7/10: Colonial Downs Steeplechase Races 1-2-3 10:45 post time

[Flatterer]

Colonial Downs has 3 races at 2 ¼ miles around 4 turns over 9 jumps with an early post time at 10:45. Twinspires will host online wagering with the usual bet offerings including a Pick 3 and Daily Doubles on jump races.

Race 1 a Maiden Special Weight with a big purse of $60K brings a full field of 10. There are several fast flat track runners and some jumping for the first time.

Only 4 runners have hit the board in Maiden Special Weight races, #3 British Royalty, #4 Nathan Detroit, #5 Arturo Toscanini, #10 In Effect. The rest of the field is stepping up in class.

#5 Arturo Toscanini ran very well at Nashville, pressing the slow pace over 12 fences and got tired at the end. With a flat track and only 9 fences, trainer Keri Brion will have #5 Toscanini ready to roll and is the top pick.

#4 Nathan Detroit ran a good 3rd at Colonial over jumps 2 years ago and had a tune up over jumps at Potomac point to point on May 18. Trainer Neil Morris tried to run him on turf at Mountaineer but the race was taken off turf so #4 Nathan Detroit scratched.

#3 British Royalty had a nice finish up the hill at Radnor 5/17 but had no late speed at Laurel 6/15. The graded stakes placed English Channel runner will love the distance and should hit the board.

#10 In Effect hit the board twice in MSW races but is 1 for 25 lifetime and does not like to win but will hit the board. He pulled up in a hurdle race at Potomac point to point 5/18.

#6 Starlifter and #9 The Jackal for trainer Jack Fisher and owner Bruton Street are trying sanctioned jumps for the 1st time and will be overbet. #6 Starlifter had 2 point to point tries, pulling up in his first attempt over hurdles and beating 5 rivals at Middleburg point to point 4/27 in a slow time. The 2nd place runner Solomon’s Choice who lost by a length in that point to point race ran last beaten 37 lengths at a Middleburg maiden claiming sanctioned race the week before on 4/19. #9 The Jackal ran last against 6 runners on April 20th in a hurdle point to point.

#8 Maryland Moon can run 4th in the superfecta for jockey Bernie Dalton.

Selection
A) 5 - 4

C) 3 - 10

The 2nd race is a Maiden Special Weight for fillies and mares.

In restricted filly and mare races, I prefer runners that have run well against the boys and are now facing their own sex.

#11 Mosey for Kate and Bernie Dalton ran against the boys in the last 2 races and ran 3rd at Nashville 5/10 in a fast race. #11 Mosey will be dangerous if she draws in.

#8 Diamonds for Her ran well at Foxfield 4/26 in her maiden debut in a surprisingly good MSW race. The 3rd place runner Dynamite Dan won a MSW at Nashville 5/10 while the 2nd place runner Point by Me ran 2nd in the same race at Nashville. #8 Diamonds for Her did run well on the front end finishing 2nd in a restricted stakes race at Nashville 5/10. The flat track will help carry her speed while jumping 9 fences instead of 12 at Nashville.

#14 Love Foreverafter has the best flat track speed, ran huge at Radnor 5/17 and had a nice flat track run at Presque Isle 6/23. Must be considered if she draws in.

There are several other runners that can hit the board, #2 Avakate, #4 Bold Look, #5 Articuno, #6 Beautiful Gorgeous. Makes it interesting for the underneath exotics.

Selection

A) 11 - 8 - 14


Race 3 is a rating handicap with half the field assigned 158 pound top weight. #10 Rucker Road gets a 5 pound weight allowance with apprentice jockey Mel Boucher.

Strange race when the field is rated within 4 pounds of each other. I’ve never seen a race like this since the rating handicap system was implemented by the National Steeplechase Association about 6 years ago.

#5 Beat Le Bon has the highest flat track Beyer number (82) and is coming out of the toughest condition in the last race, non winners of a steeplechase stakes since 2024. #5 Beat Le Bon dueled with 2nd place runner Two Past Eight and set a fast pace in the fastest hurdle race of the day at Willowdale and gave it up running uphill the last ¼ mile. At Willowdale there are 12 natural brush fences, not the regular national fences with plastic brush. Flat track speed and only 9 fences will benefit #5 Beat Le Bon.

If there is a pace meltdown, the best closer is #7 L’Avvocato. #7 L’Avvocato closed to win at Camden in a fast time, a flat track with only 10 jumps last November.

Selection

A) 5 - 7

Good luck at the races!

[TheSpyder]

Thanks I did not know! Good luck!

Originally Posted by Flatterer

Colonial Downs has 3 races at 2 ¼ miles around 4 turns over 9 jumps with an early post time at 10:45. Twinspires will host online wagering with the usual bet offerings including a Pick 3 and Daily Doubles on jump races.

Race 1 a Maiden Special Weight with a big purse of $60K brings a full field of 10. There are several fast flat track runners and some jumping for the first time.

Only 4 runners have hit the board in Maiden Special Weight races, #3 British Royalty, #4 Nathan Detroit, #5 Arturo Toscanini, #10 In Effect. The rest of the field is stepping up in class.

#5 Arturo Toscanini ran very well at Nashville, pressing the slow pace over 12 fences and got tired at the end. With a flat track and only 9 fences, trainer Keri Brion will have #5 Toscanini ready to roll and is the top pick.

#4 Nathan Detroit ran a good 3rd at Colonial over jumps 2 years ago and had a tune up over jumps at Potomac point to point on May 18. Trainer Neil Morris tried to run him on turf at Mountaineer but the race was taken off turf so #4 Nathan Detroit scratched.

#3 British Royalty had a nice finish up the hill at Radnor 5/17 but had no late speed at Laurel 6/15. The graded stakes placed English Channel runner will love the distance and should hit the board.

#10 In Effect hit the board twice in MSW races but is 1 for 25 lifetime and does not like to win but will hit the board. He pulled up in a hurdle race at Potomac point to point 5/18.

#6 Starlifter and #9 The Jackal for trainer Jack Fisher and owner Bruton Street are trying sanctioned jumps for the 1st time and will be overbet. #6 Starlifter had 2 point to point tries, pulling up in his first attempt over hurdles and beating 5 rivals at Middleburg point to point 4/27 in a slow time. The 2nd place runner Solomon’s Choice who lost by a length in that point to point race ran last beaten 37 lengths at a Middleburg maiden claiming sanctioned race the week before on 4/19. #9 The Jackal ran last against 6 runners on April 20th in a hurdle point to point.

#8 Maryland Moon can run 4th in the superfecta for jockey Bernie Dalton.

Selection
A) 5 - 4

C) 3 - 10

The 2nd race is a Maiden Special Weight for fillies and mares.

In restricted filly and mare races, I prefer runners that have run well against the boys and are now facing their own sex.

#11 Mosey for Kate and Bernie Dalton ran against the boys in the last 2 races and ran 3rd at Nashville 5/10 in a fast race. #11 Mosey will be dangerous if she draws in.

#8 Diamonds for Her ran well at Foxfield 4/26 in her maiden debut in a surprisingly good MSW race. The 3rd place runner Dynamite Dan won a MSW at Nashville 5/10 while the 2nd place runner Point by Me ran 2nd in the same race at Nashville. #8 Diamonds for Her did run well on the front end finishing 2nd in a restricted stakes race at Nashville 5/10. The flat track will help carry her speed while jumping 9 fences instead of 12 at Nashville.

#14 Love Foreverafter has the best flat track speed, ran huge at Radnor 5/17 and had a nice flat track run at Presque Isle 6/23. Must be considered if she draws in.

There are several other runners that can hit the board, #2 Avakate, #4 Bold Look, #5 Articuno, #6 Beautiful Gorgeous. Makes it interesting for the underneath exotics.

Selection

A) 11 - 8 - 14


Race 3 is a rating handicap with half the field assigned 158 pound top weight. #10 Rucker Road gets a 5 pound weight allowance with apprentice jockey Mel Boucher.

Strange race when the field is rated within 4 pounds of each other. I’ve never seen a race like this since the rating handicap system was implemented by the National Steeplechase Association about 6 years ago.

#5 Beat Le Bon has the highest flat track Beyer number (82) and is coming out of the toughest condition in the last race, non winners of a steeplechase stakes since 2024. #5 Beat Le Bon dueled with 2nd place runner Two Past Eight and set a fast pace in the fastest hurdle race of the day at Willowdale and gave it up running uphill the last ¼ mile. At Willowdale there are 12 natural brush fences, not the regular national fences with plastic brush. Flat track speed and only 9 fences will benefit #5 Beat Le Bon.

If there is a pace meltdown, the best closer is #7 L’Avvocato. #7 L’Avvocato closed to win at Camden in a fast time, a flat track with only 10 jumps last November.

Selection

A) 5 - 7

Good luck at the races!