by Kyle Fitzgerald, for Colonial Downs

New Kent, VA — William Camp, Jr.’s Racing Naked returned to Colonial Downs with a stylish frontstepping score in 1:51.2 on Sunday.

Racing Naked won the $36,900 Virginia-bred three-year-old colt and gelding pace here last fall to cap a strong campaign that included 11 wins from 26 starts.

On Sunday, driver Jonathan Roberts sent Racing Naked right to the lead. Racing Naked opened up a one and a half length lead through an opening quarter in :26.2. Roberts and Racing Naked maintained that down the backstretch, crossing the half in :55.

Racing Naked kept speeding along on the lead around the turn and emerged at the top of the stretch with a two length lead over Road To Fame. Despite the strong early pace, Racing Naked had plenty left in the stretch, pacing his final quarter in :27.4 to prevail by one and three-quarter lengths over a late closing JJ’s Artiscape.

Racing Naked is trained by John Sumner. The four-year-old Misfit horse has now won five of 27 starts in 2004. The 1:51.2 clocking tied his lifetime mark set here in 2003.

Colonial Downs will wrap up the first week of its 2004 meet on Monday with a 10 race card commencing at 7:00 p.m. The season will continue through November 22 on a Friday through Monday schedule.