NICK'S PICKS WITH PICS

LONGSHOTS SHOW UP EARLY AT COLONIAL

Longshots are among the first to arrive at Colonial Downs for Saturday's $500,000 Colonial Turf.  I walked the backstretch Friday morning and visited (in post position order) Forte Dei Marmi, Atoned, Gourmet Dinner and Tilden Lane.  I would consider the field for the feature being comprised of those with proven success at Colonial, (Air Support, Rahystrada, Casino Host and Smart Bid), those with talent starting for the first time at Colonial (Turbo Compressor, Humble and Hundary) and longshots (Forte Dei Marmi, Atoned, Bold Hawk, Gourmet Dinner and Tilden Lane.)  Silver Tie Affair won the Virginia-bred restricted Van Clief here last summer on closing weekend. 

Leading off the longshots, Forte Dei Marmi at 10-1 (barely a longshot) won an allowance at Keeneland and rallied well in last month's tough Dixie Stakes at Pimlico.  Atoned (50-1) has been on the grounds for several weeks for Delmar Martins yet hasn't won a race in the last two years.  Bold Hawk (15-1) is making the board in graded stakes on the New York circuit for trainer James Toner.  Gourmet Dinner (20-1) enjoyed grazing outside Barn 2, has backclass and finished 3rd in his first turf start.  Tilden Lane (30-1) ran well in a Churchill allowance in his 2012 start holding on for 2nd after leading in stretch.

Good appetizers are figured in the tastebuds of the diner, as Gourmet Dinner demonstrates at Colonial Downs Friday morning.  Arriving at Colonial Friday morning, the 20-1 longshot was on the Triple Crown road in 2011.

All "Atoned" in the stakes barn on Colonial's backstretch is Delmar's Martins bid.  Atoned is 50-1 in the Colonial Turf Cup's morning line.  Being alone in the stakes barn for much of the week, stall 51 might have felt like Roswell, New Mexico's "Area 51"

Roger Attfield's Forte De Marmi (10-1) is awaiting the race in the Phipps barn at Colonial.  Bred in England, the six year old gelding won an allowance at Keeneland this April.

Trainer Bruce Brown observes Gourmet Dinner after a shower early Friday afternoon.

NOTE: Casino Host was arriving at the stable gate just as this post is being typed.

HORSES AROUND...

Baltimore Bob who won the Da Hoss and led in the Virginia Derby is on the grounds at Colonial Downs in the Garcia barn.  The seven year old's last start was this spring at the Fairgrounds.  Also out of the Garcia barn, Action Andy galloped a mile and five/eighths this morning in preparation for his "renewal of the duel" with Followmysteps.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"The one thing I do not want to be called is First Lady. It sounds like a horse." 

- Jacqueline Kennedy

NICK'S PICKS FOR FRIDAY, JUNE 15TH