The two large-purse three-year-old stakes races on Colonial’s schedule arrive in New Kent in unusual fashion: the lifeboat hosting of the Virginia Derby in Maryland during Colonial’s dormancy from 2013-2018 and the exodus of the Secretariat Stakes from Chicago with the closure of Arlington Park. Regardless, Colonial’s return to prominence justifies the reemergence of the Turf Ten, the quest for the best three-year-old turf horses with at least one start in North American at seven furlongs or further.

Introducing the Turf Ten with the trainer, jockey of last start, and owner listed.

2)      NAGIRROC

G. Motion; F. Prat; Madaket Stables LLC et. al.

Motion’s journeyman has worked hard in all three time zones, never off the board in six starts at four different racetracks, including a graded stakes win as a juvenile. He challenged late in the Transylvania when the course ran out on him. He has been improving with each effort since finishing third in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland – the best finish by an American-based horse in the race.

3)      WEBSLINGER

M. Casse, J. Castellano; D.J.Stable LLC.

Webslinger keeps performing well with each more challenging race. He was slow out of the gate, well back, and wide in the Transylvania but rallied to within two lengths of the winner. Wagerers like to back him, perhaps because of his consistently improving speed figures.

4)      FAR BRIDGE

C. Clement, J. Ortiz, Lawrence Sarf

It doesn’t get more Colonial than an English Channel colt out of a Kitten’s Joy mare – two of the great Virginia Derby winners of years past. This guy is currently undefeated in two starts at Gulfstream, both races over double-digit fields. The last win was delivered as a favorite versus 11 others. The closing kick is working well in routes.

5)      JOHANNES

T. Yakteen; U. Rispoli; Cuyathy, LLC.

Winless in three dirt tries, this Nyquist colt is undefeated on the green. Yakteen found something on the turf, with Johannes breaking his maiden by nine lengths, starting a three-race win streak at Santa Anita, the most recent being the Pasenda Stakes at a mile.

6)      MAJOR DUDE

T. Pletcher; I. Ortiz, Jr.; Spendthrift Farm, LLC

The Kitten’s Joy winner at Gulfstream took a solid run at the Kentucky Derby and with a runner-up performance in the Jeff Ruby Stakes on the synthetic. He needs three defections to draw into the Run for the Roses. Otherwise, he is expected to make his next start in the Grade 2 American Turf on Derby day and be a major presence.

7)      BEHIND ENEMY LINES

J. Sisterson; J. Ortiz; Rockingham Ranch etal

The only colt on the list that has won races on two continents, pretty impressive for only three starts. There’s plenty of potential with this English-bred who loves to impress in the mornings and seems to enjoy going longer.

8)      TALK OF THE NATION

C. McGaughey, III; S. Camacho; Joseph Allen LLC and CHC Inc.

Eager for the next start of this Belmont-based Quality Road colt, who defeated Turf 10 number one Mo Stash by 2 ½ lengths in the Columbia Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in March. The Columbia is one of two wins on the turf for Talk of the Nation, whose only defeat came on the main track.

9)      ESCAPE ARTIST

M.McCarthy; L. Dettori; Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners

This Good Magic ridgling seems to be on the rise after breaking his maiden in his third start after two second-place finishes at Santa Anita, all at a mile or longer. Several foes offered challenges in his front running score, and with Dettori aboard, he escaped them all.

10)   DESERT DUKE

C. Hartman; J. Ortiz; William Henderson

After finally figuring out the Fairgrounds, this son of Kitten’s Joy cured Keeneland in his next start for consecutive wins, both in frontrunning fashion, not surprising coming from a Hard Spun mare. His Keeneland win came by nearly six lengths, and he finished up smartly to draw away. Three of our Turf 10 were ridden last out by Jose Ortiz.