I’d like to thank the Daily Gallop gang for asking me to do today’s card and all the Friday cards at Colonial Downs. For those of you who don’t know me I’ve been playing the horses for almost 40 years now and lived an hour south of Saratoga for most of my life before moving to Virginia 15 years ago. This first week of the Colonial meet will be very challenging in my opinion so I’ll do my very best to help everyone get a couple of winners. I will also be at Colonial for this card and Saturday’s card if anyone want to get together and say hello and I’ll be tweeting some from the track. @stonerhole.
Best Bet Race 5 #1 Passion PlayPrice Play Race 9 #5 Measured
Race 1 1-9-4
#1 Bellerive Ships in from Charles Town for her second career start. Her dam has produced 2 turf winner out of 3 starters. #9 Chaos Kid will probably be favored but I don’t trust an 0-7 starter going 1st time turf.#4 Dynaform is bred for turf and has some solid works at Fairhill.
Pick 4 play 1,3,4,7/1,2,5/2,3,4,7/1,3=$48
Race 2 4-1-3
#4 Afar makes 2nd start in a row on turf after a solid 3rd last time out at Delaware Park. Added distance should only help her chances. #3 Zarbanda has been freshened for about 2 months and has shown she runs well off the bench before.#1 Igottawhiteface has been off since April and take a big class drop her which throws up a red flag to me, must respect though.
Race 3 2-5-1
#2 The Quantico Kid ran an OK race in his debut at Laurel. Move to the Colonial turf course this time and his dam had produce 7 winners including 4 on the turf.#5 Cadet Connelly ships in from Presque Isle after 2 OK starts. Speed figures increased in both starts and blinkers on may help.#1 Artic Rose drops back to the maiden ranks after trying a small stakes race at Evangeline Downs. Trainer is 4-12 with 1st time turf starters, must respect.
Race 4 4-7-2
#4 Princess Phone showed speed and ran a solid 3rd in her only turf start at Churchill Downs. Now drops in class and cuts back to a mile. Could wire this field.#7 Let’s Go Baby drops in class after running a solid 3rd only beaten a length and a half last out at Monmouth. Speed figures have also been increasing.#2 City Fun broke her maiden at Monmouth last time out and trainer Jonathan Thomas is 30% with his shippers.
Race 5 1-3-8
#1 Passion Play takes a big drop in class after running in an solid 5th in an open company MSW race at Churchill last out. This state bred race should suit him perfectly.#3 Tolaga Bay also drops in class from his last race at Monmouth back in June. Kingsley is almost 20% with his freshened horses.#8 Noble Descendent has shown increasing speed figures since stepping on the turf and now run in a protected spot which always catches my eye.
Late Pick 4 Play 1A(only),3,6,7,8/3,10/4,6,7/2,5,14=$45
Race 6 8-3-6
#8 Detail just missed by a length last time out and now drops in class to a much easier level. Speed figures have been increasing lately as well.#3 Wicked Fun only has 3 career wins in 42 starts but 2 of those have been on the turf at this distance and a much higher level.#6 Lapantalones Fance is an old pro at 10 years old who hasn’t been in great form lately but is 24-69 in the money win 9 wins at this distance, you never know.
Race 7 3-10-1(only)
#3 Pendrell Moon won his last in solid fashion at Delaware. Takes the next logical step up the ladder and his been in good form for quite a while now.#10 Atlantic Sun showed speed and stopped in his first start after a six week break. Cuts back in distance and should be sharper for this race.#1 Panama Papers won 2 back in wire to wire fashion. Completely throw out that last race in the slop and he should run much better here today.
Race 8 7-4-6
#7 Scholar Athlete has been facing much better in the past year. Obviously didn’t like the track at Presque Isle last time, so returning to the turf here should make the difference.#4 On Patrol tried to get on the turf in his last 2 starts but they were rained off at Churchill. Drop in class and return to turf has to help his chances.#6 Colour Guard has beaten tougher on the dirt recently at Churchill and now switches to the turf today. Only his one turf start but must be respected with current form.
Race 9 5-2-14
#5 Measured takes a big drop in class and tries the turf for the first time in his 43 career starts. His dam has produced 2 turf winners and this low level has to help regardless.#2 Creaky Cricket stretches out to a mile for the first time in a long time and takes a big class drop here for Klesaris who’s 20% with this move. Speed figures have increased recently.#14 Zen’s Land also take a big class drop for Ness who’s 27% with this move, must respect despite post.
Good Luck Everyone!!!!