KY Derby Also-Ran Closes Out Virginia Derby's Turf Era

As the sun sets on another season at Colonial Downs Sept. 7, the New Kent, Va., track will celebrate with one of its biggest weekends of the meet, highlighted by full fields in the $500,000 Virginia Derby (G3T) and $250,000 Virginia Oaks.

Raced on the grass since its 1998 inception, Saturday's Derby will mark the final edition before the race switches to dirt and joins the Road to the Kentucky Derby in March 2025. However, it won't have to wait to see a Kentucky Derby (G1) runner.

COLONIAL DOWNS: Virginia Derby Joins Road to the Kentucky Derby in 2025

Finishing 18th in the Derby off a pair of graded placings, Granpollo Stable's Grand Mo the First  received a three-month freshening from trainer Victor Barboza. Switching to grass for his return, the son of Uncle Mo   earned a career-best 99 Equibase Speed Figure while winning the Aug. 3 Bear's Den Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Video: Bear's Den S. (BT)

A three-time winner from eight starts for earnings of $259,200, Grand Mo the First placed in graded company on grass as a 2-year-old in Santa Anita Park's Zuma Beach Stakes (G3T).

While Grand Mo the First breaks from post 2 with Paco Lopez, followers of the Derby trail will also recognize the colt to his right in Deterministic , winner of the Gotham Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Since switching to turf two starts back, the Liam's Map   colt has picked up two graded placings for St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, Steven Duncker, and Vicarage Stable, including a third to Carson's Run  in the Saratoga Derby Invitational (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 11. Manny Franco rides and Christophe Clement trains.

The two are joined in the 1 1/8-mile race by stakes winners In a Jam , Desvio , and Fulmineo  as part of a 12-horse field.

Large Field in Wide-Open Virginia Oaks

One race prior, 13 fillies will also travel 1 1/8 miles in the Virginia Oaks.

The Elkstone Group's Oncourtcommentator  is a head away from being undefeated through her first three starts, all at Laurel Park. Trained by Brittany Russell and ridden by her husband, Sheldon Russell, the daughter of Uncle Mo enters her stakes debut off a 6 1/4-length win in a 1 1/8-mile, off-the-turf allowance Aug. 18. She breaks from post 4.

Two stalls to her inside is Aug. 16 maiden winner Aspen Dawn . The daughter of Quality Road  is the only filly in the large field to have started over the Colonial turf, having navigated the oval in both her career starts for owner Tracy Farmer and trainer Mark Casse.

New York-breds Awesome Czech  and Brocknardini  visit Virginia off their 1-2 finish in the Suzie O'Cain Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 14.

The Virginia Oaks and Derby are races 9 and 10, respectively, with post times of 5:40 p.m. and 6:15 p.m.