by Myra Lewyn

Flying Z Stable’s homebred I Lost My Choo rallied with a burst of acceleration approaching the quarter pole and steadily whittled down the commanding lead of pacesetter Julia Tuttle in the stretch before driving clear late and winning the $200,000 Virginia Oaks (G3) in a rousing finish on Saturday at Colonial Downs.

The New York-bred Western Expression filly earned her first graded stakes victory with a determined stretch run under Edgar Prado and cruised across the finish line 1½ lengths in front of Namaste’s Wish, who rallied gamely past the tiring Julia Tuttle for second.

I Lost My Choo, the 2-to-1 favorite in the nine-filly field, covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.12 on turf rated as firm.

Trained by Philip Serpe, I Lost My Choo earned her first graded stakes victory in the Virginia Oaks after notching her first stakes win in her previous start in the Elmont Stakes on June 28 at Belmont Park. She previously earned consecutive third-place finishes in the Appalachian Stakes (G3) on April 16 at Keeneland Race Course and the Sands Point Stakes (G2) on May 31 at Belmont.

Julia Tuttle, the fifth wagering choice at 11.60-to-1, provided some pre-race intrigue as she entered the Oaks with back-to-back victories at the New Kent, Virginia, track, by a combined 14½ lengths.

Prado positioned I Lost My Choo in sixth as the Giant’s Causeway filly broke sharp under Horacio Karamanos and got loose on the lead, opening a commanding eight-length advantage while setting a swift pace.

Julia Tuttle continued to build on her command and led by as many as 15 lengths through six furlongs as I Lost My Choo began her advance while racing in two path to the far turn. 

I Lost My Choo eased out four wide and launched a determined bid from fourth in early stretch, slicing into Julia Tuttle’s ten-length lead with ground-devouring strides and powering clear for the victory. Julia Tuttle faded to third.

I Lost My Choo, who is out of the Tom Rolfe mare Fairy Queen, has won five of eight career starts and earned $271,640.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times Today editor