Labor Day Stakes Spot Plays for Colonial Downs

A total of five stakes events will be hosted on closing day at Colonial Downs on Monday. 

Race 6 – Rosie’s S. 

The first black-type tilt of the afternoon will see seven go postward in the 5 1/2-furlong dash on the lawn. Kelsey Danner’s #5 Bee Crazy was a convincing maiden winner on the local lawn last time and comes in fresh for a heady barn. The chestnut daughter of Bee Jersey will track the early tempo with intent under Samuel Marin before inching clear inside the final furlong. 

Race 8 – Old Dominion Oaks

A deep field of 11 sophomore fillies will run 1 1/8 miles on the lawn in a competitive event. Kenny McPeek’s #2 Soloist has good gate presence in a field lacking a lot of pace, and I feel that the Into Mischief filly could secure a fine trip in this affair at a fair number. The two-time stakes-placed sophomore is winless since her debut race as a juvenile, but the Kentucky-bred comes in with good current form, led by a close second in a tough allowance race at Saratoga most recently. She could earn her initial stakes win with Esquivel in the irons. 

Race 9 – Old Dominion Derby (G3)

The $500,000 grassy feature for sophomores attracted a massive field of 14 in what I feel is a super-competitive contest, and a pair of runners are of big interest to me. #11 The Big Con was thrown into the Saratoga Derby (G1) for his grassy and sophomore debut last time by Miguel Clement, and while the colt only checked in fifth, I saw the move as a huge sign of confidence from his connections. The Grade-3-winning son of Dark Angel will race with blinkers off for the first time on Monday, and he comes in with a rapid bullet move on the lawn, as well. Talented turf rider Jorge Ruiz will be up. 

I also loved the third-place run from #13 Siyouincanada in an allowance try while facing his elders last time for Joe Sharp. The talented gray colt proved capable of rating from off the place last time too, and he will be a major contender with even slight improvement beneath Paco Lopez.