The “Lucky Strides” promotion this March at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet offers a $10 bonus when you bet $100 or more at select tracks each Tuesday and Thursday. Opening Day of Colonial Downs’ 3-day Virginia Derby Meeting will be the track spotlighted for this Thursday. Here’s how I’ll approach that card with the help of the Betmix Angler database.
Colonial Downs: Race 4
#1 American Direction (9-2 morning line odds) has shown marked improvement since moving to dirt 2 starts back and note the success of Tampa Bay Downs shippers during last March’s short Colonial Downs stand, going 2-for-2 with a stakes win. Barn changes away from Mott and Clement are in play with this race’s 2 favorites, so they could be vulnerable. Win-place 1.
Colonial Downs: Race 8
#10 Boost (10-1 morning line odds) was well-backed in his local debut Sept. 1 when Wickedwithbourbon ran everyone into the ground and has gone on to become a stakes-placed sprinter at Fair Grounds. Trainer Robbie Bailes looks to have aimed this one for the comeback spot off a series of Fair Hill and Laurel drills. Bailes ran 5 horses here during the 2025 Colonial spring fling and had a winner and 2 seconds among those (including a 22-1 runner-up). Win-place 10.
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