Day Sixteen: Capital Ale House a No-Go

I was supposed to arrive at Colonial a few hours early (of course, Darrell never told me when even though I asked him several times) to write a few stories on the Kitten's Joy and Virginia Oaks before working at the Capital Ale House in Richmond from 5-8 PM. From there, I was supposed to drive an hour to Molly's house, where I'd spend the night before heading back to Colonial to work Wednesday. Wednesday was supposed to be a short day of barn notes, where I briefly talk to trainers with stakes horses running about how they're doing, what their schedule looks like, etc. And then I would head home that night.

However, that never happened. I woke up today with a swollen eye and, because my parents weren't comfortable with me working in the middle of Richmond in the first place, they called Darrell and told him I wasn't coming. They really aren't too pleased with where he's been sending Molly and I -- Molly had just returned from a pot-filled warehouse in a really bad area the night before -- so they figured the eye-swollen-shut would have to be something Darrell could deal with. I really don't think he'd have wanted me at the Ale House as the sole representative of Colonial Downs, anyway. I seriously would have scared people away.
So after several panic-stricken phone calls from Darrell this morning, he sent me the past performances for all the stakes on Saturday and had me write two stories and a newsletter. He also needed me to find some news stations in Charlottesville, DC, and Harrisonburg.
Since I'm not driving three hours tomorrow just to do barn notes, I'll be at home. I'm pretty sure he's sending me stuff to do here, though...

As for the stories, he had told me to mix up the language, which I was always nervous about doing since he called my writing "hokey" and "bloggy." And Keith, who has worked for newspapers and written tons of press releases, told me that press releases are basically the same thing over and over and I shouldn't worry about it. Needless to say, I was suprised when Darrell told me I did a nice job on both stories. Maybe the second nice thing he's said all summer?


Vanquisher Headlines Competitive Kitten’s Joy Field

(---- NEW KENT, VA ---- 7/14/09 ----) Kinsman Stable’s Vanquisher looks to win the seventh running of the $50,000 Kitten’s Joy Stakes as he faces nine rivals in the 1 1/16 mile turf race on Saturday at Colonial Downs. The race, for three year olds and up, is the first of three stakes races on the card.
Trained by Gregory Griffith, the five year old gelding won the Tallahassee Stakes earlier this year at Gulfstream after closing from eighth to first through the stretch. Most recently, Vanquisher finished third in the Blazing Sword Stakes at Calder and has now finished on the board in eleven of twenty-two starts. Alan Garcia has the mount aboard the 7-2 morning line favorite.
Independent George, the 4-1 Graham Motion-trained second choice, has not posted a win since the Sussex Stakes in May ’08 and has faced tough competition in the United Nations (Gr. I) and the Nijinsky (Gr. II). The six year old gelding most recently finished second in the Henry Clark Stakes and sixth in the Eclipse Stakes (Gr. III). Edgar Prado, who has the most Virginia Derby wins of any jockey, will be aboard.
9-2 third choice is Jungle Fighter, an eight year old gelding who is well-versed at Colonial Downs with two wins and one third in three tries. The Justin Nixon trainee most recently finished second after weakening late in the Da Hoss Stakes last month at Colonial. The track’s second leading rider, Sheldon Russell, has the mount.
Tiger Woodman is the 5-1 fourth choice with the nation’s leading money rider, Julien Leparoux, aboard. After a third place finish in the Chester House Stakes this year, the seven year old gelding trained by George Arnold II finished seventh in the Tin Man. He has finished on the board in twelve of twenty-nine lifetime starts.
Rounding out the field are Izzy Speaking, winner of last month’s Da Hoss Stakes at Colonial, along with Baltimore Bob, Rockaby Bay, Jazz in the Park, Brickell, and Mint Slewlep.
The Kitten’s Joy is the ninth of twelve races on Colonial’s Saturday program, with the $750,000 Virginia Derby (Gr. II) as the featured race. First race post time is 12:55 PM.


Shared Account Looks to Steal Wide Open Virginia Oaks

(---- NEW KENT, VA ---- 7/14/09 ----) Sagamore Farms’ Shared Account has been slated as the 3-1 morning line favorite for the sixth running of the $150,000 Virginia Oaks (Gr. III) on Saturday at Colonial Downs. The 1 1/8 mile turf race for three year old fillies will go to post at 5:14 PM with a field of eleven.
Trained by Graham Motion, the Pleasantly Perfect filly finished third after a rough trip in her most recent race, the Perfect Sting Stakes. The race, over a yielding Belmont course, was the filly’s first turf start. Edgar Prado, who won the Oaks last year with I Lost My Choo, will have the mount aboard Shared Account.
At 7-2, Hamilton Smith’s Blind Date is the second choice. Having recently switched to turf after running well on dirt, the Not For Love filly won both the Hookedonthefeelin and Hilltop Stakes before finishing seventh in her most recent start, the Boiling Springs (Gr. III), at Monmouth. She has won four of six lifetime starts and will have the riding services of Kent Desormeaux.
John Kimmel-trained Fast Tigress, the 4-1 third choice, last won an allowance at Gulfstream in January of this year. She has since finished on the board in only one of five stakes races, the Appalachian (Gr. III), and has won two of her eleven lifetime starts. Tyler Baze will be aboard the Hold That Tiger filly.
Excelente is the fourth choice at 9-2 for trainer Darrin Miller. Second in the American 1,000 Guineas in May, the Exceed and Excel filly weakened to sixth in her most recent start, the Indiana Downs Distaff. She has been on the board in three of eight lifetime starts, with Cornelio Velasquez up for the mount.
Oh So Nice, a Jonathan Sheppard-trainee who will have the riding services of leading money rider Julien Leparoux, is the fifth choice at 5-1.
Super Poni, Katara, Glorious Deal, Spanish Wedding, Combinate, and Five Diamonds round out the field.
The Virginia Oaks is the tenth of twelve races on Colonial’s Saturday program, with the $750,000 Virginia Derby (Gr. II) as the featured race.