Single Sandwich Pick 5 for Colonial Downs on Aug. 31

Race 5: Outer turf, 5 1/2 Furlongs, Clm 10000N2L, 3-year-olds & up

No better time to put it all on the line than in the first. #14 Mrs Shaw (7-2) drew the far outside, but with her closing running style, Leonel Reyes should be able to work out a trip finding an early avenue toward the rail. She exits a key race with three out of four already winning next out, and she overcame trouble out of the gate to still win by six-plus lengths in that one. With a big field, exiting a maiden win, and being on the far outside, I still think we’ll grab some separation out of the gates here. Single.

Race 6: Inner turf, 1 1/16 Miles, OC 75k/C, fillies 3-year-olds & up

A competitive bunch here with four runners who will be aggressive early. I could make a case to use all seven of them, but these are the four I will use knowing they will provide the value I am looking for to get involved in this sequence.

#1 Ylikedis (10-1) runs best fresh and has been working bullets for Nacho Correas. The rail has been the sweet spot on the inner turf course. #2 Pythoness (8-1) has the late kick to finish off the fading frontrunners and exits a race with no steam to inhale. Two of #3 Tightly Twisted (5-1)’s five wins have come with improvement third off the layoff, including the 2021 Big Dreyfus score. She's well-managed and ready to fire, dropping down from stakes company for this. A bullet workout plus a 29% trainer angle make #5 Fate Factor (8-1) a must-use in here. After a vicious cold stretch, Jareth Loveberry has returned to life and I trust him again.

Race 7: Inner turf, 1 Mile, Clm 10000N3L, 3-year-olds & up

All signs point to #1 Tijuana Brass (8-1) stepping forward. Third off the layoff has produced some of his best efforts, and he has the cherished rail.  #3 Felix the Fox (10-1) lost ground hopping out of the gate and then faced a course that was favoring frontrunners. Jevian Toledo legs up after seeing that bullet work, ready to right the ship. #4 Feisty Kitten (4-1) gets flattered after place-finisher two back (Justin's Quest) won on Tuesday. He had no pace to close into in his last race. Maybe that 60-1 win wasn’t a fluke after all? Bernardo Lopez knows when to wheel them back quickly, and #7 Noicattaro (5-1) should hold form for this. #10 Freelance (10-1) took early money last out and he ran well, but the sprint was too sharp for him. Back to two turns, which he prefers after posting his career-best speed figure last out. #11 Power Through (9-2) was pressed last out by next-out winner Justin's Quest. He's cutting back to one mile and will face less formidable front pressure.

Race 8: Outer turf, 5 1/2 Furlongs, Clm 10000, 3-year-olds & up

#1 Bardolino (6-1) is back to sprinting and dropping in class. Love how he fought back to win on July 2. #2 Backwoods Boogie (5-1) finished behind a formful Balistico, who ran second facing tougher next out. Toledo up and ready to seal the deal on his meet title. #3 Rip Thorn (12-1) just ran his top speed figure losing to African Heritage, who came back to run in a stakes at Colonial earlier this month. He's 6-for-6 in the exacta on the turf; now he just needs to do it at a sprint distance. #4 Valiant Vinny (4-1) is winless on the turf but has never raced so low down the totem pole before. Likely goes off closer to 2-1. The turf sprinting specialist #8 Battlebus (7-2) has tactical speed and an outside advantage for this class drop.

Race 9: Inner turf, 1 Mile, Md 16000 3-year-olds & up

No better feeling than singling in the last leg. It’s like using all but actually having a strong opinion. Exiting a key race and dropping in class, #2 Polsar (4-1) will strut his maiden claiming stuff. Michael Tomlinson wins 29% dropping down two levels, and this four-year-old has a nine-point Brisnet Prime Power advantage.

R5        14

R6        1,2,3,5

R7        1,3,4,7,10,11

R8        1,2,3,4,8

R9        2

• .50-cent pick 5 ticket $60