Colonial Downs’
fourteenth Thoroughbred meet got off to an exciting start as heavy favorite
Elusive Gift held off ’08 Marsh winner Frisky Thunder through the stretch to
take the $50,000 John D. Marsh Stakes.
Trained by Anthony Dutrow and
ridden to victory by Horacio Karamanos, Elusive Gift pressed the pace early on
before taking command through the stretch and besting a fast-closing Frisky
Thunder by a neck.
That’sthequestion finished 2 ½ lengths behind in third. The
’09 Marsh Winner, Hugo, raced evenly along the inside to finish fourth, with
Humming Along, Powder
Mountain, Tomac, A Reel
Buster, and Deep Regret rounding out the field.
Elusive Gift, a five year old
gelding by Elusive Quality, was bred in Virginia
and is owned by Edward P. Evans. In ten lifetime starts, he has finished first
or second six times and earned $118,892.
Earlier in the card, Luis
Garcia took a riding triple as he guided home winners in the sixth, seventh,
and eighth races.
Additionally, Colonial Downs newcomer Tadious Simpson won his
first races at the track, producing win payouts of $83.80 and $65.60 in the
second and third events.
Trainer Kathleen O’Connell is
also expecting a big weekend at Colonial Downs, with her 10,000th career
starter entered in tomorrow’s card. Having finished third in last year’s
leading trainer standings at Colonial, her horses have earned over $20 million
while in her care.
Memorial Day weekend
festivities continue Sunday and Monday with post time both days at 12:55 PM.