McGaughey, Motion take aim at another Virginia Derby

Owner-breeder Stuart Janney and trainer Shug McGaughey won the Virginia Derby in 2011 with Air Support, and they’ll try for another Tuesday with Limited Liability.

There’s a more recent, more potent streak at stake in the Grade 3, $300,000 Virginia Derby: Trainer Graham Motion has won the last three renewals of this race, with Wootton Asset last year, English Bee in 2019, and Just Howard in 2017, when the race was run as the Commonwealth Derby at Laurel Park.

Tuesday, Motion sends out Royal Patronage, one of the better 2-year-olds in England last year. The colt made his first three starts of 2022 overseas, ran a close fifth for trainer Charlie Johnston in the Belmont Derby, and was a subtly solid sixth Aug. 6 in Saratoga Derby Invitational for Motion. Joel Rosario, aboard the last two times, takes the mount from post 1.

Limited Liability and Royal Patronage are among 11 in the Virginia Derby, which has the Chad Brown-trained Unanimous Consent as a tepid 3-1 favorite on a morning line that might not hold.

The Virginia Derby, race 10 with post time set for 6:14 p.m. Eastern, is the last of six stakes on a card that starts at 1:45. Baked firm for much of a meet that ends Wednesday, the expansive Colonial grass course could have some give to it Tuesday if forecast early-week rain falls.

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A course less than firm would be fine for Limited Liability, a gray son of Kitten’s Joy and the Blame mare Hold Harmless who won his maiden over “good” ground at Saratoga last summer and in April captured a first-level allowance over a Keeneland course also rated “good.”

A hold-up horse who can produce a powerful stretch run, best deployed on the outside, Limited Liability last saw action July 9 in the Belmont Derby, where he, like many others, was hurt by a slow tempo set by wire-to-wire winner Classic Causeway. Seventh there, Limited Liability was beaten a little less than four lengths, and a cut back in distance from 1 1/4 to 1 1/8 miles could enhance his late move.

Royal Patronage in May finished second in the Group 2 Dante Stakes, won impressively by Desert Crown, who would go on to capture the Derby at Epsom Downs. Royal Patronage was 16th in the Derby, subsequently coming to America for a fifth-place finish, 2 1/2 lengths in front of Limited Liability, in the Belmont Derby.

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Last out at Saratoga, Royal Patronage finished with interest and was beaten only 3 1/4 lengths by high-class winner Nations Pride going 1 3/16 miles. He races on Lasix for the first time Tuesday.

“I don’t think either of his runs here were bad efforts, though my one regret is I kind of wish I hadn’t run him last time and saved him for this race,” said Motion. “He’s had a lot of racing this year. The timing here is good, though; he’s had time to recover, and if anything he might appreciate cutting back in distance.”

The Brown factor could lead to Unanimous Consent being overbet. He beat a modest bunch in the Woodhaven Stakes two starts ago and was an even fourth, a length behind Limited Liability, when last seen racing June 4 in the Pennine Ridge.

Todd Pletcher won the Pennine Ridge with Emmanuel and has a live horse Tuesday in Capensis. Capensis could hardly have run any better winning his career debut July 2 at Belmont Park with a 91 Beyer, and he was caught extremely wide on the first turn when a close sixth racing older first-level allowance foes July 30 at Saratoga.