Go for Green on Green at Colonial Downs

Colonial Downs in New Kent, Va. has one of the most expansive turf courses in the country, and Saturday’s $500,000 Colonial Turf Cup (G2) is the feature race on an outstanding day of racing that includes three stakes races on turf.

The Colonial Turf Cup is a prep race for the marquee event of the meet, the $600,000 Virginia Derby (G2) on July 17.

The Colonial Turf Cup and Virginia Derby have always attracted some of the top turf runners in training. Among the past winners of the Virginia Derby are Gio Ponti, English Channel, and Kitten’s Joy.

The three turf stakes on the card are part of a Pick 3 that starts with the eighth race, the $50,000 Buckland Stakes.

Here is a quick look at the trio of stakes on the green

The $50,000 Buckland

The Buckland is one of the toughest races on the entire card today, a field of 14 fillies and mares going 5 ½ furlongs on the turf course.

Trainer Michael Pino sends out the likely favorite in Libor Lady, who will be making her first start since finishing in the runner up spot in the Giant’s Causeway at Keeneland on April 17.

The mare has landed in the exacta in 11 of 12 starts at today’s distance and beat allowance runners over the Colonial turf back in ’08.

Pino has been red hot at the meeting, winning with eight of his first 17 horses.

Suzzona figures to get some attention at the horse betting windows despite getting upset as the chalk in her prep race by Charlie Papa on June 5.

The Ben Feliciano Jr. trainee is an eight time winner at the distance, and two back was beaten just a head in The Very One Stakes at Pimlico.

The winner of The Very One was Starfish Bay, who returned to win the Candy Éclair at Monmouth Park in her next start on June 13.

New York based trainer Linda Rice is the queen of the turf sprint, and ships in Lady Rizzi, who was fourth in The Very One in her most recent outing.

The $150,000 All Along (G3)

The All Along drew a familiar group of runners, as the top three finishers from last year’s Virginia Oaks (G3) have returned for the 13th running of this Grade 3 race, which will be contested at nine furlongs over the turf course.

Tizaqueena will be making her first start over the Colonial turf, and likely will be sent off as the betting choice.

The Michael Stidham trainee won the Arlington Matron (G3) in her last outing at Arlington Park on May 29, her fourth career win on grass in 10 starts.

Graham Motion will send out Shared Account, who was a close up fourth in the Gallorette Handicap (G3) on Preakness Day at Pimlico, beaten just ¾ of a length for the top spot.

The filly was beaten just a head by Blind Date in last year’s Virginia Oaks.

Blind Date had a productive three-year-old campaign, following up her win in the Virginia Oaks by taking the Pearl Necklace and then missing winning the Maryland Million Oaks by a head.

The Ham Smith runner is 0 for 2 so far this year, but could be sitting on a good effort here in her third start off the layoff, and her 8/1 morning betting line odds look generous.

The $500,000 Colonial Turf Cup (G2)

A field of seven three year olds including a pair that competed in the Kentucky Derby (G1) will go 1 3/16 miles on the turf in the Colonial Turf Cup.

Paddy O’Prado was a fast closing third in the Kentucky Derby, but was a disappointing sixth in the Preakness, and returns to grass.

The Dale Romans trainee won the Palm Beach (G3) at Gulfstream Park on March 6 when last out on the green stuff.

The colt will vie for favoritism with Doubles Partner, who makes his first start since taking the American Turf (G2) at Churchill Downs on Oaks Day.

The colt is undefeated in three starts on turf while 0 for 4 in his other starts.

Dean’s Kitten had a troubled trip in the Kentucky Derby and checked in a well beaten 14th. Two of his three career wins have come on turf including winning the Vision Stakes last fall at Belmont Park over ground labeled as soft.

Mike Maker will saddle this colt, who won the Lane’s End (G2) over the polytrack surface at Turfway Park in his final prep for the Kentucky Derby.

Jockey Alan Garcia will get the leg up on this colt for the first time, and his 8/1 morning line looks more than fair.

While Workin for Hops was no match for Doubles Partner in the American Turf, the colt rebounded with a sharp win in the Arlington Classic over good ground in his most recent outing for trainer Michael Stidham.

The gelding did have an excuse in his lone loss on turf when he lost his footing soon after the start, and he found himself in an unfamiliar position of being more than a dozen lengths behind the leader in the early going.

Kindergarten Kid makes his stakes debut for trainer Barclay Tagg after an impressive looking win against first level allowance company last out in his first start against winners.

Completing the field is recent second level allowance winner Two Notch Road and Vamos a Ver, a recent winner against optional claimers and the lone runner in the field with a win over the turf at Colonial Downs.