Even if the $125,000 Edward P. Evans Stakes had remained on the turf, 7-year-old gelding Repo Rocks still might have outclassed the field at Colonial Downs on Friday. When the race was taken off the turf, however, the result was hardly in question.  “The weather gods helped us out today,” trainer Jamie Ness said. “It’s unfortunate for the rest of the field that was looking for turf, but it is what it is.”  Heavy rain earlier in the day Friday forced the entire Colonial card to the dirt, and few horses benefited more than Repo Rocks. Traveling 1 1/16 miles on a muddy track, the two-time graded stakes winner chased close behind an early leader, inherited the lead on the far turn, and kicked clear with condescending ease to win by 6 1/2 lengths.  The only knock on the 6-5 morning-line favorite for the state-restricted Edward P. Evans was his record on turf, as he had never finished in the money in four starts on the surface. Without that obstacle, however, the other grass contenders were suddenly the ones at a disadvantage, and his odds cratered as bettors rushed to make him a 3-5 favorite on his preferred surface. He paid $3.20 to win.  “Obviously, when they came off the turf, he fell into a really good spot,” Ness said. “But we felt confident on the turf too. We caught a break today and he performed.“ :: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now. Buddy Buddy, a 6-year-old gelding shipping from Charles Town, took a short early lead through an opening quarter in 23.64 seconds, but Repo Rocks didn’t let him get comfortable. Unconcerned by a potential speed duel, jockey Mychel Sanchez urged the favorite forward on the backstretch, where he easily overtook Buddy Buddy through a half-mile in 46.48 seconds. King Covee, the second choice coming out of turf starter allowances, did his best to give chase on the far turn, but it was a procession from there.   Repo Rocks was already well ahead turning for home and never looked back, finishing the 1 1/16-mile race in 1:42.11. King Covee, the overmatched runner-up for trainer Phil Schoenthal, finished 13 lengths ahead of third-place finisher Sendero, who was coming off a $20,000 claiming race victory on the turf at Evangeline Downs for trainer Juan Sanchez.  The Edward P. Evans was Repo Rocks’s first victory since August 2024 and his first stakes win since the Grade 3 Westchester in May 2023. The hard-knocking Virginia-bred has certainly taken down classier rivals over the course of his 52-race career, but little more could have been asked of him in his businesslike triumph on Friday.  Punch Line Stakes When the $125,000 Punch Line Stakes was taken off the turf at Colonial Downs on Friday, it became the perfect bounce-back opportunity for 4-year-old gelding Showstopper Copper. Returning from a dismal effort in January, he was the only dirt runner in the state-restricted field and reaped the benefits in a five-length victory.  Showstopper Copper is the only horse to be entered this year by trainer Thomas Lingenfelter, who has now guided him to five victories in dirt sprints since his July 2024 debut. His last start was in a $55,000 allowance at Parx over the winter, where he required shoe repairs in the paddock and faded to 10th by 37 1/4 lengths.   Though the gelding’s only prior turf start was a disappointment last summer, Lingenfelter shipped him from Penn National to Colonial early in order to give him a timed workout on the grass on July 11. Entering him in the Punch Line on Friday was likely an earnest attempt to switch surfaces, but when poor weather intervened, Showstopper Copper went from an outsider to the main threat traveling 5 1/2 furlongs on dirt.  Four horses in the Punch Line field of nine scratched after the race was taken off the turf, which only improved Showstopper Copper’s chances. Determined Kingdom, the 4-5 morning-line favorite, and Virginia Fitz were taken off the card altogether, while cross-entered geldings King Covee and Buddy Buddy tried their luck against Repo Rocks in the Edward P. Evans.  The track dried out throughout the day and was listed as fast by the time they lined up for the Punch Line. Leaving the gate aboard the 1-2 favorite, jockey Ben Curtis sent Showstopper Copper straight to the lead and quickly got comfortable through a brisk opening quarter in 22.42 seconds. He had already opened to lead by 1 1/2 lengths and only continued moving forward through a half-mile in 45.17 seconds.  Stormy Flight and Embolden, who entered the Punch Line with four combined starts on dirt in 42 lifetime starts, scrapped back and forth for second on the far turn, but neither runner challenged the early leader. Showstopper Copper turned for home with a 3 1/2-length and lengthened his advantage from there, finishing the 5 1/2-furlong race in 1:03.69 and paying $3 to win.  Stormy Flight, a 3-year-old gelding trained by Ham Smith, ran on to finish second. He finished 4 1/4 lengths ahead of Embolden, who was making his first dirt start since the $400,000 Springboard Mile in December 2019. The 8-year-old gelding ran solidly in Determined Kingdom’s stead for trainer Mike Trombetta. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.