Didia holds off Alms to win Old Nelson Stakes

It was like an international festival, the two turf stakes races Tuesday at Colonial Downs.

The Argentine filly Didia, trained by Argentine-born Ignacio Correas, won her fifth race in a row – three in Argentina, two since being exported to America – getting a sweet trip from Frenchman Vincent Cheminaud in the $149,500 Old Nelson Stakes.

A race later, King Vega, an English import like his trainer, Graham Motion, went wire to wire in the $145,500 Buckland Stakes under Puerto Rican native Angel Suarez.

Didia beat the graded stakes-winning mare Alms by a neck while giving her two pounds, 124 to 122. Didia is listed as a 4-year-old but was bred on Southern Hemisphere time and doesn’t actually turn 4 until September. She was moved to North America for her 2022 campaign after a pair of Group 1 romps in Argentina last November and December, and Correas, who has trained many South American stakes horses, was excited about Didia as far back as this spring.

Didia, by Orpen out of Delambre, by Rainbow Corner, only made her North American debut July 18 at Colonial, winning an allowance race, and as the narrow 3-1 favorite Tuesday she was a willing partner with Cheminaud through a demanding trip. Didia had a decent midpack journey much of this 1 1/16-mile contest but was shuffled back around the far turn and had to weave between horses and duck to the inside for her final move. She did what Cheminaud asked without hesitation and held off outside-closing Alms while racing at a distance short of her best. Didia, owned by Merriebelle Stable, stopped the timer in 1:41.83 over a firm turf course while winning for the sixth time in nine starts. In a Hurry finished third, 1 3/4 lengths behind Alms.

:: DRF Bets members get FREE DRF Past Performances - Formulator or Classic. Join now!

Four-year-old King Vega came into the Buckland with only two wins from 12 races, the first eight of them in England, where he did show promise in 2020 and 2021. Exported and turned over to Motion for his 2022 campaign, King Vega was coming off a second-place finish in a second-level allowance race but responded favorably to a tactical change Tuesday. Sent to the lead for the first time in his American career, King Vega got away with an easy 48.82-second opening half-mile and had plenty left to hold clear closing Militarist and win the Buckland by 1 1/2 lengths. Bet down, King Vega paid $9.40 to win and was timed in 1:48.05 for 1 1/8 miles over the firm going. By Lope de Vega out of Moi Meme, by Teofilo, King Vega is owned by HPG Thoroughbreds.

Jalen Journey wins Chesapeake by DQ

Necker Island ran six furlongs on dirt in a track-record 1:07.72 and didn’t even win the $146,500 Chesapeake Stakes.

The Chesapeake stretch run was messy, to say the least, with eventual third-place finisher Factor It In taking the worst of things as he was squeezed and badly pinched back between Necker Island, who was racing on the outside, and second-place finisher Jalen Journey, racing inside Factor It In. Jalen Journey drifted out and Necker Island, ridden by Mitchell Murrill, floated in, but stewards in the end took action only against Necker Island, disqualifying him from first to third while awarding the victory to Jalen Journey, who might have committed a foul himself and was by no means the best horse.

Jalen Journey, racing for the first time since being claimed by owner-trainer Norman Cash for $50,000, paid $35.20 to win. The 7-year-old ridgling is by With Distinction out of Petunia Face, by Congrats, and won for the 10th time in 22 starts.

There was no doubt who was best in the $145,500 Seeking the Pearl Stakes. Fille d’Esprit had to check before the quarter pole when pacesetting Edie Meeny Miny Mo – eventually pulled up and vanned off – backed up quickly in front of her. But jockey Xavier Perez kept his mount in the game, stuck to the inside fence, and rallied up the rail to win the seven-furlong Seeking the Pearl by 1 1/2 lengths.

Kalypso finished second and Amusing Antics was third as favored Carribean Caper came home fourth, losing for the first time in her six-start career.

Fille d’Esprit, discounted in the wagering after a no-show last start while racing over a sloppy track at Laurel Park, paid a generous $15.80 winning for the 10th time in 19 starts. The 6-year-old Maryland-bred, by Great Notion out of Sweet Valor, by No Armistice, is trained by Jerry Robb for C J I Phoenix Group and No Guts No Glory Farm. She was timed in 1:22.43 for seven furlongs on a fast dirt track.