Virginia Derby attracts Steppenwolfer

Kentucky Derby (G1) third placer STEPPENWOLFER (Aptitude) highlights a field

of 12 entered in Saturday's $1 million Virginia Derby (G2) at Colonial Downs.

Fourth in the Belmont S. (G1) most recently, the Dan Peitz-trained sophomore

will try the turf for the first time since finishing fifth in his career bow.

The gray colt placed in four stakes on the main track this spring, including the

Arkansas Derby (G2) and Rebel S. (G3), and is still seeking his first stakes

victory. Regular rider Robby Albarado will retain the mount.

KIP DEVILLE (Kipling) nearly stole the $1 million Colonial Turf Cup S. three weeks

earlier, opening a double-digit advantage before yielding late and finishing

second to Showing Up (Strategic Mission), who will bypass the Virginia

Derby. The Richard Dutrow-trained Kip Deville was dismissed at 28-1 last time,

but he'll be one of the top betting choices on Saturday. Grade 3 hero GO BETWEEN

(Point Given), who finished third in the Colonial Turf Cup, hails from the Bill

Mott shedrow and is another top contender in the Virginia Derby line-up.

Multiple stakes winner SEASIDE RETREAT (King Cugat) also merits serious respect.

The Canadian invader exits a smart 4 1/2-length tally in the Charlie Barley S.

at Woodbine.

The complete field for the 1 1/4-mile turf test, from the rail with jockeys,

is Seaside Retreat, Patrick Husbands; Go Between, Garrett Gomez; SPIDER POWER

(Royal Applause [GB]), Jose Santos; Steppenwolfer; MANCHU PRINCE (Gone West),

Cornelio Velasquez; Kip Deville, Rafael Bejarano; PROUDINSKY (Ger) (Silvano

[Ger]), Victor Espinoza; READILY (More Than Ready), Charles Forrest; SIR CLASSIC

CHRIS (Catienus), no rider; GENRE (GB) (Orpen), Martin Pedroza; ROMAN DYNASTY

(Theatrical [Ire]), Mike Luzzi; and YATE'S BLACK CAT (Black Minnaloushe),

Richard Migliore.

Seaside Retreat, Go Between and Genre will tote 118 pounds, the rest 116.

One race earlier at Colonial, a field of 12 three-year-old fillies will

square off in the

$200,000 Virginia Oaks. AUNT HENNY (Hennessy), who is unraced since taking

the Herecomesthebride S. (G3) in mid-March, will return to the races in the

nine-furlong turf affair for conditioner Michael Matz. The chestnut lass has

compiled a 2-1-0 mark since switching to the grass three starts ago. Other

contenders in the field include HOSTESS (Chester House), who finished third

behind Wait a While (Maria's Mon) when making her stakes debut in the Sands

Point S. (G3) last out; stakes heroines ROYAL DESCENT (Bishop Northcraft) and

ART SHOW (Out of Place); and DANCING BAND (Dixieland Band), who will make her

stakes bow for Todd Pletcher off a turf allowance win at Churchill Downs.