All-Stakes Pick 3 play for Colonial Downs Sept. 7, 2026

In recent years, Saratoga and Del Mar have ended their summer meets hosting important two-year-old races like the Hopeful (G1) and Del Mar Futurity (G1). This year, the Labor Day stakes offerings at both tracks are more modest.

Colonial Downs, however, presents one of its better programs on Monday, going out on a high note for the season. There are six stakes, the last three connected in a $3 Pick 3 with a 15% takeout. Here’s how I’ll be playing it.

$3 Pick 3: 11,13,14 with 9 with 1,5 = $18

Race 9: Old Dominion Derby (G3), 4 p.m. ET

Despite drawing widest, hard to leave off morning line favorite #14 Supercharger (5-2) after he showed a strong late turn of foot to win the Secretariat (G2) going a sixteenth shorter last month. The apparent class of the field but the deep closer will have to work out a favorable trip in a more congested field here.

#13 Siyouincanada (15-1) seems one of the faster horses in the field despite being a veteran of only three starts. Remains with upside and barn’s ship-ins this meet have generally been live.

It was a big ask for Grade 3 scorer #11 The Big Con (8-1) to tackle the Saratoga Derby (G1) following a nine-month spell on the sidelines. Potentially better able to settle sans blinkers here, and too early to give up on his turf ability after that one-race sample.

Race 10: Colonial Cup, 4:30 p.m. ET

Draw a line through his United Nations (G2) effort and heavily favored Just a Touch looks tough, if you can trust his ability to repeat the Cape Henlopen S. from two back. At a short price, though, I’ll try and beat him with #9 Carcano (6-1), whose lone two wins on the grass have come over this course. And although he technically lacks stakes experience, his allowance try at Keeneland in April wasn’t bad, with the winning Chapman’s Peak subsequently putting a scare into Burnham Square at Churchill.

Race 11: Da Hoss S., 5 p.m. ET 

#1 Victory Achieved (10-1) in strong form for Casse, who wasn’t dissuaded from trying him on grass again in the Van Clief S. despite two modest showings on the surface at the beginning of his career. Just missed to the higher class My Boy Prince in that one and guessing he run another good one at a respectable price.

#5 Two Seven O (5-1) perhaps found the Ellis Park lawn a touch too soft last time, but stakes-winning three-year-old appears plenty fast on his best day and might make some noise facing older for the first time.