Horse Betting World

Weekend Wrap Up: “Paddy” Rebounds in Colonial Turf Cup

By Michael Dempsey

Donegal Racing’s Paddy O’ Prado enjoyed his return to turf on Saturday by taking the $500,000 Colonial Turf Cup (G2) at Colonial Downs in impressive style, returning $5.00 as the betting favorite.

The Dale Romans trainee was a good third in the Kentucky Derby (G1), then was a disappointing sixth in the Preakness Stakes (G1) where he was beaten by 10 ½ lengths.

Trainer Dale Romans decided to return the son of El Prado to the grass for the first time since he won the Palm Beach Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park on March 6, and the surface switch looks as if it was the right move.

Under jockey Kent Desormeaux, the colt stalked the early pace while saving ground, came with a three wide bid nearing the 5/16’s, and got clear in the stretch to win by three lengths despite drifting in a bit in midstretch.

“Going down the backside, I didn’t know if I had horse or not because he was just cantering along under a dangling rein,” said Desormeaux. “I picked a spot to run him and thought, with his turn of foot, I could beat the horse that was in front of me on the outside just as long as he shortened up and picked up the line. I kissed at him, popped him on the shoulder, and we had him in two strides.”

Workin for Hops held on to second, completing a $36.80 exacta. Longshot Two Notch Road (26/1) completed a $2 trifecta that returned $363.80.

Doubles Partner, who was sent off as the second choice at 5/2 was a disappointing fourth. The colt came into the race having won three of his last four starts including winning the American Turf (G2) at Churchill Downs in his most recent outing.

The Colonial Turf Cup is a prep race for the marquee event of the Colonial Downs meeting, the $600,000 Virginia Derby (G2), which will be contested on July 17.

Racing on the Jersey Shore: Afleet Express was an impressive winner in Saturday’s $200,000 Pegasus Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park.

The colt prevailed by 1 ¾ lengths and returned $6.00 as the second choice in the field of six three year olds.

The James Jerkens trainee was making his stakes debut, his last start coming in a very impressive first level allowance score at Belmont Park.

The late blooming three year old is going to be heard from in the major three-year-old stakes later this summer.

The sire Afleet Alex accounted for both halves of the exacta, Afleet Again grabbing the runner up spot, with the exacta paying $34.60. Saratoga Racing

Racing in the Big Apple: Lady Shakespeare trailed the field in the early going in The $150,000 New York (G2), picked up the pace around the far turn under jockey John Velazquez, and rolled by her foes in the stretch to win by 2 ¾ lengths in a good looking effort.

The full sister to Grade 1 turf winner Shakespeare won her second graded stake and returned $6.50. The four-year-old filly won the Bewitch (G3) at Keeneland in her previous start.

Changing Skies (7/1) finished up well to grab the runner up spot and complete a $30.40 exacta.

It was not a good afternoon for second choice Gozzip Girl and jockey Ramon Dominguez. The filly stumbled badly coming out of the gate, sending Dominguez to the turf. Saratoga Race

On Tap: There is plenty of graded stakes action coming up on Saturday, including the Mother Goose (G1) at Belmont Park, The Boiling Springs (G3) at Monmouth Park, The Beverly Hills Handicap (G3) at Hollywood Park, The Debutante (G3) at Churchill Downs, and a trio of graded stakes at Prairie Meadows: The Iowa Oaks (G3), The Iowa Derby, (G3), and Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (G2).

Look for video and written analysis of featured stakes races coming this weekend to Saratoga Race Track.