Saturday June 14 picks

Race 1

#5 FLATLANDER drops way down in class and returns to what appears to be his best distance today. #9 HONORABLE SON should be involved early and may wakeup in his turf debut at a good price. #4 ONE SUNDAY makes his debut for a trainer who can win first out and catches a fairly weak field. #2 GLORIOUS SUNRISE is fast enough to win this but disappointed in lone turf try.

Suggested bet: Exacta box – 5 w/ 2,4,9

Race 2

#9 STRIKING VISION has a substantial speed figure edge over most of the field and is supported by top connections. #3 MONTFORT is rather inconsistent but his best races have come on this course and a bullet work Monday may hint at a return to his best. #7 SEBASTIAN’S BREW is a reasonable longshot stab in his turf debut.

Suggested bet: pick-3 –9 w/ 2,4,7 w/ 4,9

Race 3

#2 LA RAY won this exact same condition early in the 2007 Colonial meet and may be fitter than his rivals as the only horse in the race with a recent race. #4 GAME WITHIN A GAME should get the lead and may relish racing on turf for the first time in years. #7 SCRUBS takes a big drop in class and fits an old pattern of back-class horses waking up over Colonial’s forgiving turf course.

Suggested bet: Win - 2

Race 4

#9 CICISBEO has never run worse than second at Colonial – the streak stays alive today. #4 PEACE ROCK loves the course and distance, is just faster than most of his rivals and fits a very successful class drop off a layoff pattern for connections who seem invincible so far at Colonial.

Suggested bet: Pick-4 – 4,9 w/ 4,8,10 w/ 2 w/ 1,5

Race 5

#10 ANNAPOLITAN is bred to move up on turf for a trainer/jockey combination that has clicked at 33% at Colonial the last two years. #8 CHUCK’S PRIDE would destroy this field with a repeat of his last turf race but that was in October and she’s never come to close to that before or since. #4 ANOTHER HERO is bred to relish the turf.

Suggested bet: Exacta Box – 10 w/ 4,8

Race 6

#2 DANA CALIFORNIA enjoyed a productive 3yo campaign on turf and should be even better at 4. She comes off a long layoff but was a good second off a layoff here last summer and Karamanos sees fit to ride today. #5 LUNA SOMBRA has been facing tougher and is rock solid at the course and distance but has a disturbing tendency to settle for minor shares. #6 COSALINDA is right there with mild improvement in her turf debut.

Suggested bet: Win – 2

Race 7

#5 GRAZEZING has run two straight race good races against tougher that make her a very legitimate favorite here. #1 ILL TAKE MANHATTEN shook off a two-year layoff to win impressively last out and is bred to move up on turf. Both parts of the #2 entry have run well under these conditions before but need improvement on their recent form.

Suggested bet: Pick-3 – 1,5 w/ 4,5 w/ 4

Race 8

#5 RESEARCHER is easily the most talented horse in the race. He’s never tried turf before but all the main contenders have some holes so we’ll default to the raw talent. #4 FRISKY THUNDER may have broken through with an awesome allowance win last out but his best races have been routes.

Suggested bet: Daily Double – 4,5 w/ 4

Race 9

#4 FISHERMAN DUKE wins this on last year’s form. He’s been off since Oct. but has a string of good works for good layoff trainer. #6 NEON LIGHTS also takes a big class drop after showing speed against tougher.

Suggested bet: Win – 4