Robert and Beverly Lewis' Senor Swinger, who won the Jefferson Cup Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Churchill Downs by a widening 5 ½ lengths, is the 4-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday's $500,000 Virginia Derby (gr. IIIT) at Colonial Downs. The race for 3-year-olds is at 1 1/4 miles on turf.
Breaking from post position three, Senor Swinger will be ridden by Pat Day for trainer Bob Baffert. The gray son of El Prado is undefeated in his two career starts on grass, including the May 2 Crown Royal American Turf Stakes (gr. IIIT) and has won four of seven has four wins from seven lifetime starts and earnings of $294,180.
Another multiple stakes winner in the 10-horse field is Happy Trails, a Peaks and Valleys colt who won two off the turf stakes in his last two starts -- the Hill Prince (gr. III) and the Jersey Derby (gr. III). Trained by Steve Klesaris, Happy Trails breaks from the eight post in his turf debut.
Mark Warner, the Governor of Virginia, is expected to attend the race and will present the trophy to the winner. Races begin at 1 p.m. that day, and the Virginia Derby should go off around 5:30 p.m.
The field for the Virginia Derby consists of:
Post--Horse, Weight, Jockey, Morning Line Odds1--Christmas Away,115, Mario G. Pino, 10-1
2--Sigint, 115, Nik G. Goodwin, 20-1
3--Senor Swinger, 122, Pat Day, 4-5
4--Hatton Cross, 115, Horacio Karamanos, 50-1
5--King's Drama, 115, Brice Blanc, 8-1
6--Kicken Kris, 115, Ramon A. Dominguez, 15-1
7--Silver Tree, 115, Edgar S. Prado, 6-1
8--Happy Trails, 117, Mario G. Pino, 5-1
9--Coalition, 115, Ryan Fogelsonger, 20-1
10--Rowans Park, 115, Mark Guidry, 12-1
