Wolfie’s Dynaghost got everything his way and never looked back in the $100,000 Bert Allen Handicap on Saturday. Three years after winning the same state-certified race at Colonial Downs, the 7-year-old gelding was never challenged on the front end and cruised home to a 3 3/4-length victory. After setting a course record at Laurel Park in the $125,000 Prince George’s County in June and coming back in August to finish second in a $125,000 allowance at Saratoga, Wolfie’s Dynaghost commanded immense respect in the field of seven at Colonial Saturday. Trainer Jonathan Thomas said he had no intention of getting in his gelding’s way and bettors seemed to share that sentiment, as he paid $2.20 to win. As if the heavy favorite needed any favors, his advantage went from overwhelming to practically insurmountable when he and jockey Sheldon Russell managed to take a 1 1/2-length lead through an opening quarter-mile in 24.96 seconds. :: Access morning workout reports straight from the tracks and get an edge with DRF Clocker Reports The four-time stakes winner maintained the same advantage through a half-mile in 49.79. Sky’s Not Falling, last year’s winner of the Bert Allen, moved forward to challenge on the far turn, but Wolfie’s Dynaghost had plenty left and quickly repelled that bid. He was never approached again, completing the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:41.94. Sky’s Not Falling, who has struggled to regain form since sustaining an injury in the $150,000 Artie Schiller late last year, finished second in an improved effort for trainer Mike Trombetta. He finished second by a nose over Wow Whata Summer, a 6-year-old gelding trained by Chuck Lawrence. This was far from a test for Wolfie’s Dynaghost, a graded stakes winner who has impressed on turf and synthetic throughout his career. Thomas has been careful bringing the 7-year-old back to action after he missed most of his 2024 campaign. With two commanding victories in his last three starts, however, it is clear that he might be ready to return to deeper waters. Public Defender takes Nellie Mae Cox Heavy favorites ruled the day in co-features at Colonial Downs, as 4-year-old filly Public Defender earned yet another resounding victory in the $100,000 Nellie Mae Cox Handicap. She has now won four straight races for trainer Jane Cibelli. Moving between the Mid-Atlantic region and Florida with her trainer, Public Defender had a touch-and-go stint at Gulfstream Park over the winter that ended with a photo-finish victory on synthetic. Her trainer gave her six months off before bringing her to Colonial Downs, where she has come alive to win three on the turf by 10 1/2 combined lengths. Once a deep closer on the grass in Florida, the filly has become an adept stalker under jockey Ben Curtis and worked out her usual trip from fourth on Saturday. Vehemente, the 4-1 second choice trained by Joe Sharp, broke well from the rail and took a two-length lead through an opening quarter-mile in 24.26. With a comfortable advantage and little pressure on the front end, Vehemente and jockey Mychel Sanchez completed the half-mile in 49.31 and seemed prepared to give the 3-5 favorite a stiff challenge in the stretch. When it came time to capitalize, however, Public Defender simply overwhelmed the loose front-runner, advancing from fourth with a powerful move on the far turn. She took a short lead entering the stretch and easily pulled away to win by 2 3/4 lengths. She completed the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:42.36, paying $3.20 to win. Vehemente hung on to finish second by a neck over Winfinity, a 3-year-old filly who closed from eighth for trainer John Ortiz. Since switching back to turf for the $125,000 All Brandy in August, Winfinity has finished in the money twice against older state-certified runners. Before the race, Cibelli said that she was strongly considering giving Public Defender a stakes opportunity soon, and after yet another triumph in the Nellie Mae Cox, it feels inevitable that her moment is coming. She said that Woodbine will be her starting point if she ultimately chooses that path. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.