The Colonial Downs 2010 Thoroughbred racing season came to
an end Wednesday night as jockey Rosemary Homeister, Jr. and trainer Hamilton
Smith captured the leading titles for the 40-day summer meet.
The competition for leading jockey heated up late in the
meet, as Rosemary Homeister, Jr., Horacio Karamanos, and Eric Camacho stood
within one win of each other going into the final week. On Colonial Downs’
final card on Wednesday, Homeister made her 43-wins too much for others to
catch, with Eric Camacho finishing second in the standings with 40 wins.
Horacio Karamanos finished third with 39 wins. The leading jockey title is the
second in a row for Homeister, Jr., who beat out Sheldon Russell last year.
The race for the leading trainer title was even tighter,
with Ferris Allen leading Hamilton Smith entering the Wednesday card. Smith was
able to tie the standings in the fourth race as his Darby’s Dispute took the
fourth race by 3 ¾ lengths, leaving the trainers with one charge each in the
$50,000 Jamestown Stakes. Hamilton Smith’s Pink Pallet went on to win the
stakes race for two year olds via a double disqualification.
Breaking from the six post and avoiding crowding to her
inside, Pink Pallet and Luis Garcia raced three wide around the turn to finish
willingly behind Simmstown and Giant Patriot, who were disqualified for
breaking in and out at the start while interfering with rivals. Last Out of
Panama ran second, with Secret Ride finishing third. Latika ran fourth, with
Simmstown and Giant Patriot rounding out the field after the double
disqualification.
The meet was highlighted by the runnings of the $500,000
Colonial Turf Cup and the $600,000 Virginia Derby. Both of the grade II races,
which feature the nation’s top three year old turf runners, were won in stylish
fashion by Paddy O’Prado and jockey Kent Desormeaux. The victories put the El
Prado colt over the million dollar mark in earnings, and he is currently second
in the nation for annual earnings to Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver. Paddy
O’Prado’s connections, owners Donegal Racing and trainer Dale Romans, are
aiming the colt for the end-of-the-year Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred
Championships.
Colonial Downs’ harness
racing meet begins on Friday, September 17th with a first-race post
time of 5 PM.