Capensis Caps Five-Win Day for Ortiz Jr. at Colonial
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Photo: Coady Photography
Capensis wins the Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs
Irad Ortiz Jr., the leading rider at Saratoga Race Course's meet that concluded Labor Day, continued his hot hand by winning five races Sept. 6 at Colonial Downs, including the New Kent County Virginia Derby (G3T) and Woodford Reserve Virginia Oaks.
Ortiz teamed with Capensis for his richest score Tuesday in the $305,000 Virginia Derby, a 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds that the colt won on firm ground in 1:48.15.
Sixth on the outside early as Royal Patronage set fractions of :23.24 and :47.62, Capensis swung into action on the second turn, moving into fourth shortly after six furlongs run by Royal Patronage in 1:11.42. Wide into the stretch, the Tapit gray wore down the early leader and pace-pressing Catnip by midstretch and drew off by two lengths.
"At the three-eighths pole, I asked him a little bit. He put me right there. He jumped on the bit," Ortiz said. "I knew I got a good chance to run them down, and at the quarter pole, I asked him, and he was there for me."
Late closers completed the trifecta, with California Frolic edging Limited Liability by a neck for the place. The latter was third by a neck over Unanimous Consent .
Bet down late to favoritism, Capensis paid $5.20 to win.
The Virginia Derby marked the second win in three starts from Capensis, who won first out by five lengths at Belmont Park July 2 before a close sixth-place finish in his first start against winners in allowance company at Saratoga for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. The 3-year-old races for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bob LaPenta, Gainesway Stable, Winchell Thoroughbreds, and Stonestreet Stables.
Stonestreet Stables bred the colt in Kentucky out of the grade 1-winning Unbridled's Song mare Tara's Tango , a producer of two starters from four foals, with the other starter being the placed 4-year-old Alexander Valley (Medaglia d'Oro ). She also has an unnamed Curlin 2-year-old colt and a yearling colt by Quality Road .
Video: New Kent County Virginia Derby (G3T)
Spirit and Glory Picks Up First Stakes Win in Virginia Oaks
Spirit and Glory ignited in the final moments to take the Virginia Oaks, which immediately preceded the Virginia Derby.
The Robert Falcone Jr. trainee traveled in the middle of the 14-horse pack through fractions of :23, :47.43, and 1:11.66 over a firm course. Around the final turn, leader Thisnameisokay encountered traffic, bumping into Lady Puchi while Omixochitl and Sparkle Blue continued to move on the outside of those two. Spirit and Glory, under Ortiz, sailed down from the outside and held off a late challenge from Sparkle Blue to win the 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-old fillies by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:48.25.
Spirit and Glory captures the Virginia Oaks
Sparkle Blue held on for second while Candy Light surged to take third.
Spirit and Glory paid $19.20, increased her earnings to $185,770, and improved to 3-1-1 from seven starts.
Owned by Michael Nentwig, Michael Dubb, Beast Mode Racing, John Rochfort, and Falcone, the daughter of Cotai Glory was bred in Ireland by Dr. Noel Cogan and Patrick Williams.
Spirit and Glory is out of the Invincible Spirit mare Supreme Spirit , who has four winners from five foals to race. The dam's last foal is a 2-year-old daughter of Kuroshio .