Just Might changes tactics, wins rescheduled Da Hoss at Colonial

The first time Just Might passed a horse in the homestretch to win a race came in his maiden victory back in February 2019, his fifth career start. The second time came Monday at Colonial Downs, when Just Might, in his 27th career start, ran down pacesetting Francatelli to win the $100,000 Da Hoss Stakes.

The Da Hoss had been carded for July 26 but was postponed when heavy storms forced the cancellation of two races on that Colonial card.

A week later and Just Might still was on his game. A 5-year-old gelding by Justin Philip out of Dynamite Babe, by Dynameaux, Just Might has found plenty of success racing on the lead, but Monday he took no issue with jockey Colby Hernandez rating him off Francatelli’s pace. Francatelli opened a clear lead while going a quarter mile in 21.55 and a half in 44.35, but Just Might ranged alongside at the three-sixteenths pole, pushed his lead to nearly a length, and won by a half-length as Francatelli battled back in deep stretch. Winning time for the 5 1/2 furlongs on a firm course was 1:01.77. Holiday Stone nosed out Boldor for third, Love You Much bringing up the rear after Mai Ty One On and Uncle Roamie were scratched.

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Michelle Lovell and Griffon Farms bred and own Just Might, and Lovell trains the gelding. Just Might is in the midst of his best season, the Da Hoss his third six-figure stakes win of 2021.

2-year-olds

Cavalier Cupid, once again, was better than Rambert in a Colonial Downs turf sprint race.

July 19, in a maiden grass sprint, Cavalier Cupid defeated Rambert by two lengths. The margin Monday was one length as Cavalier Cupid landed the $100,000 Keswick Stakes for Virginia-bred, Virginia-sired, or Virgina-registered 2-year-old fillies.

Rambert, as in the maiden race, led through the early and middle stages, but Cavalier Cupid and jockey Horacio Karamanos ran her down, though Rambert kept it closer Monday. Cavalier Cupid ($3.40) clocked 56.52 for five furlongs on firm going, 1.2 seconds faster than the 2-year-old gelding Local Motive ran winning the $100,000 Hickory Tree the following race. Sarah Nagle trains Cavalier Cupid, a filly by Quality Road out of El Vedado, by Big Brown, bred and owned by Reid Nagle’s Big Lick Farm.

The Hickory Tree lost its favorite when Evan Harlan was scratched Monday, and the post time public choice, Mr Jefferson, favored by a couple hundred dollars at 2-1 over Wow Whata Summer, performed dismally. Wow Whata Summer had contending position in upper stretch, but it was Local Motive who kicked home best, beating Roll Dem Bones by about three-quarters of a length, Wow Whata Summer a close third.

Local Motive ($8.20) had debuted in Maryland with a dirt win and had no trouble transferring his form to turf under J.D. Acosta. Trained by John Salzman Jr. for Bird Mobberly, Local Motive is by first-crop sire Divining Rod and out of Wild for Love, by Not For Love.