Trophy Collector connects in turf debut

Trophy Collector, passing five horses in the final furlong, reached the wire just in time to secure her first career stakes victory in Sunday's $50,000 Oakley at Colonial Downs.

Ninth of 11 through the first three furlongs of the 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for Virginia-bred and Virginia-sired fillies and mares, the 3-year-old Trophy Collector ($7.80) was still only sixth, some three lengths behind, at the eighth pole. But she rallied between horses under Eric Camacho and prevailed by a head over 10-1 shot And a Cherry Tree, completing the distance over a course rated good in 1:06.30. Shesabopper was a neck behind And a Cherry Tree at 37-1, and a neck in front of the fourth-place finisher, Huge.

River Fancy, second with a furlong remaining, faded to 10th as the 9-5 favorite.

Trained by Rodney Jenkins, Trophy Collector was making her first start on grass after winning 2 of 5 starts on dirt. In her stakes debut last time out, she finished third of five in the Grade 3 Miss Preakness at Pimlico.