Colonial Downs Picks: Virginia Derby, Oaks Analysis (3/14/2026)

Chris Adams

Written by: Chris Adams

Published: Fri Mar 13, 2026, 8:12 am ET

Read Time: 7 minutes

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The racing action from Colonial Downs on Saturday features the Virginia Derby Presented by New Kent County. @HandicappingT3 has all the Colonial Downs picks for the entire card!

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Colonial Downs Full Card Analysis

Colonial Downs Picks: Virginia Derby, Oaks Analysis (3/14/2026)

Colonial Downs Picks: Virginia Derby, Oaks Analysis (3/14/2026)

Colonial Downs Picks – Race 1

Post Time: 12:00 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $75k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 5 runners.

  • #5 RAMAJAY (6-5): Top pick. Favorable class relief in this spot.
  • #1 BALLINACLASH (4-1): Major Player. Top connections on the circuit with Toledo and Schoenthal. Trainer is having a great meet.
  • #4 BEIJING (3-1): Major Player. Should find today's group a bit softer than the last race.
  • #2 MIZNER (5-2): Contender. May be a better effort in the 2nd start. Trainer's horses have been running.

Selections: 5 – 1 – 4 – 2

The Plays

Win: #5 at 6-5

Exacta Box: 5,1,4

Colonial Downs Picks – Race 2

Post Time: 12:35 PM ET; Maiden Claiming $40k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 8 runners.

  • #6 VINO BELLA (7-2): Top pick. Favorable class relief in this spot. Races that could beat these.
  • #3 AS THE BELL TOLES (4-1): Major Player. May be able to take advantage of the pace. Looks to get a bit easier group here.
  • #5 VALERIE STREET (9-2): Major Player. Should find today's group a bit softer than the last race. Villalobos and Sanchez-Salomon team up on this one.
  • #8 CLEARLY INISH (9-2): Contender. Race shape gives this one an edge. May be getting a weaker field than last out.

Selections: 6 – 3 – 5 – 8

The Plays

Win: #6 at 4-1

Exacta Box: 6,3,5

Colonial Downs Picks – Race 3

Post Time: 1:10 PM ET; Maiden Claiming $50k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 8 runners.

  • #5 SUMMERINTHECOUNTRY (2-1): Top pick. Could be ready for a top effort. Should be able to work out a trip.
  • #6 OVERSPENT (7-2): Major Player. Likely to get forward position. Good race flow for this runner.
  • #2 HARD STANCE (5-1): Fringe Contender. Barn has been sending out runners.
  • #3 KARMA'S INTHEHOUSE (6-1): Fringe Contender. May be getting a weaker field than last out. Trainer's horses have been running.

Selections: 5 – 6 – 2 – 3

The Plays

Win: #5 at 5-2

Exacta: 5/ 6,2

Colonial Downs Picks – Race 4

Post Time: 1:45 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $75k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 8 runners.

  • #7 NAABAAHII (3-1): Prime Win Player. Barn has been solid. Proven competitor at this configuration.
  • #2 VIRGINIA GENTRY (4-1): Contender. Should take a liking to the race shape.
  • #8 SIR GEORGE (9-2): Contender. Previous success in similar race types. Top connections on the circuit with Mena and Gorham.
  • #5 BEALE STREET BOY (6-1): Contender. Fast enough on paper to compete. May be getting a weaker field than last out.

Selections: 7 – 2 – 8 – 5

The Plays

Win: #7 at 7-2

Exacta: 7/ 2,8,5

Colonial Downs Picks – Race 5

Post Time: 2:20 PM ET; Royal New Kent Stakes $100k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 6 runners.

  • #6 DRAGOON GUARD (1-1): Top pick. Looks good based on the 99 speed rating which is among the top in the group. Stamina to outlast the competition.
  • #2 KOMOREBINO OMOIDE (4-1): Major Player. Likely to get forward position. Torres and Atras team up on this one.
  • #4 TOUR PLAYER (9-2): Contender. Previous success in similar race types. Could wear these ones down late.
  • #5 RAISE CAIN (5-1): Contender. Can compete from a speed figure standpoint. Race shape gives this one an edge.

Selections: 6 – 2 – 4 – 5

The Plays

Win: #6 at 6-5

Exacta: 6/ 2,4

Colonial Downs Picks – Race 6

Post Time: 2:55 PM ET; Fasig-Tipton Sandy Bottom Stakes $100k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 7 runners.

  • #1 PASSAGE EAST (2-1): Prime Win Player. Stamina to outlast the competition. Strong early pace figs.
  • #7 HER LAUGH (9-2): Contender. Potentially cycling to a top performance. Should take a liking to the race shape.
  • #2 ZADORSKY (12-1): Fringe Contender. Potentially ready to hit a top number.
  • #4 AMALFI DRIVE (12-1): Underneath. Toledo and Stidham team up on this one.

Selections: 1 – 7 – 2 – 4

The Plays

Win: #1 at 5-2

Exacta: 1/ 7,2

Colonial Downs Picks – Race 7

Post Time: 3:30 PM ET; Fasig-Tipton Sandy Bottom Stakes $100k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 7 runners.

Longshot Play of the Day

Longshot Play of the Day

  • #7 RUNAWAY DIVA (5-1): Longshot play of the day. Comes in with solid form. Top connections on the circuit with Leparoux and Hemingway. Bet today's live longshot on MyBookie.
  • #6 EUNOMIA (6-5): Major Player. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
  • #3 THINK FAST (6-1): Major Player. Previous success in similar race types. Has experience at this level.
  • #2 SULTRY LASS (8-1): Contender. Expect this one to be able to carry the distance. Shouldn't be disadvantaged by the flow of the race.

Selections: 7 – 6 – 3 – 2

The Plays

Win: #7 at 4-1

Exacta Box: 7,6,3

Pick 3 (races 7-9): #7,6,3 with #1,3,2 with #1

Colonial Downs Picks – Race 8

Post Time: 4:25 PM ET; Virginia Oaks Presented by New Kent County $250k; 1 1/16 M Dirt; Field of 6 runners.

  • #1 DAZZLING DAME (5-2): Top pick. Race sets up perfectly. Barn has been solid.
  • #3 BOTTLE OF ROUGE (6-5): Major Player. Trainer is having a great meet. Likely to get forward position.
  • #2 HIT PARADE (3-1): Major Player. Hard to argue with the recent races. Barn has been sending out runners.
  • #4 KADABRA (6-1): Underneath. Competitive enough in recent efforts. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 1 – 3 – 2 – 4

The Plays

Win: #1 at 3-1

Exacta Box: 1,3,2

Colonial Downs Picks – Race 9

Post Time: 5:10 PM ET; Virginia Derby Presented by New Kent County $500k; 1 1/8 M Dirt; Field of 10 runners.

Best Bet of the Card

  • #1 BUETANE (5-2): Best bet of the card. Baffert looks to have this race on lock. Strong early pace figs. Bet today's best bet with industry-leading rebates on BetOnline.
  • #8 CONFESSIONAL (4-1): Contender. Ortiz puts this one in with a chance. Seems to be up against the right competition.
  • #7 INCREDIBOLT (10-1): Fringe Contender. Hard to argue with the recent races. Barn has been sending out runners.
  • #5 HIGH CAMP (9-2): Fringe Contender. Race conditions fit this one well. Could be griding down the competition late.

Selections: 1 – 8 – 7 – 5

The Plays

Win: #1 at 1-1

Exacta: 1/ 8,7

Colonial Downs Picks – Race 10

Post Time: 5:50 PM ET; Allowance Optional Claiming $85k; 1 1/16 M Dirt; Field of 9 runners.

  • #8 LURE HIM IN (2-1): Top pick. Looks good based on the 100 speed rating which is among the top in the group.
  • #7 MACLEAN'S ROOK (5-2): Major Player. Likely to get forward position. Speed figures match this group well.
  • #6 FREEDOM ROAD (5-1): Contender. Has been running well enough recently. Barn has been sending out runners.
  • #9 POWER SEEKER (15-1): Contender. Race conditions fit this one well. Race shape gives this one an edge.

Selections: 8 – 7 – 6 – 9

The Plays

Win: #8 at 5-2

Exacta Box: 8,7

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Chris Adams
Chris Adams

Chris first got introduced to horse racing in 2009 at Canterbury Park (Shakopee, MN). Along with handicapping and betting, Chris has worked as a teller at his local track and participated in ownership partnerships. He now enjoys sharing his passion with his wife and two young daughters who love going out to the track each and every summer.

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