Colonial: Betting With, and Against, Barbadian Runner in the Star De Naskra Stakes

A total of nine horses bred in Virginia or Maryland will run seven panels on the Colonial Downs dirt in Saturday’s $125,000 Star De Naskra S. The Henry Walters-trained #5 Barbadian Runner (5-2) has been tabbed as the morning-line choice in advance of his local debut. 

Star De Naskra S. Expert Picks

Barbadian Runner – With

• $1 trifecta 5 with 2,7,8 with all ($21)
• $.50-cent superfecta 5 with 2,7,8 with 2,7,8 with all ($18)

Barbadian Runner – Against

• $2 trifecta 2,8 with 2,5,7,8 with 2,5,7,8 ($24)
• $1 trifecta 2,8 with 5 with all ($14)

Star De Naskra S. Expert Analysis

The three-year-old gelding had a promising juvenile season and has improved as a sophomore, winning three of his six attempts, led by a runaway score in the Jersey Derby two back. He split a nice pair when runner-up in the Delaware Derby in his most recent endeavor, and the dark bay will be very tough with a similar type of showing in this spot. Forest Boyce will be in the silks. 

#2 Re Markably (6-1) ran into a tough field over a sloppy, sealed surface at Saratoga in his 2025 debut and will be better the second time off the bench for trainer Bill Mott. The bay son of Hoppertunity was a stakes third on the oval in a lone prior run at Colonial and proved his class with top-three results in each of his handful of black-type runs in 2024. He has good positional speed and will be in range at the top of the lane with Jorge Ruiz on board. 

#8 Slam Notion (8-1) was never a factor in the deep Chick Lang S. at Pimlico last time but had fine form leading up to that performance, and the Robert Bailes trainee could be a sleeper at a price. The gelded son of Great Notion is swift from the gate and comes in with a bullet four-furlong drill as of late, too. The Maryland-bred bay will have J. G. Torrealba in the irons. 

Gary Capuano’s #7 Sacred Thunder (6-1) was fourth in the recent Delaware Derby and will be dangerous with this group if he moves forward off of that showing. The stakes victor has held up well with black-type runners this campaign with three placings from five tries, and he will appreciate the cutback in distance, as well. Jevian Toledo will take the reins.