NEW KENT — — With a dramatic three-wide sweep around the far turn, favorite Paddy O'Prado ran away with the $500,000 Colonial Turf Cup (gr. II) on Saturday at Colonial Downs.

Under jockey Kent Desormeaux, the El Prado colt saved ground patiently down the backstretch through a a half mile in 48.42 led by Two Notch Road. Nearing the five sixteenths pole, the Dale Romans-trained colt was asked to increase his pace and overtook the lead while drifting in slightly in midstretch.

"Going down the backside, I didn't know if I had horse or not because he was just cantering along under a dangling rein," said Desormeaux. "I picked a spot to run him and thought, with his turn of foot, I could beat the horse that was in front of me on the outside just as long as he shortened up and picked up the line. I kissed at him, popped him on the shoulder, and we had him in two strides." The margin of victory for the 1 3/16 mile turf race was three lengths, with a final time of 1:54.20.

Jerry Crawford, manager of Donegal Racing, looks forward to further success with the partnership's grey three year old. "El Prado's progeny always get better as they get older," said Crawford. "I expect his best racing to actually come as a four year old. But we're going to see him continue to do better through the course of this year and we're going to start mapping a calendar that ends with the Breeders' Cup and has a big intermediate date of the Secretariat and the next leg of that will be coming to the Virginia Derby."

Workin' For Hops, who stalked the pace but weakened late, finished second, with pacesetter Two Notch Road running third. Second favorite Doubles Partner, Dean's Kitten, Vamos A Ver, and Kindergarden Kid rounded out the field.

The favorite also won the $150,000 All Along Stakes (gr. III) earlier in the card, with Shared Account and Edgar Prado finishing a length ahead of rival Dynaslew.

Having stalked the pace on the rail around the first turn, Graham Motion-trained Shared Account eased out three wide to gain on pacesetter Tizaqueena before inching away to win in a time of 1:49.16. Dynaslew rallied between rivals to get up for place under Alan Garcia, with Tizaqueena and Casablanca Smile (CHI) finishing a nose behind in a dead heat for third Omega Cat, Blind Date, and Kitty Cat Express rounded out the field.