Virginia Derby J

Saturday's $1 million Virginia Derby (G2) features a competitive field of

three-year-olds traveling 1 1/4 miles on the turf at Colonial Downs, but

classic-placed STEPPENWOLFER (Aptitude) is expected to be scratched after

spiking a fever. Multiple stakes winner KIP DEVILLE (Kipling) is the lone early

speed in this event, but we like PROUDINSKY (Ger) (Silvano [Ger]) for the win.

In his American debut, Proudinsky galloped along in last place, advanced

along the inside around the second turn, was blocked turning for home behind a

wall of horses, bumped a rival, then unleashed a fantastic turn of foot while weaving

through traffic before finishing second by a nose in the Arlington Classic S.

(G3) two weeks ago. In his previous start, the bay colt finished a close second

to Saddex (Sadler's Wells) going 1 1/4 miles over soft ground in a black-type

event on May 25 in his native land. Saddex came back to win an important prep

for the German Derby (Ger-G1) on July 9 at Bremen. Proudinsky figures to relish this

distance and rates our top choice beneath Victor Espinoza.

Palm Beach S. (G3) winner GO BETWEEN (Point Given) just missed to Stream Cat

(Black Minnaloushe) in the American Turf S. (G3) on Kentucky Oaks (G1) Day at

Churchill Downs, then closed nicely through the stretch to finish a clear third

in the $1 million Colonial Turf Cup S. on June 24. The Bill Mott-trained colt

projects a forwardly placed, inside stalking trip here, and should be hard to

keep off the board with a similar effort.

In his first start for trainer Richard Dutrow, Kip Deville opened up a huge

early lead and set incredibly fast fractions of :22 2/5, :45 2/5, 1:08 3/5 and

1:34 2/5 before finishing a game second in the Colonial Turf Cup. It was like

the gray colt was being chased by a ghost. Kip Deville gets a key rider change

to Rafael Bejarano, who is arguably one of the best riders in the country on a

speed horse. Our concern is that this could be a touch too far for the

Oklahoma-bred.

The Todd Pletcher-trained MANCHU PRINCE (Gone West) is our longshot special.

The chestnut broke his maiden first out going long on the grass, then finished a

troubled ninth in the Tropical Park Derby (G3). He won his next start, closing

from last to win a nine-furlong allowance at Gulfstream Park, then returned to

action with a fast-closing victory against older horses over this course on June

18. Manchu Prince has a potent closing kick and likely will be overlooked in the

wagering. SPIDER POWER (Ire) (Royal Applause [GB]) rallied along the inside

while fighting traffic on soft ground before finishing a better-than-appears

second in the Hill Prince S. (G3) on June 9 at Belmont Park. The Kiaran

McLaughlin trainee defeated allowance foes on good turf in his previous start and

could be improving at the right time. He is worth a second look at a price for

the exotics.

GENRE (GB) (Orpen) brings good form from Southern California into this event.

The Ben Cecil trainee settled near the back the field, advanced along the rail,

angled out, then drove to a half-length victory in the Cinema Breeders' Cup H.

(G3) on June 25 at Hollywood Park. However, he could go forth as an underlay at

5-1 on the morning line. ROMAN DYNASTY (Theatrical [Ire]), who is also trained

by Pletcher, finished a non-threatening fourth in the Colonial Turf Cup after

winning the off-the-turf Match the Hatch S. at Belmont Park. The chestnut, who

is bred to excel on the grass, figures to take a lot of action at the windows

and may be overbet.

Forerunner S. runner-up YATE'S BLACK CAT (Black Minnaloushe) defeated a decent

group of allowance sorts on the turf at Churchill Downs, then was far back early

before closing belatedly for eighth in the Colonial Turf Cup. The Dale Romans

trainee prefers to be closer to the early pace and could offer a much-improved

effort this time around. Consider at large odds for the bottom of the exotics.

SEASIDE RETREAT (King Cugat) was covered up before finding clear sailing turning

for home and drawing off to a 4 1/2-length score in the Charlie Barley S. on

June 25 at Woodbine. The bay colt is unbeaten in two starts on the turf, but

we're going to take a stand against him.

SIR CLASSIC CHRIS (Catienus) is a useful allowance sort but he is in way too

tough here. READILY (More Than Ready) is overmatched based on his eighth-place

finish for a tag three back.