In our weekly LookBack, we check in to see how some of last week’s stories played out. To wit…
- On the Fourth of July, Nick Hahn provided some patriotic hunch plays at Colonial Downs: JD’s Firecracker, Keeping the Honor, Makelovenotwar, Aim to Win, Blue and Grey, and First Speaker. And indeed, it was a good day to be a hunch player: though JD’s Firecracker scratched, both Keeping the Honor (9.70-1) and Makelovenotwar (5.80-1) took home the money. Had you played all five patriotic hunch plays, it would have cost you $10 — and brought back $35. The lesson? Never ignore a good hunch play!
- Speaking of racing, it was a good weekend of racing with some top-level efforts. On Friday, one Maryland-bred — Change of Command — set a Monmouth track record to post a mild upset in the Elkwood; he navigated the one mile distance on the grass in a scintillating 1:33.33. Meanwhile, over at Parx, another Maryland-bred, Ben’s Cat, made a powerful stretch run to prevail over the speedy Tightend Touchdown, avenging a defeat in the Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup and defending his title in the G3 Parx Dash.
- On Saturday, Raging Daoust shocked Monmouth’s G3 Salvator Mile, posting a nose victory (over 15-1 Big Sur) at odds of 33-1. A race later, in the G1 United Nations, Little Mike made the early lead but ran out of steam late, fading to fourth, while Big Blue Kitten came home best of all to get the money. Teaks North ran second. Meanwhile, at Colonial, the favorite or second favorite won four of five state-bred stakes on Commonwealth Turf Festival night. The lone exception, the Brookemeade, went to 14-1 outsider Lady Olivia, who prevailed by a neck over Leda’s Swan.
- Have you checked out our Virginia Derby Trivia Sweepstakes? If not, get y’self here ASAP to learn all about it. It’s just 3 steps, with $300 up for grabs; it’s as simple as like, answer, win!
(Featured image is Sheldon Russell aboard Long on Value, winner of the Jamestown Stakes. Photo by Nick Hahn.)
