Road to the Kentucky Derby alumni took center stage in Saturday’s $500,000 Virginia Derby (G3) at Colonial Downs.
In its final year as a summer turf race before transitioning into a main-track Road to the Kentucky qualifier in 2025, the 1 1/8-mile Virginia Derby attracted Gotham (G3) winner Deterministic and Kentucky Derby (G1) 18th-place finisher Grand Mo the First.
The two accomplished colts came in as the favorites and lived up to expectations. Deterministic, a Christophe Clement trainee sent off as the even-money first choice, rated in the middle of the pack while in between rivals. Grand Mo the First, the 3-1 second choice, stayed close to the pace through splits of :24.12, :48.47, and 1:12.04 set by longshot Izzy d’Oro.
In the homestretch of the inner turf course, Grand Mo the First forged to the front and appeared to be on his way to victory. But then Deterministic, finally free of traffic, launched a resolute rally under Manny Franco. In the shadow of the wire, Deterministic got up to win by a neck in 1:47.76, with Grand Mo the First pulling away from Desvio, Echo Lane, Zverev, Massif, Fulmineo, Frontline Warrior, and Izzy d’Oro.
The Virginia Derby capped off a sensational afternoon for Franco. He won seven races overall, including five of the day’s six stakes.
One of those stakes wins came in dead-heat fashion. In the 1 1/8-mile $250,000 Virginia Oaks for three-year-old fillies, Franco convinced Clement’s Style Points to rally from fifth place just in time to finish on even terms with Deep Satin, a Cherie DeVaux trainee who was always prominent beneath Mychel Sanchez. The two fillies reached the finish line in the snappy time of 1:47.15 over the inner turf course, while Pendulum, Awesome Czech, Belle of Rights, Distorted d’Oro, Oncourtcommentator, Aspen Dawn, Brocknardini, and Call Another Play completed the order of finish.
Another notable win for Franco came aboard South Africa raider Isivunguvungu in the $150,000 Da Hoss S. sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs over the outer turf course. A multiple Group 1 winner making his U.S. debut for trainer Graham Motion, Isivunguvungu rated a couple lengths off the early pace before rallying up the rail and holding off Nothing Better to prevail by a neck in 1:02.58. Maya Prince, Sweet Cherry Pie, Dream Shake, That’s Right, Chiseler, and Cruzin Man trailed the field.
Franco executed another excellent ride to win the $125,000 Kitten’s Joy S. for juveniles racing 1 1/16 miles over the outer turf. Guiding 11-10 favorite Siesta Key, Franco settled his mount as many as eight lengths off the pace before splitting horses in the homestretch to get up and win by a nose, a journey the Equibase result chart described as a “dream trip.” Aristotle, Thrilla, Trevaggio, Meistersinger, Notmyfirstrodeo, Just for the Money, and Sackett trailed home Siesta Key, a Godolphin homebred trained by Brad Cox.
Identical riding tactics carried Truly Quality to a mild upset victory in the 1 1/2-mile $150,000 Colonial Cup over the inner turf course. In a four-horse field, Franco rated Truly Quality in third place for much of the journey before wearing down pacesetting favorite Webslinger to score by 2 1/2 lengths in the course-record time of 2:25.16. Jonathan Thomas trains the winner.
The $125,000 Rosie’s S. rounded out the stakes action. The 5 1/2-furlong outer turf course sprint for juveniles produced an unsurprising outcome as 9-10 favorite Governor Sam led all the way to win by two lengths under Paco Lopez, reaching the finish line in 1:03.52. The George Weaver trainee is now a two-time stakes winner, having previously taken the Tyro S. at Monmouth Park. His beaten rivals on Saturday were Out On Bail, Ghostly Rose, Curahee, Fire Pit, Sharedashenanigans, Dancing Bear, Lazio, and Bottoms Up.
