Colonial Downs’ Barn Notes: High Camp Set Up for Saturday’s Virginia Derby

Slated as Race 9, the 1 1/8-mile contest serves as the centerpiece of a 10-race Virginia Derby Day program that also includes the $250,000 Virginia Oaks, a Road to the Kentucky Oaks points race, the $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Sandy Bottom Stakes, and the $100,000 Royal New Kent Stakes.

High Camp broke his maiden impressively going seven furlongs on Feb. 7 at Gulfstream Park. Midway through the far turn, however, his chances appeared to be fading.

“They had to hold off on taking the winner’s circle photo so we could get back from the parking lot,” Walden joked. “We were already walking to our cars once he hit the three-eighths pole.”

After tracking the leaders, High Camp began advancing, only to be overtaken by two outside rivals midway through the far turn. After shifting to the center of the stretch, High Camp produced a thrilling late rally to beat Growth Equity, a Triple Crown nominee trained by Chad Brown, to the wire by a length.

“I thought the race was very professional,” Walden said. “What I’ve seen is that when you get him out in the clear and give him room, he seems to make a pretty strong run. And it’s not like they were walking home. They came home in about 12 and three or 12 and four, so they were running.”

For that effort High Camp earned an 85 Beyer Speed Figure, two points higher than his six-furlong debut, when he finished second to Waymark, a well-bred trainee of Brad Cox.

“One thing I’ve noticed in both of his first two starts is he kind of stalled out a little,” Walden said. “When Brad’s horse passed him in the first race, it looked like he might get distanced, but with really good riders — like Johnny (Velazquez) — when a horse gets passed like that in the lane and they still feel like they have something left, they’ll angle outside and try to make another run. That’s exactly what Johnny did.”

Walden has always described the Instagrand colt as a consistent worker.

“Leading up to his debut, he never outworked anybody, but he never got outworked either,” Walden said. “That’s probably his best quality — consistency. He shows up every week and does everything the right way.”

Based at Palm Meadows Training Center, High Camp has put in three workouts since his win.

“He’s coming into this race really well,” Walden said. “He’s had three really solid works that have gone off without a hitch. He’s fit. Obviously, the question mark is the distance. We’re happy (the Virginia Derby) is around one turn because that lets him meet that question halfway. From there, we’ll leave it in Johnny’s hands, hope for a good trip and see what happens.”

High Camp drew post 5 and was tabbed at 9-2 on the morning line. After riding him in his first two starts, John Velazquez will be back aboard.