Horse of the day for July 14

Colonial Downs - Race 2
1 1/16 Miles (Inner Turf)
Maiden Special Weight
3-year-olds and upward
Purse $24,000.

Prince of Mine has been knocking on the door in recent starts, and seems to have found a good spot on Friday. The late foal may just now be reaching peak maturity for red-hot trainer Ann Merryman, and he has run some bang-up races on the grass in his career. Three starts back at Pimlico, Prince of Mine raced three wide in the faster division of turf maiden special weights, and was just nailed on the wire. In his most recent race, he broke from the far outside post, and was plagued by traffic problems before shaking clear in the stretch. Prince of Mine figures to utilize stalk and pounce tactics under Rosie Napravnik, and should be rallying strongly in the stretch.

More exotic-minded players may also use Country Cousin and Bo Diddley to kick off the Pick Three as well as in exacta boxes with Prince of Mine. The former cruised up to the lead here on opening day, but greenly changed back to his wrong lead once clear, and was outfinished in the stretch. He finished ahead of Prince of Mine in that race, and will attempt to repeat the second off the layoff pattern that resulted in his career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 70 earned on May 4.

Bo Diddley made a premature midrace move after being pinched at the start of his local debut. The lightly-raced four-year-old has earned competitive Beyer Speed Figures in his last three starts, and his connections have already sent out a successful maiden at 25-1 odds at this meet. Bo Diddley has some tactical speed, and shouldn't be too far behind likely pacesetters Cat's Revenge (off a year + layoff) and Tu Baku.

Selections
1. Prince of Mine
2. Country Cousin
3. Bo Diddley