COLONIAL TURF CUP "PRESS BOX INVITATIONAL"

Moryba gallops at Colonial Downs Friday morning.


The last two legs of the Triple Crown failed to produce a top winner for the handicappers that made selections in the "Press Box Invitational".  Shackleford was a $27.20 winner in the 14-horse field of the Preakness and Ruler on Ice was a $51.50 winner in the 12-horse field of the Belmont Stakes.  Perhaps the pickers will find the 8-horse field of the Colonial Turf Cup a bit easier to solve.

Morning line favorite, Smart Bid (2-1), wasn't the unanomous choice among the prognosticaters.  That title goes to Virginia Derby alumni, Court Vision (7-2), with six bids followed by Guys Reward (9-2) with five.  Brazilian-bred Moryba, shown here, was the first of the Turf Cup entrants to arrive on the grounds and got one nod.  Here are the picks.

HANDICAPPER	AFFILIATION	WINNER	2ND PLACE	3RD PLACE	MARGIN
Mike Barone	Off to the Races	Guys Reward	Smart Bid	Rahystrada	1/2 length
"Derby" Bill	Off to the Races	Court Vision	Guys Reward	Smart Bid	neck
Simeon Hahn	Nick's Brother, Delaware Park Player	Smart Bid	Guys Reward	Rahystrada	1 length
Nick Hahn	Off to the Races	Smart Bid	Moryba	Rahystrada	head
Frank Petramalo	Virginia HBPA	Moryba	Smart Bid	Guys Reward	1/2 length
Mark Moses	WKAV 1400 AM - Charlottesville	Rahystrada	Smart Bid	Guys Reward	1 & 3/4 Lengths
Jerry Townsend	"Talking Horses" Host - Bristol	Court Vision	Smart Bid	Guy's Reward	Head
Bill Handley	Handicapper	Dark Cover	Court Vision	Smart Bid	2 Lengths
Matt Josephs	WXGI AM 950 - Richmond	Court Vision	Smart Bid	Guy's Reward	3 lengths
Dennis Carter	WSET 13Sports - Lynchburg	Guys Reward	Court Vision	Smart Bid	1 & 1/2 Lengths
Jerry Ratcliffe	Daily Progress-Charlottesville	Smart Bid	Moryba	Dark Cove	1 & 1/2 Lengths
Norm Levine	Off to the Races - Saratoga	Court Vision	Guys Reward	Smart Bid	3/4 Length
Lane Casadonte	WTVR-6 Sports Richmond	Court Vision	Smart Bid	Guys Reward	3/4 Length
Mike Dempsey	Turf N Sport	Guys Reward	Smart Bid	Rahystrada	1 & 3/4 Lengths
Henry Daamguard	"Handicapping Henry"	Rahystrada	Guys Reward	Court Vision	1 length
tvnewsbadge	James River News Blogger	Guys Reward	Smart Bid	Court Vision	neck
John Schneinman	Kentucky Confidential	Guys Reward	Moryba	Court Vision	1 & 1/2 Lengths
Greg Burton	Hardly Workin' on ESPN AM 950	Smart Bid	Guys Reward	Court Vision	3 lengths
"Big Al" Coleman	Sportsphone on ESPN AM 950	Court Vision	Rahystrada	Smart Bid	1 length