Spot Plays for Colonial Downs on July 29

Bettors who relish the summer months due to the abundance of turf racing won't want to miss the Colonial Downs meet that begins this week and runs through Sept. 2. Colonial's expansive grass course will host a majority of the track's races and Wednesday's nine-race program, which includes a pair of stakes restricted to Virginia-breds, will be all turf.

Here are some horses of interest on Wednesday's card, which kicks off at 5:30 p.m. ET.

Race 2

#2 AMPLIO ESQUEMA (12-1) showed notable improvement at Laurel on June 1 in a $25,000 maiden claimer, her first race on turf and first run since her November debut. Shut off from a clear path down on the inside in mid-stretch, she eventually found a seam late and finished third. Her next start produced a similar finish, though she might not have cared as much for the slop in an off-the-turf event at Penn National. Faces a nominally tougher class of horse here, but seemingly fits well in this state-bred maiden.

Race 5

Although he raced sporadically last season, #3 PISTOLEIRO (7-2) put it all together in his 2019 finale Nov. 15 with a dominating win on the main track against $10,000 maiden claimers at Laurel for the high-percentage Lacey Gaudet. Enters here off yet another long layoff, but this N2L is not especially strong and pedigree suggests he should more than handle the switch to grass. By Candy Ride, he's out of a Giant's Causeway mare that placed in the Santa Barbara H. (G2) at Santa Anita.

Race 6

#6 PALMETTO BLUE (9-2) has raced just twice, both times at the 2019 Colonial meet. After a career-opening fourth against maiden special weight company, he dropped to this $40,000 maiden claiming level and led for all but the last three-sixteenths or so in a solid, clear-second effort. Son of Grade 1 turf winner Jack Milton will have to overcome some rust given the 11-month layoff, but his early foot will see him prominent from the start and potentially dangerous.