Mission of Joy tries to rebound in Virginia Oaks
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Mission of Joy, a multiple Grade 3 winner this year, gets slight class relief in Saturday’s $250,000 Virginia Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Colonial Downs.
The Oaks is one of six stakes on a program highlighted by the Grade 3, $500,000 Virginia Derby.
Trained by Graham Motion, Mission of Joy captured her first three turf starts, including the Florida Oaks on March 11 at Tampa Bay Downs. Following a troubled-trip third in the Grade 2 Edgewood on May 5 at Churchill Downs, Mission of Joy was a popular winner of the Regret there June 3.
Favored in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks at 1 1/4 miles on July 8, Mission of Joy finished seventh of nine. She has breezed five times since that race, including four six-furlong works at Fair Hill.
Alpha Bella finished a neck behind Mission of Joy when second in the Florida Oaks for trainer Todd Pletcher. Although off the board in her subsequent turf starts, she might not have cared for the good course in Keeneland’s Appalachian, then broke poorly in a first-level allowance at Belmont Park.
Alpha Bella returned to the winner’s circle after dominating an off-turf match race on Aug. 10 at Saratoga.
Chad Brown is represented by Root Cause and Idea Generation. Both were beaten favorites in their most recent starts, but they bring competitive Beyer Speed Figures to the fray.
Beautifulnavigator, beaten a head in a stakes on March 11 at Fair Grounds, was freshened after finishing last of nine in Keeneland’s Grade 2 Appalachian. Trainer Kenny McPeek said the filly had to work through a virus after that start. She returned with a fifth-place effort in Laurel Park’s Searching on Aug. 13.
Broadway Girls looks like the pacesetter after being hung wide from the far outside post in Del Mar’s Grade 2 San Clemente on July 22. She previously placed in two graded events at Santa Anita.
After Thirty Thou Kelvin won the Christiana Stakes on July 15 at Delaware Park, trainer John Terranova said, “She’s a class act. She’s young still. She’s well-seasoned. She’s got a great mind and a great physique.”
Da Hoss Stakes
Trainer Mark Casse believes Souper Quest is “maybe one of the fastest horses I’ve ever trained.” The Munnings colt steps into stakes company for the first time in the $150,000 Da Hoss for 3-year-olds and up at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf.
“We’re running a 3-year-old against older,” Casse said. “I’m trying to figure out how good he really is. I think he could be something special.”
Souper Quest has shown ability from the beginning.
“He won his first start, then he hurt himself and had to go home,” Casse said. “I thought his first race back at Saratoga [a second-place finish on July 27] was very good. [Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.] was really impressed.”
Casse was pleased with Souper Quest’s win over yielding going on Aug. 26 at Saratoga.
“There was a monsoon when they were going into the gate, so there was a little give in the ground,” he said.
Nobals could be the one to beat, if trainer Larry Rivelli opts to run here instead of Saturday’s Grade 2 Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs. Rivelli said Thursday morning that he is “50-50” on starting at Colonial.
A Grade 2 winner this year at Churchill, Nobals finished second over soft going in Saratoga’s Grade 3 Troy on Aug 5.
“The jock told me if the track was a little bit faster, you win,” Rivelli continued. “He likes to feel his feet rattle.”
Alogon won Monmouth Park’s Wolf Hill on July 22, then finished fifth as the favorite in the Parx Dash on Aug. 22. Trainer Ned Allard said the gelding didn’t care for the Parx turf course and that Alogon had a tough trip.
“I had some racing room, and then I had none,” Allard said.
Outlaw Kid won Woodbine’s restricted Vice Regent on Aug. 5, even though trainer George Weaver felt that the five-furlong distance was a bit short for him.
Momos, Alexis S, Maya Prince, Biz Biz Buzz, Yes and Yes, and High Limit Room complete the competitive field.
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In other stakes action:
◗ Weaver sends out speedy No Nay Mets in the $125,000 Rosie’s for 2-year-olds at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf. The colt has won his two starts in North America by a combined nine lengths, with the only hiccup occurring in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot.
◗ Trainer Michael Maker saddles three in the $150,000 Colonial Cup at 1 1/2 miles on turf. Starting Over, third in the 2021 Grade 2 San Marcos at 10 furlongs, stretches back out in distance. Grade 2 winner Temple returns from a 224-day layoff. Stakes winner Dynadrive runs off the Maker reclaim.
◗ Impressive maiden winners Manabi, Massif, and Because the Night head a full field of 13 juveniles in the $125,000 Kitten’s Joy at 1 1/16 miles.
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