DIGGING INTO THE COLONIAL DOWNS STAKES

Boldor
Boldor got a bath from jockey Feargal Lynch after winning 2019 the Punch Line Stakes at Colonial Downs. Photo by The Racing Biz.

Monday’s Colonial Downs card includes three stakes — the Da Hoss, Andy Guest, and Buckland Stakes — which are carded as races four, seven, and eight. The Buckland is the richest of the three, a nine-furlong, $150,000 contest for three-year-olds and up.

Here’s the skinny on the races:

DA HOSS STAKES: 5 1/2 FURLONGS (TURF), 3YO AND UP

In this compact but talented field, the Steve Asmussen-trained Boldor (7-2) is the only runner with a win over the Colonial lawn. Trainer Steve Asmussen scratched this one out of a stake here on opening day for this spot; his better form could get it done. The morning line favorite, #5 Just Might (9-5), enters off a front-running stakes win at Churchill June 5 but figures to have company up front early from Francatelli (5-1), the speedy Cal Lynch trainee. If the pace heats up, Boldor is one who’ll benefit; another is Love You Much (12-1), trained by all-time Colonial leader Ferris Allen.

Nick HahnDerby Bill Watson
First#2 Boldor (7-2) #2 Boldor (7-2)
Second#5 Just Might (9-5)#4 Holiday Stone (9-2)
Third#6 Francatelli (5-1) #5 Just Might (9-5)

ANDY GUEST STAKES: 5 1/2 FURLONGS (TURF), $100,000, FILLIES AND MARES 3YO AND UP

Beantown Baby (2-1) has found a home sprinting on the turf, with five wins in seven tries, including back-to-back allowance victories. Now it’s time to see what sort of quality she has, and this lightly-accomplished group of runners is as promising a stakes spot as trainer Arnaud Delacour was likely to find. If she’s the horse she’s been hinting at being, she’ll be a stakes winner after today. A couple of these will scratch after racing Saturday at Pimlico, and of those left, Violenza (5-1), an Ian Wilkes trainee who’s been keeping decent company in allowance races at Keeneland and Churchill, and Ain’t No Elmers (4-1), a speedy dirt sprinter who’s only tried turf once for Bret Calhoun, figure most likely to challenge the favorite.

Nick HahnDerby Bill Watson
First#6 Violenza (5-1)#8 Ain’t No Elmers (4-1)
Second#9 Hydra (6-1)#7 Beantown Baby (2-1)
Third#12 Mucha Mezquina (10-1)#10 Mudslide Wicked (20-1)

BUCKLAND STAKES: 1 1/8 MILES (TURF), $150,000, 3YO AND UP

It’s gotta tell you something that trainer Michael Stidham scratched Pixelate (7-2) out of Saturday’s $200,000, Grade 3 BWI Turf Cup — in what turned out to be a four-horse field — to wait for this spot. Word is the barn thinks the projected pace works to his advantage, but whatever the rationale, he’s one you’ll need to respect. It’s a rugged field, though, including Grade 3 winners Eons (10-1) and Mr Dumas (4-1), the latter making his first start of the year, as well as G3-placed Megacity (9-2). Also of note at a price is Cannon’s Roar (15-1), whose runner-up effort (by a nose) in the Sussex Stakes at Delaware Park was well flattered when show horse Indian Lake came back to win the Bald Eagle Derby Saturday at Pimlico.

Nick HahnDerby Bill Watson
First#7 Pixelate (7-2) #6 Mr Dumas (4-1)
Second#6 Mr Dumas (4-1)#5 Megacity (9-2)
Third#2 Eons (10-1) #7 Pixelate (7-2)

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