Daily Racing Form expert handicapper and analyst Kenny Peck handicaps the Friday, June 26 racing card at Colonial Downs, including his projected 1-2-3 finishers. His best bet of the day comes from Race 3.
Also, view FREE DRF Past Performances for today’s Race of the Day.
BEST BET: Miss Mo Town (3rd race)
Third Race
1. Miss Mo Town
2. Blumoon Fire
3. Beverly Crusher
MISS MO TOWN has enough early foot to stay close in the opening stages and her better dirt figures make her a logical contender; she faded badly in that last one, at Parx, but that was after a terrible break forced her to rush up in the early stages, and that cost her late. BLUMOON FIRE has to be respected based on the Beyer she earned in her career bow, her only other try on dirt; factor from the bell if she can run back to that sprint. BEVERLY CRUSHER doesn’t look like a top contender, and she may not be one, but she may be able to last for a part of this if she can work out a forward trip and the fractions are controlled, as expected.
Here are Kenny’s thoughts on the other seven races on Friday’s Colonial Downs card.
First Race
1. State Conceal
2. J C’s Boys
3. Isaiah Fiftythree
STATE CONCEAL has enough tactical speed to stay involved from the outset and that latest figure and effort give him strong credibility; obvious threat if he can avoid a regression in his second start off the layoff. J C’S BOYS didn’t enjoy the turf so much, but his dirt races clearly stamp him as a contender; could be the main threat in the lane if the pace gets heated up front. ISAIAH FIFTYTHREE has some speed but does not necessarily need the lead, as he proved in that narrow loss in his latest; dangerous with improvement off that last one, when he posted the best Beyer of his short career.
Second Race
1. Altamira Sur
2. Sleepwalker
3. Call Her Bluff
ALTAMIRA SUR ran well enough in defeat in her first two starts off the extended break and those Beyers put her squarely in the middle of this; eligible to make the last run if she gets a faster pace than she got in that last one. SLEEPWALKER makes her belated seasonal debut for trainer Brittany Russell and she’s a strong fit with these based on her best Beyers; barn does well first time off the shelf, scoring at 27% with horses off layoffs longer than six months. CALL HER BLUFF tries the green for the first time, but trainer Jamie Ness is very strong with this angle, winning at a 26% win rate, complete with a $2.45 ROI; kin to three winners, and though none won on the green, the dam, Mine as Well, did score on the lawn (one-for-three).
Fourth Race
1. Royal Companion
2. Peak Perspective
3. Antiope
ROYAL COMPANION is a first starter out of a dam who produced Virginia Gentry, who won once and earned over $16K, but while the pedigree may lack punch this filly has shown some speed in her morning works; connections only add to the appeal. PEAK PERSPECTIVE owns the best figures among those with experience; the one to beat if she gets another stalking trip behind the speeds, though this type is sometimes overbet against fields of unknown quality. ANTIOPE, for instance, is not from a barn that’s known for winning with firsters, but she has decent workouts and she lures Paco Lopez; certainly has license to come out running based on the pedigree, as her dam was a stakes-winning sprinter who won her own debut as a 2-year-old (this is her first runner).
Fifth Race
1. Outrunner
2. Our Souper Hero
3. Sun Above
OUTRUNNER was off the board in his first start in over six months, but that was a better effort than the running line might indicate, as he rushed up after a slow start, and that was a bulky field, and a race where the closers held the edge; given a clean getaway he can overcome the wide post via an outside stalking trip. OUR SOUPER HERO has proven early zip, and he stands to improve off his latest, when he made a premature move before flattening out; his best races have come when he’s on the front end, but if he can rate and make one run, he is capable of winning this. SUN ABOVE removes the blinkers for his first start of 2026, and he could be well set up if the pace is quick and contested up front; worth including at the right price, as he does have some upside.
Sixth Race
1. Champagne Brunch
2. That Wasn’t Me
3. Improbable Tale
CHAMPAGNE BRUNCH has at least some speed, and that could prove an edge in this race, which lacks a clear-cut pace scenario; should be well spotted from the outset. That gives her a legitimate chance to win this, as a forward trip should give her the edge on the closers. THAT WASN’T ME improved in that second career starts in terms of Beyers. She will be tough to stave off if she can take another step forward, or even run back to that last figure; short price looms but she clearly would be no surprise. IMPROBABLE TALE is easy enough to like after missing by just a neck in that debut run at Laurel; figures to try to make the last run, but she’ll need a clean trip from the hedge, and she may be at the mercy of the frontrunners.
Seventh Race
1. Cairo Street
2. Princess Bettina
3. Epic Style
CAIRO STREET is undefeated over this course, and she makes her third start off the layoff after she finished well enough in the latest to get the show; figures to be overlooked some in the wagering, but she has run Beyers on the turf that put her in the middle of this. PRINCESS BETTINA has back grass races of her own that fit well with this group, and though she needs pace, there is some speed in this field; first start since late March but dangerous if ready off the break for trainer Jose D’Angelo. EPIC STYLE owns some of the strongest figures in this field and trainer Michael Stidham has a $3.09 ROI with the sprint-to-route move; she’s been closing well in recent sprints but figures to be more involved in the earlier stages, especially from this inside post.
Eighth Race
1. Ithadtobeblu
2. Hotter Than Fire
3. Too Loose La Trek
ITHADTOBEBLU has enough tactical speed to stay involved from the outset and should she could in fact be the one to catch if pushed some early on, as she goes long again after sprinting in her latest; could get brave if allowed to shake loose and control a slow tempo. HOTTER THAN FIRE earned a decent figure in her lone grass try to date, two back, and she was game in defeat in an off-the-turf race at Delaware Park last time out; has the tactical speed to sit a favorable trip. TOO LOOSE LA TREK is an upgrade candidate off her race two back and she returned to run well in her latest, for the show; steady grass Beyers a plus.
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