(Sunday, July 20) Sailor's Cap came into the $750,000 Virginia Derby (G2) at Colonial Downs on Saturday with a chance of winning the second leg of the Grand Slam of Grass and keeping alive a shot at a $5 million bonus.

However, while the Colonial Cup winner had to settle for third as the beaten favorite, fans that packed the New Kent Va. track were not disappointed as Gio Ponte and Court Vision hooked up in the stretch and battled gamely tooth and nail in the stretch.

Gio Ponte prevailed by the slimmest of margins to earn the victory and a paycheck of $450,000.

The Christophe Clement trainee was sent off as the second choice and returned $5.20 for a $2 wager.

Garrett Gomez had his mount in good position stalking the early pace from the outside, took the lead in upper stretch, actually brushed with Court Vision in deep stretch and prevailed in a very game effort.

"I thought I hung on. You know, it was a very rough run race from about the three-eighths. But, he took it and it was good seasoning for him and hopefully he will keep moving forward," Gomez said.  

The son of Tale of the Cat stopped the timer in 2:02.22 for the 1 ¼ miles.

Kent Desormeaux was aboard runner up Court Vision, who had to steady lightly at the five-sixteenths with the winner and battled on gamely to come up just short of picking up the win.

The $2 exacta returned $30.40.

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Sailor's Cap, who relished the soft ground to win the Colonial Cup over the turf course, caught firmer ground on Saturday and did not produce the same late kick, finishing 2 ¼ lengths behind the winner.

The Virginia Derby is the highlight of the Colonial Downs meeting. The ten races on the card were all contested over the expansive turf course.

The stakes action kicked off in the seventh race. Midwatch set the early pace while saving ground along the inside and held on gamely to win the $60,000 Kitten's Joy Stakes.

Ridden by Edgar Prado and trained by Rodney Jenkins, the winner raced on his wrong lead in the stretch and managed to hold off a late charge from Hunting Point.

The winner paid $7.60, with the $2 exacta paying $67.00.

Prado was also aboard the winner in the $200,000 Virginia Oaks (G3). I Lost My Choo was sent off as the favorite in the field of nine, coming with a four wide rally to take over the lead in the stretch and draw clear late to win by 1 ½ lengths.

The winner is trained by Phil Serpe and returned $6.00 for the win.

Second choice Namaste's Wish saved ground in the early going and finished gamely for the runner up spot. The $2 exacta paid $22.80.

Julia Tuttle, who opened up a lead of more than 15 lengths weakened in the stretch and held on for third.

Prado may have had a good chance of sweeping the stakes action on the card, but his mount in the Virginia Derby, El Sultry Song was a late scratch.