The 2023 meet at Colonial Downs started July 13 and the New Kent, Va. racetrack historically affords a few of the greatest turf racing within the nation. The motion heats up shortly as Colonial’s Saturday card options 4 turf stakes races, every with a handbag of $125,000, for Virginia-bred or Virginia-sired runners.

The Tyson Gilpin/Petty Stakes and the Punch Line Stakes each are 5 ½-furlong turf sprints that drew eight and 10 runners, respectively. The previous is for fillies and mares 3-years previous and older whereas the latter is open to all Virginia-bred or sired 3-year-olds and older. The cardboard additionally options the Brookmeade Stakes at 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares and the one-mile Edward P. Evans Stakes, which drew a aggressive area of 10 and is the main target right here.

1. E. P. Milton (30-1 morning-line odds): Ran within the aforementioned Punch Line Stakes final July and completed seventh at 69.50-1 odds, however E. P. Milton enters off a pointy win going seven-eighths of a mile June 6 at Mountaineer On line casino Racetrack & Resort that earned a career-top 88 Equibase Velocity Determine. Including 2022 main Colonial Downs jockey Jevian Toledo offers him some attraction as a longshot.

Jockey: Jevian Toledo; Coach: Susan Cooney

2. Southpaw Mike (30-1): As a lifelong baseball fan named Mike, I needed to love this 3-year-old gelding, however he’s 2-for-10 lifetime and has been crushed by 4 1/4 lengths or extra in final three races. Appears to be like outclassed towards this bunch.

Jockey: Antonio Gallardo; Coach: Susan Cooney

3. Spritzer (30-1): He’s been sprinting on the primary observe and enters off back-to-back third place finishes, however Spritzer has not completed within the high three in eight earlier tries on the grass. With rain within the forecast, he can be helped if this race got here off the turf.

Jockey: Jesus Castanon; Coach: Leanne Hester

4. Hay Chief (30-1): Rallied from effectively again to complete second and third, respectively, in his earlier two begins at 1 1/16 miles on the turf at Laurel Park. Robust to endorse as win candidate, nonetheless, with no wins in 5 profession begins, all on the maiden claiming stage. A quick tempo would enhance his possibilities to shut for a minor award, and he ran effectively when second on a sloppy observe in his second race if this stakes is washed off the turf.

Jockey: Yan Aviles; Coach: Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon

5. Reconvene (30-1): Has discovered hassle in three of his final 4 races and is winless in final 16 begins courting again to an allowance win in August 2020 at Monmouth Park. Reconvene has closed for third in a pair of stakes races in the course of the winless stretch and would actually profit from a quick early tempo and a few moisture within the turf (his greatest races have come on softer floor). Jockey-trainer tandem has clicked at 39% with a glowing return on funding.

Jockey: Mychel Sanchez; Coach: James L. Lawrence II

6. Ardour Play (4-1): He received this race in 2021 and light to fifth final yr within the Edward P. Evans (following a layoff of over a yr) after setting the tempo. The 7-year-old Maintain Me Again gelding is a win candidate at his greatest, however there’s purpose for concern that he would possibly want a race to reclaim his high kind as that is his first begin in eight months. Coach Mary Eppler wins at a 20% price off a layoff of 180 days or longer.

Jockey: Horacio Karamanos; Coach: Mary Eppler

7. Kendama (8-1): Completed third final yr on this race and ran third in one other turf stakes later within the 2022 Colonial meet at 1 1/16 miles. Took a pleasant step ahead in his second begin of 2023 when successful a 1 1/8-mile turf race June 11 at Laurel Park. Must be a pleasant worth and will outrun his odds.

Jockey: Jeiron Barbosa; Coach: Madison Meyers

8. Buddy Buddy (15-1): His inventory is on the rise after back-to-back wins at Hollywood On line casino at Charles City Races. The truth is, he’s completed within the high three in all 4 begins in 2023, however all of these begins got here in grime sprints and he’s unplaced in three tries on grass. He’s one other who may benefit vastly if rain washed this stakes off the turf onto the primary observe.

Jockey: Fredy Peltroche; Coach: Tim Collins

9. Gigante (9-5): The possible favourite. He’s a winner on turf and grime for a Corridor of Fame coach and scored two begins again in Might within the Caesars Handicap at this one-mile distance on the turf at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Gigante additionally has a victory on this turf course final yr as a 2-year-old when he romped by 6 ¾ lengths within the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Kitten’s Pleasure Stakes.

Jockey: Adam Beschizza; Coach: Steve Asmussen

10. Alex Joon (3-2): Enters off a third-place end in an allowance race going 1 1/8 miles at Keeneland on turf rated pretty much as good, so the 6-year-old Flatter gelding would possibly recognize if rain softens the bottom a bit. Completed second on this race final yr and has an opportunity to enhance upon that on this version. A win candidate.

Jockey: Forest Boyce; Coach: Lindsay Schultz

THE PICK: Gigante

LIVE LONGSHOTS: E. P. Milton/Reconvene

SUPERFECTA: 9-6-10-1