Race #5 Colonial Cup $150,000 1 1/2-Miles Turf – 3:05pm EST

A consistent performer the last two seasons, Webslinger will look to return to his winning ways when he headlines a field of six older males on the grass in Saturday’s $150,000 Colonial Cup.

The 4-year-old gelding has been competitive in numerous graded stakes, but was a disappointing seventh last out in the Grade 2 United Nations. Trained by Mark Casse, he has clearly found an easier spot here. Two starts back, the son of Constitution was a late-running winner of the Chorleywood Stakes at Churchill Downs. From a class perspective, he is clearly the one to beat on Saturday. 

Chief among his competition in the 1 1/2-mile test figures to be the Jonathan Thomas-trained Truly Quality. Since moving to longer races three starts back, the Quality Road gelding has turned in some excellent performances against allowance competition. In the top three in nine out of his ten career races, this will be his stakes debut. 

Another to watch here is the returning son of Animal Kingdom, McLovin.  He is my top pick. Third by a length in this race last year, the distance loving veteran has not run since just missing by a neck in the two-mile H. Allen Jerkens on the Gulfstream Park turf back in December. Fresh and dangerous, you know he loves the trip. I see this as Webslinger’s race to win, however. He is the top pick.

My Play

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Race #8 Da Hoss Stakes $150,000 5 1/2-Furlongs Turf – 4:55pm EST

Fresh off a return victory over the course in the Van Clief Stakes, Dream Shake is back in search of more success when he headlines a full field of 14 turf sprinters in Saturday’s $150,000 Da Hoss Stakes.

A classy individual since the beginning, the son of Twirling Candy is no stranger to stakes racing. A Grade 1 performer earlier in his career on the dirt, he has made a smooth transition to the turf. Last summer, he scored in Woodbine’s Grade 2 Connaught Cup, and in his first start this year, he was a winner over the same course and trip as he will see here. The favorite is the horse to beat.

Among his top competition in the 5 1/2-furlong affair is Nothing Better. Trained by Jorge Duarte, Jr., this son of Munnings has won several stakes races while sprinting on the turf, including two this season. A winner of stakes at Churchill Downs and Monmouth Park recently, he just missed last out, beaten a nose in the Select Stakes at Monmouth.

Finally, the VIrginia-bred Determined Kingdom cannot be ignored here. He is 6-of-10 over the Colonial turf, and 9-of-17 at this specialized distance. Coming in off a great recent form and offering great value at 8/1 on the morning line, I see him as a must use in this deep race. In fact, I am going with Determined Kingdom as my top pick to pull off the upset in the Da Hoss.

My Plays

• $10 Exacta Part Wheel – Determined Kingdom over Dream Shake, Nothing Better and Sweet Cherry Pie = $30

• $10 Exacta Part Wheel – Dream Shake, Nothing Better and Sweet Cherry Pie over Determined Kingdom = $30

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Race #9 Virginia Oaks $250,000 1 1/8-Miles Turf – 5:40pm EST

In an extremely wide-open race, the Irish-bred Kalispera has been pegged as a lukewarm 4/1 favorite among a field of 13 3-year-old fillies entered in Saturday’s $250,000 Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs.

Trained by Brian Lynch, the European import broke her maiden at Gulfstream Park in her first race in America in January. She hasn’t won since, but her form is rounding into shape. Most recently, she showed good energy late to come within a length from winning the Grade 3 Pucker Up at Ellis Park.

Deep Satin, for trainer Cherie DeVaux, should vie for favoritism in this one. The lightly raced daughter of American Pharoah has only faced maiden company to date, but has made an impression in her three starts. After rallying well to finish second in a pair of maiden races in Kentucky, she was much closer early last time at Saratoga, before impressively winning by three lengths.

While the favorites certainly merit respect, I am looking for more value in this wide-open race. Style Points, at 8/1 on the morning line, fits the bill. Already proven in stakes competition, the daughter of Oscar Performance was stuck behind a slow pace last out when third in the Christiana Stakes at Delaware Park. She will see more pace in here, and should come running. She is the top pick

My Play 

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Race #10 Virginia Derby (Grade 3) $500,000 1 1/8-miles turf – 6:15pm EST

A graded stakes winner on the dirt earlier this year, Deterministic will look to prove himself even better on the turf when he tops a field of 12 set for Saturday’s Grade 3 Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs.

Trained by Christophe Clement, the Liam’s Map colt switched to the grass two starts back and has displayed plenty of promise on his new surface with a second in the Grade 3 Manila and a third in the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby. He began his sophomore season with a good looking win in the Grade 3 Gotham on a sloppy track, before two off the board finishes on fast main tracks.

The second choice on the morning line is Grand Mo the First. Third in both the Tampa Bay Derby and Florida Derby this year, he made it into the Kentucky Derby field, but could do no better than 18th. After a brief freshening, the son of Uncle Mo won the listed Bear’s Den Stakes at Gulfstream Park last time out. This will be a tougher test on Saturday.

Another serious contender here is the Cherie DeVaux-trained Zverev. A sharp allowance winner at Churchill Downs two starts back, he did not have the best of trips last time in the Grade 2 Hall of Fame Stakes, but was still beaten only 3 1/4-lengths. A better trip here could see him come out on top. He will be the top pick to pull off the mild upset in the VIrginia Derby.

My Plays

• $10 Exacta Part Wheel – Zverev over Deterministic, Desvio and Fulmineo = $30

• $10 Exacta Part Wheel – Deterministic, Desvio and Fulmineo over Zverev = $30

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