As John Velazquez guided headstrong colt Rolando toward the rail from the far outside post at Colonial Downs on Saturday, he was expecting a laborious trip while scrapping for the early lead. A speed duel never materialized, however, giving Velazquez little to do as Rolando cruised around the track to win the $100,000 Petramalo Mile Stakes in track-record time. “You ride a horse like this, you don’t have to do much,” Velazquez said. Coming off a four-month layoff for trainer Fausto Gutierrez, Rolando completed the mile on dirt in 1:33.55, breaking the previous track record of 1:33.70 set by 4-year-old colt Continuation in an allowance in August 2021. The returning 3-year-old had earned all three of his prior victories at six furlongs, but he never looked back going longer on Saturday. Velazquez rightfully suspected that he might have early company in the Petramalo Mile for 3-year-olds, as outside contender Roar of the Beast and 35-1 longshot Start Mo Up both tried to hustle to the front out of the gate. But by the time Rolando completed the opening quarter-mile in 22.71, he was already 1 1/2 lengths clear. Velazquez managed to keep him relaxed on the backstretch, and he was similarly unchallenged through a half-mile in 45.22. :: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now. “The whole plan with him was that I was trying to settle down no matter what,” Velazquez said. “I had a good post position from the outside, and we thought that the two speeds inside of us might go. I got a good position, so I’m just going to try to keep him as far as I can and as settled as I can.” By the time Rolando kicked out of the far turn, the aspiring front-runners behind him were already fading to the rear, and a host of new challengers weren’t coming close. Gutierrez’s colt entered the stretch with a five-length lead and didn’t cede much from there, winning by four at the wire. He paid $8.80 to win. Barbadian Runner, a gelding trained by Henry Walters, would have benefited from an early speed duel, but the late closer had to settle for his third straight runner-up finish in stakes company. He finished three-quarters of a length ahead of Lured Away, an 8-1 outsider trained by Kenny McPeek. After winning the $100,000 Hutcheson at Gulfstream Park in March, Rolando failed to get the lead and folded early in the $400,000 Lafayette at Keeneland in April. It certainly helped that he got everything his way at Colonial off the layoff on Saturday, but showing front-running ability at a mile opens up several possibilities for the improving 3-year-old going forward. Tyson Gilpin Stakes Dozens of MyRacehorse owners were clamoring outside the winner’s circle well before Reputation crossed the line to win the $100,000 Tyson Gilpin Stakes at Colonial Downs on Saturday. Javier Castellano had the 3-year-old filly wrapped up early in her stakes debut as she powered home to a 6 3/4-length victory. “That’s the first time I rode the horse, and watching replays, it seemed to me like today was her day,” Castellano said. “There’s a lot of speed in the race, she’s going to be stalking behind the speed a little bit off the pace. That’s a dream trip.” Coming off a $102,000 allowance victory at Ellis Park, trainer Gustavo Delgado decided to take his first trip to Colonial Downs when he entered Reputation in the Tyson Gilpin. He and Castellano will always be best remembered for their collaboration with 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage, but the pair now also share a victory on the Arlington Million undercard. “He’s a very picky guy,” Castellano said of Delgado. “He likes to be bringing the horse in good form. I guess he waited for the right time and right place to win the race, bringing the horse in the right way.” After a slow start, Reputation settled into fifth position behind front-running 8-5 favorite Impulse Buy through an opening quarter-mile in 21.88. Trainer Rodolphe Brisset took a misguided chance on turf with the speedy filly last time out, but she was right at home and tough to catch on the dirt Saturday. Tyler Gaffalione kept the early leader clear by 1 1/2 lengths through a half-mile in 44.37, but the blistering early fractions came at a cost. Impulse Buy tried to dig in on the far turn when Reputation came calling, but she was powerless as Castellano coaxed his surging filly forward. Reputation completed the seven-furlong sprint in 1:21.14 and paid $8 to win. Impulse Buy never had a chance against the runaway winner, but she held on for second, two lengths ahead of G W’s Girl, who finished third for trainer Greg Compton. The three shortest prices were clearly a step above in the field of eight 3-year-old fillies, though 10-1 outsider Zaghruta managed to stay in touch late for trainer Brad Cox. Reputation is co-owned by JR Ranch and MyRacehorse, and the massive crowd of owners had to go on the track in order to be photographed with the trophy. If the filly’s performance Saturday is any indication, it is unlikely to be the last time that her army of owners floods a winner’s circle. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.