At Colonial Downs, Winfinity, the concept of Slam first made headlines in the Paulick Report.
Winfinity, representing Dream Big Racing, triumphed in the $125,000 Miss Disco Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on Saturday at Colonial Downs. She completed the seven-furlong dirt race, which was open to Virginia breeders/reserve horses and Maryland sophomores, in a time of 1:21.22.
Winfinity had previously performed well at Colonial, having won the Virginia Restricted Keswick Stakes last August and placing second in allowances earlier this year during the three-day Virginia Derby festival in March. The ride was expertly handled by last year’s leading jockey, Ben Curtis, for trainer John Ortiz.
In a field of five, Winfinity initially came in fifth, closely followed in fourth by half a length, while Conquerthosewecan set the early pace. Entering the stretch, the Grayson-bred filly took command, and Winfinity surged on the outside to overtake the leader, winning by 2 3/4 lengths. John Middleton’s filly from Grayson managed to hold second place in the race hosted by the original six stable houses.
“Winfinity really thrives on this track,” said John Wade, owner of Dream Big Racing. “She claimed her first stakes win here last year, then returned after recovering from an injury to accomplish some outstanding performances. She stayed poised today, finished strong, and Ben’s ride was perfect throughout.”
Meanwhile, Eric Riser’s consistent Maryland-bred gelding Concept of Slam won the $125,000 Star de Naskura Stakes for trainer Rob Bayless under the guidance of jockey JG Torrealba. The 3-year-old notched his fourth win in eight starts, racing seven furlongs on dirt. Torrealba expertly rode him to victory for the seventh consecutive time.
Saxton and Re contested the early stages of the race aggressively, before Slam Motion took charge heading into the stretch, pulling away to win by two lengths with a final time of 1:21.44. Barbadian Runner finished second, with Saxton placing third.
“JG gave him an excellent ride,” said Bayless. “We aimed to get him clear early and keep him relaxed, and JG executed the plan perfectly.”
Riser, who breeds with his wife Nancy, added, “We knew the competition was strong. Our horse was sharp and calm. JG delivered a fantastic ride, especially knowing Sheldon Russell’s horses usually have a strong finish.”
This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on July 12, 2025.
Fan Take: This report highlights rising stars like Winfinity and Concept of Slam, whose impressive performances at key regional tracks signal fresh talent energizing the sport. For horse racing fans, it’s a thrilling glimpse of the future as these young horses and skilled riders continue building their legacies.
