Darrell Williams's US Racing Preview

Colonial Downs gets its moment in the spotlight with the Virginia Derby and Oaks both up for decision and importantly Kentucky Derby and Oaks points up for grabs. Good luck with however you play, and on a busy night keep a device handy for those ATR Player races that won’t make the Stateside Live programme.

Colonial Downs 6 (6.55 pm)

Sandy Bottom Stakes – Fillies and Mares – Four Year Olds and Upwards – One Mile – Dirt

Jockey Sheldon Russell forfeited a holiday to maintain a winning association with PASSAGE EAST (1) when claiming the Barbara Fritchie – where she turned over the favourite Takethemoneyhoney -on Valentines Day at Laurel. Undoubtedly a personal best by Hugh McMahon’s filly, it was also remarkably an eighth victory in her last nine starts.

Two of those wins came at Colonial last season, including an Allowance score over course and distance – important to note as she has been confined to 6/7f contests since. Set to stalk the pace – she rated even when gaining that mile success – she is the one they have to beat.

Her Laugh (7) ships in from Florida for Riley Mott with John Velszquez in tow as after a string of bullet works at the Palm Meadows training track following her late running effort in the G2 7f Inside Information at Gulfstream last time. Mott had chanced his arm when sending her to California for the G1 La Brea where she finished well beaten but just her presence in those type of races augurs well for her claims with the step back up in trip set to suit.

Progressive Chasten (6) for Brad Cox and Juddmonte, also in from Florida, showed good late pace to claim an entry level allowance (1m 70yds) at Fair Grounds last time. That was all the more noteworthy as she hadn’t raced since last summer and is one to watch in the market.

Running Away (3) shipped from Keeneland for Wesley Ward claimed the G3 Monmouth Oaks last summer (1m 1/16th) engaging her usual early pace prominent slot and again looks booked to control the fractions. Absent since the autumn, she is another to keep across the market activity for any positive signs.

Selection: PASSAGE EAST (1)

Colonial Downs 7 (7.30 pm)

Sandy Bottom Stakes – Fillies and Mares – Four Year Olds and Upwards – One Mile – Dirt

EUNOMIA (6) conceded best to a Saffie Joseph stablemate when fading to third after setting the pace in the G3 Royal Delta (1 1/16th) at Gulfstream last time, a career best effort on her second start since leaving Vicky Oliver, who had trained her to an entry level Allowance success at Keeneland last autumn. Dropped in class she is equally effective both on the front or stalking the early pace.

If she is to be taken on in a race which is short of natural front-runners, it is Think Fast (3) who could take the early initiative. Hugh McMahon’s three times winner from five starts took her form to a new level when taking a 7f Laurel Optional Claimer last month. Back-to-back subsequent works over One Mile will ensure this progressive type is fully readied for the step back up in distance.

Queen Azteca (1) ran second in the Swedish Derby last summer before moving Stateside and was immediately highly tried in both the G1 Alabama and G2 Mother Goose in New York to get a gauge as to where she stands formwise. Not totally disgraced in the latter, she remains of interest if the market speaks, especially with the application of first-time blinkers.

Conch Fried Rice (4) did her confidence no harm when routing the opposition in a Fair Grounds Optional Claimer last month but faces far tougher here.

Selection: EUNOMIA (6)

Colonial Downs 8 (8.25pm)

Virginia Oaks – Fillies- Three Year Olds – 1 Mile and ½ furlong – Dirt 

The second running of this ’50 pointer’ for the Kentucky Oaks looks set to be dominated by Bob Baffert’s Bottle of Rouge (3) and the Brittany Russell handled DAZZLING DAME (1).

Preference is for the improving Maryland raider, marginally shorter of the pair in the Oaks market at 20/1, and bidding for a fifth win in six career outings. Bagging the inside draw with her early speed should allow Jevian Toledo a small advantage over potential pace threat Kadabra (4).

A double-digit winner of the Busanda at Aqueduct in January – the second Two Bits came back to win a similar NY Stake next time – was further evidence that she is still improving, while ten weeks off since that run is in line with her usual break between starts.

Bottle Of Rouge (3) is already a G1 winner having beaten Explora in the Del Mar Derby (7f) last autumn, before that rival finished ahead of her when second in the BC Juvenile Fillies where she disappointed.

What to make of a confidence boosting win when 2/5 in the Sunland Oaks last month is more difficult to gauge where she still exhibited signs of greenness, wandering around late on, before eventually justifying her market status. With odds-on quotes again a strong possibility she is overlooked for the win selection although a saver forecast back to beat Dazzling Dame should be considered.

Kadabra (3), one of two runners for Todd Pletcher, ran better than her 20/1 odds might have suggested but was still a well beaten third in a Tampa Stake (1m 40 yds). She has worked well since and should be monitored in the market.

Hit Parade (2) around 33/1 for the Kentucky Oaks failed to back up an earlier minor Stakes win (1m 70 yds) at the Fair Grounds last time but Brad Cox's charge is also likely to take her share of the betting market.

Selection: DAZZLING DAME (1) 

Colonial Downs 9 (9.10pm)

Virginia Derby – Three-year-olds – One Mile and  ½ furlong – Dirt

Quite what, if any, bearing this ‘qualifier’ will have on the Kentucky Derby is probably limited but it’s potentially deeper than the market might suggest.

Buetane (1) is understandably the betting choice with Bob Baffert’s charge, runner-up to the sidelined Ted Noffey in the G1 Hopeful at Saratoga last autumn, before being turned over at 1/2 in the G2 San Vicente on his three-year-old debut at Santa Anita.

As big as 66/1 for glory on the first Saturday in May  he was outkicked when a well held third over two turns in the G3 Southwest at Oaklawn. While he still sets the standard, less exposed improving types will ensure he needs to find his best form if he is to return to winning ways.

There are any number of progressive sorts here, but it is INCREDIBOLT (7) that appeals most. But to fancy him you have to forgive a stinker in the G3 Holy Bull (1m 1/16th) where he was beaten a whopping 25 lengths. Trainer Riley Mott is good with that however, suggesting he simply didn’t handle the track and will be suited to the tighter confines of Colonial.

The fact he has worked sharp figures four weeks on the bounce since that misdemeanour coupled with a previous G3 Street Sense success at Churchill makes it a chance worth taking especially at the expected odds.

Not that I’m not scared of a few of the others, especially High Camp (5), unexposed after a 7f maiden score at Gulfstream where he rallied strongly in the stretch under John Velasquez who maintains the partnership for the shrewd Will Walden. An eye on the market is a must.

Confessional (8) has the blinkers back on after enjoying little luck from his rails draw without them in the Sam Davis at Tampa. He had previously chased home Nearly for Brad Cox at Gulfstream. Bullet work at Payson Park in the last week is another positive indicator

Lockstocknpharoah (6) unbeaten in two starts on the artificial track at Turfway has bypassed next week’s Jeff Rubley back there to make his dirt debut, testament to the high regard his trainer Tommy Drury holds him in.

Selection: INCREDIBOLT (7)