Colonial Downs: Guam Typhoon in top form coming into Chesapeake

Guam Typhoon and Hugo, the morning-line favorites, both look solid on Wednesday in the $50,000 stakes that headline the 10-race holiday card starting at 5 p.m. Eastern at Colonial Downs.

Daniel Centeno could be sitting in a sweet spot with mounts on both.

Guam Typhoon, a 6-year-old gelding, is in the best form of his life heading into the Chesapeake at six furlongs on the main track.

He has won five in a row in dominant fashion dating back to Tampa Bay Downs in January, and he seems to improve with every race.

The latest was a career-best allowance romp at Delaware Park, a five-length victory that produced a personal-best 101 Beyer Speed Figure. That puts him on a level well above his five rivals.

It is also making trainer Jamie Ness look very sharp, after reaching in to claim Guam Typhoon for $25,000 two races into the winning streak. Guam Typhoon is the 2-5 choice on the morning line.

Malibu Kid carries a more modest two-race winning streak into the stakes, having scored the victories at Charles Town. He ran fifth in this race in 2010.

Done Done Done, Broad Rule, Dane’s Winchester, and first-time starter Sean South complete the field.

The Punch Line at five furlongs on the turf for Virginia-breds looks like a more wide-open contest.

Centeno is aboard Hugo, the 2-1 choice, following a solid second-place effort in his comeback after a lengthy layoff. A 7-year-old trained by Hamilton Smith, Hugo set the pace at Pimlico in an allowance race on May 12. It was his first start since October 2010.

He will be shortening up for this after going one mile in the return. Hugo was fifth in this race, beaten only 1 1/2 lengths, in 2009. He drew the outside post in a field of nine.

Jake Rattle N Roll was second in the Punch Line last year. He is usually a factor in grass sprints with a record of 7-3-4 in 20 contests.

Staged Affair and Romans Reward debut for new barns following claims. Trainer Phil Schoenthal plunked down $20,000 to add Staged Affair, the lone mare in the race, to his stable. She was third in her latest try, going 1 1/16 miles at Colonial.

The price was a very modest $5,000 for Romans Reward from a winning dirt sprint effort at Penn National. He has not been on grass since last fall at Kentucky Downs.