns Stakes and Doing Great in Oakley.  Now a three-year old, Harbingerofthings returns to ride in Oakley Stakes.  Silver Tie Affair with Alex Cintron aboard won the Van Clief for Leslie Osborn and Hassan Elamri.  Forest Boyce who rode Silver Tie Affair in this year's $500,000 Colonial Turf Cup to fifth, gets the mount in defending his title.  The top four finishers in last year's Brookmeade stakes won by Susan Cooney's Embarr return in this year's Brookmeade.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Generations of Thoroughbred enthusiasts had fought long and hard, and at great expense and personal sacrifice to arrive at this gratifying moment." - Raymond Wolfe on the 1988 referendum approval

HORSES AROUND

The winner of the first Virginia Derby CROWD PLEASER, a Pennsylvania-bred, has a stakes race named after him at Parx on Saturday.  The nine 3-year olds entered will contest a mile and a sixteenth on the turf.  Trainers Ferris Allen with CAT N CABOODLE  and Hugh McMahon with MY QUEEN won races on Thursday evening so McMahon's margin in the trainer standings remains five.

VA-BRED CHAMPS HONORED TONIGHT AT COLONIAL DOWNS

VA-BREDS SHOWCASED TONIGHT IN 2ND $250,000 COMMONWEALTH TURF FESTIVAL

(From CLN) Closing weekend of the Colonial Downs summer thoroughbred season kicks off Friday July 27th with the second annual $250,000 Commonwealth Turf Festival, a Virginia-bred showcase event featuring five $50,000 stakes races.

The stakes quintet will be run consecutively between races five thru nine, and kicks off with the 5 ½ furlong Jamestown for two year olds. Mike Trombetta, who captured last year’s Jamestown with Harbingerofthings, has the early 6-5 favorite with A Lover’s Question. One of only two fillies in the ten horse field, she is fresh off a dominating maiden special weight victory over the Colonial turf July 6th. Stephanie Nixon’s Vestry, with a second and third this meet, is the second early choice.

Wardelle is the early 3-1  pick in the Oakley Stakes for fillies and mares, three and up. The 6 year old Toccet filly has primarily raced at Monmouth the past two years but did capture an allowance turf sprint at Colonial opening day last summer. Leading rider Sheldon Russell has the mount atop second choice Seaside, who was third in the 2011 Oakley. Third choice Miss Oil finished one notch respectively behind Wardelle and Seaside in each of their ’11 Colonial outings.

Embarr, In The Rough and Cobbleys’ Breeze, the top three finishers in last year’s Brookemeade Stakes, will square off again one year later. Embarr is a 4 year old Susan Cooney trainee that has collected a pair of wins over the Pimlico turf in her last trio of outs and is the second early choice. Morning line favorite though is Atlantic Tap, who switched over to grass two starts ago and found instant success in an Arlington allowance. Horacio Karamanos will ride for trainer Wayne Catalano in the one mile filly and mare stakes.

Jake Rattle N Roll, who was second in the last two Punch Line editions, is favored in the Bert Allen Stakes. The 7 year old Bop gelding has a pair of tight runner-up finishes this meet at the Allen’s 5 ½ furlong distance. Staged Affair, who beat Jake in the ’12 Punch Line by a nose, is second choice. Giant Patriot and Romans Reward, third and fourth in the same stakes, are in this field as well.

The final Virginia-bred offering is the Daniel Van Clief Stakes and the ’12 version will pit last year’s top three finishers against each other. Silver Tie Affair, who won the ’11 Van Clief by one length, is second favorite and is coming off a fifth place finish in the $500,000 Colonial Turf Cup June 16th. Chedi and Powder Mountain, runners-up last year, are 15-1 and 7-2 respectively. Early favorite is Kathleen O’Connell’s Dannhauser, who was fourth most recently in Colonial’s Da Hoss Stakes June 16th.

Post time on Friday is 7:00 PM. The evening will also feature the presentation of the awards to the 2011 Virginia-bred Champions.

The summer season concludes on Saturday with a twelve race program beginning at 6 PM.