NICK'S PICKS - THURSDAY, JULY 12TH

COLONIAL'S RACING CALENDAR RESET

Colonial announced this week its revised calendar after this summer's heat and storm wave forced the cancellation of 2 & 1/2 days of racing.  A full ten race program will be added to closing week festivities on Wednesday July 25th with a 5 PM post time. A pair of races will also be added to the Virginia Derby card on July 21st and to closing night’s program on July 28th.  A race will also be added to this Saturday and Sunday's program.  As a result, first post on both occasions has been moved up by an hour, to 5 PM on Derby Day (from 6 PM), and to 6 PM on closing night (from 7 PM). The Derby card will now have 14 races including five stakes.  The 15th anniversary of live racing in Virginia is now slated for Saturday.

Saturday's racing at Colonial triggered an odd "twin trifecta".  Eleven year old King's Coronation won his third race of the meet Saturday evening with Forest Boyce aboard for leading trainer Hugh McMahon.  Later in the card in the ninth race Too Clever By Half collected her third win of the meet with Sheldon Russell aboard for McMahon again won is now winning more races than he loses, visiting the winner's circle 52% of the time after races where he has starters.  Both join trainer Darlene Dickau's Book the Crook with three wins on the meet.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but that's the way to bet."
-Damon Runyon

HORSES AROUND

Leading 3-year old turf colt SILVER MAX was entered in Saturday's $200,000 American Derby at Arlington Park.   Morgan's Ford Farm-bred REDEEMED is entered in the $200,000 Greenwood Cup (G3) at Parx Saturday.  In his last two starts, the four year old son of Include has won by 9 & 3/4 and 10 lengths respectively earning him favorite status in the morning line (1-1).