Blood-Horse
I Lost My Choo Favored in Virginia Oaks
Flying Zee Stable's homebred I Lost My Choo seeks her fifth victory of the year and the first graded stakes triumph of her young career, as she takes on nine 3-year-old fillies in the $200,000 Virginia Oaks (gr. IIIT) July 19 on the Colonial Downs turf.
Tin Cup Chalice Eyes 'Big Apple' Bonus
Tin Cup Chalice has a shot at the $250,000 OTB Big Apple Triple bonus in the Aug. 20 Albany Stakes at Saratoga. No horse has won the bonus, which was instituted in 1999.
Virginia Derby Full of Familiar Faces
Many racing officials at Colonial Downs, weary of Central Virginia downpours, may have to pardon trainer James Toner if he does a rain dance Saturday morning before the $750,000 Virginia Derby (gr. IIT). His trainee, Sailor's Cap, will attempt to defeat eight others in the 1 1/4-mile contest for 3-year-olds on the turf.
Casino Drive's Journey to Cup Begins
Casino Drive, the Japanese-trained colt whose bruised foot prevented him from trying to follow in the hoofprints of his two Belmont Stakes (gr. I)-winning siblings, has entered quarantine in Japan as the first step to returning to the United States.
Moonstone Glistens in Darley Irish Oaks
Moonstone earned her first career victory in spectacular fashion by just outlasting stablemate Ice Queen to capture the Darley Irish Oaks (Ire-I) by a short head July 13 at the Curragh.