Colonial Creed gets the nod in Kathryn Crosby Stakes at Del Mar

A well-matched field of eight fillies and mares will go postward in the $75,000 Kathryn Crosby S. at Del Mar on Saturday. The 8-furlong grassy affair lacks a standout, and it offers a fine betting opportunity as part of a nice card at the picturesque Southern California venue.

Kathryn Crosby Wagers

• $15 Win and Place: #8 Colonial Creed ($30)
• $1 Superfecta: 8 with 4,5,6 with 4,5,6 with all ($30)

Crosby Analysis

The pace should be hot with a slew of contenders who do their best work when running from a forwardly placed position. #1 Ellie Arroway (8-1) will send from the fence, as will #4 She’s Our Charm (5-1), slight morning-line choice #6 Cordiality (7-2), and Grade 3 sprint heroine #7 Qahira (5-1). I expect the winner to rally from well off of the early tempo.

#8 Colonial Creed (4-1) has a lot of things in her favor and gets top billing in the affair. Conditioned by Richard Baltas, the daughter of Jimmy Creed has finished first or second in each of her three local assignments to date, and she has also placed in six-of-seven tries at the one-mile distance. The Grade 2-placed lass earned a maiden tally on the surface last campaign when leading throughout, but the versatile sort proved capable of winning from off the pace when rallying to defeat subsequent graded vixen Maxim Rate in an allowance tilt two prior.

The Kentucky-bred will benefit from receiving the outside post to give new pilot Mario Gutierrez options in the early stages. Colonial Creed was a useful third in the Swingtime S. off the layoff in her latest venture, and I expect her to be fitter on Saturday following a pair of solid morning moves.