Paddy O’Prado is eyeing a two-for-two record at Colonial
Downs, having drawn post seven for the $600,000 Virginia Derby (Gr. II) to be
held on Saturday, July 17 at the New Kent oval.
Morning line favorite at 7-5, the Dale Romans-trained three
year old began his winning career with a victory in the Grade III Palm Beach
Stakes at Gulfstream after failing to break his maiden in four prior starts.
Paddy O’Prado then went on to a second place finish in his first start on dirt,
the Grade I Bluegrass, before running third in the Kentucky Derby. With these
successful tries on dirt, Dale Romans moved the colt to the Preakness Stakes,
where he ran a disappointing sixth after losing ground four-wide.
Most recently, Paddy O’Prado has switched back to turf races
and gone on to win the Grade II Colonial Turf Cup in mid-June at Colonial
Downs. With that victory, Donegal Racing set their sights for their colt, who
has earned over $750,000 in just nine starts, on the $600,000 Virginia Derby.
Paddy O’Prado, who will break from the seventh post with
Kent Desormeaux up, has seven horses to beat on Saturday. His biggest
competition at 3-1 is Interactif, a colt trained by Todd Pletcher. After
breaking his maiden at first asking, Interactif ran well in several stakes
races, including wins in the Grade III With Anticipation and Bourbon Stakes and
on-the-board finishes in the Grade II Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, Hallandale
Stakes, and the Grade II San Felipe. The three year old Broken Vow colt then
ran fourth in the Grade I Bluegrass Stakes before finishing seventh in the
Belmont Stakes. Interactif, who will be ridden by Javier Castellano from the
third post, has earned over $350,000.
Third choice at 7-2 is Krypton, who will break from post
two. After breaking his maiden on third asking, the Kiaran McLaughlin-trained
Krypton finished last in the Vision Stakes at Belmont to Dean’s Kitten and ran
decently in allowances before winning again by 6 ¼ lengths at Keeneland. The
Rock Hard Ten colt then ran ninth in the Grade II Lexington Stakes before
winning the Grade III Hill Prince at Belmont
last month. In nine starts, Krypton has earned nearly $125,000.
Stately Victor
and Two Notch Road are the fourth choices at 8-1.
Stately Victor has two wins on his resume, having broken his maiden at Saratoga and taken the
Grade I Bluegrass Stakes by 4 ¼ lengths. He has earned nearly $500,000, and
will be ridden by Ramon Dominguez. Two
Notch Road, who will have the services of local
rider Sheldon Russell, broke his maiden in the Continental Mile and has won two
allowance races. He most recently ran third in the Grade II Colonial Turf Cup,
and has earned over $180,000.
Rounding out the field for the Virginia Derby are
Majestictroubador, Awesome Dream, and Formulaforsuccess. The Grade II race is
the twelve of fourteen on Saturday’s card, and is set to go to post at 6:00 PM.