Virgin Colada is a virgin no more, scoring her maiden win at Saratoga Race Course in her first start July 21 and fitting into the plan of her owner.
Racing for John Stewart's Resolute Racing, the 2-year-old More Than Ready filly lagged behind the 10-horse field through most of the 1 1/16-mile inner turf course race. Flavien Prat rode the rail, easing Virgin Colada first a path or two out heading into the far turn, then at the top of the stretch taking to the far outside to release the filly's visually impressive run from the eighth pole to win by a half-length.
Race caller Frank Mirahmadi made the most of the horse's connections, noting that Virgin Colada was "closing resolutely."
Trained by Chad Brown, Virgin Colada was bred in Kentucky by Fred W. Hertrich III and John D. Fielding and sold to Stewart for $100,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearling Sale. She had not met her reserve at Fasig-Tipton's The Saratoga Sale, bringing a final bid of $275,000. She's out of the unraced Carpe Diem mare Episcopal, who as a daughter of Song of Bernadette (by Bernardini) is a half sister to multiple grade 1 winner Catholic Boy (by More Than Ready).
More Than Ready, who sired 228 stakes winners, stood at WinStar Farm until he died in 2022 due to the infirmities of old age. He was 25.
"We liked the way she looked at the sale, and her pedigree," said Stewart. "She developed nicely, and she's got a really nice physical. You saw that quick turn of foot in the stretch. She passed six or seven horses, and she had to be real patient as well."
Virgin Colada's win came a day after Stewart's 3-year-old filly Pounce (Lookin at Lucky) won the Lake George Stakes (G3T) at Saratoga.
Stewart said that last September he owned one horse. Now, he owns 130, including 43 in training and 23 yearlings. And he's not done, as he's deep in preparation for the Fasig-Tipton sales in Saratoga in August.
"I've been through the catalog, and I saw five or six that are going back with us for sure," he said.
Stewart's plan is to create an international stable of elite runners. Having recently purchased the old Shadwell property in Kentucky and an adjacent parcel of land, he's considering building his own training center.
"I'm looking for dominance on the turf with fillies and mares," he said. "I want to compete on an international scale. We'll buy dirt horses for the classic races, but we'll really be concentrated on turf. My first thought when Pounce won yesterday was, 'Australia!' "
The Belmont Racing Festival was Stewart's first time in Saratoga, when Didia (Orpen) won the New York Stakes (G1), and he's run four horses so far at the summer meet, with two wins and a third.
"It's a great atmosphere here," said Stewart. "It's different from Kentucky horse racing, and I like that so much of it is outside, like a picnic or a carnival, and the fans are fantastic."
