Colonial Downs in New Kent, Va., opens its conventional summer season season Wednesday after a profitable first-time spring boutique meet again in March that offered the late D. Wayne Lukas with the second-to-last stakes win of a legendary profession when his colt American Promise received the Virginia Derby.
Now, Colonial begins its summer season meet with a four-day run this week that includes the turf racing this observe is thought for but in addition some high-quality grime races, together with Saturday’s Star de Naskra Stakes. Named after 1979’s champion sprinter bred in Maryland, the stakes is restricted to 3-year-olds bred in both Virginia or Maryland or by sires standing in these states. A aggressive subject of 9 sophomore runners is lined up, making for a superb betting race.
The Colonial important grime observe was speed-favoring throughout the temporary March meet which held no turf racing, and that grime pattern been the case particularly for sprints in current summer season meets as nicely. The Star de Naskra Stakes is held at seven furlongs (or seven-eighths of a mile), although. That’s a “tweener” distance and sometimes exposes sprinters that don’t need to go longer than three-fourths of a mile (or six furlongs). I are likely to favor horses reducing again in distance to seven furlongs when entered in a subject that comprises sufficient front-runners to make sure a strong early tempo, and I’ll plan my bets round simply such a horse within the Star de Naskra: #5 Barbadian Runner.
A Maryland-bred gelding by the unheralded sire Barbados, Barbadian Runner has been very constant by way of 14 profession begins, ending worse than fourth solely as soon as. His solely current begin worse than third got here three begins again on turf within the James W. Murphy Stakes, when he was fourth, and since then he’s romped by 7 ¼ lengths within the Jersey Derby held at one mile (initially scheduled for turf) after which ran a strong second behind Admiral Dennis within the 1 1/16-mile Delaware Derby. Admiral Dennis was briefly on the Kentucky Derby path again within the spring and ran fourth within the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, so Barbadian Runner’s runner-up end behind him at Delaware Park is a sign of high quality.
Now, the gelding will compete on this restricted stakes and likewise in the reduction of to seven furlongs, which signifies that jockey Forest Boyce might want to time his off-the-pace rally for a one-turn race. Boyce rode him within the Delaware Derby, nonetheless, and total is 2-for-6 on Barbadian Runner, the 2 wins coming in Laurel Park stakes held at seven furlongs and one mile.
Restricted to a $30 funds, I’ll wager $10 to win on Barbadian Runner hoping he goes off within the 3-1 vary, after which key him first in a $1 trifecta over 5 horses that may end in second and third, totaling $20. The 5 I’ll use beneath are #1 Saxton, who enters off of a superb dash win at Laurel Park and could possibly be the pacesetter; #2 Re Markably, a stalk-and-pounce sprinter who not too long ago moved to Corridor of Fame coach Invoice Mott’s barn; #3 Studlydoright, who has been racing in opposition to harder competitors not too long ago at longer distances and will do higher on this spot; #7 Sacred Thunder, who was fourth within the Delaware Derby; and #8 Slam Notion, who must also be a part of the tempo and has run very nicely in races when he averted bother.
Here is what to say on the betting window or to enter in your ADW platform:
Colonial Downs, Race 9, $10 to win on #5 ($10)
Colonial Downs, Race 9, $1 trifecta, key #5 over #1,#2,#3,#7,#8 over #1,#2,#3,#7,#8 ($20)
Good luck within the Star de Naskra and this summer season at Colonial!
