In The Money Telegraph
Thursday, June 25, 2026 · By ITM Staff
It’s here. Colonial Downs throws open the gates for its biggest summer yet — and we’ve got the opener covered.
Colonial Downs Opening Day
First post is 12:30 PM ET for an eight-race opener — three on the dirt, five over the world-famous Secretariat Turf Course — to launch a record 45-day meet. And Michael Domabyl (@mdomhokie) is out of the gate with it. A top-five finisher in this year’s KDBC, Michael is handicapping the meet’s 20 biggest days, and his opening-day card is up now: full selections, fair-odds lines, and his signature #TheCheatSheet grid sorting every runner into A/B/C/X tiers. His three highest-conviction races double as his spot plays:
• Race 3 — Hill Country (#1) at 6-1 or higher, a big-priced play against the well-bet debut runner in the meet’s first turf route.
• Race 6 — Raise Cain (#2) at 9-2 or higher, the former Grade 3 Gotham winner who’s best at elongated one-turn trips.
• Race 7 — Doctor Jeff (#1) at 7-1 or higher, a turf sprinter who looks pointed at this opening-day spot.
Read Domabyl’s full opening-day card →
▶ Watch the opening-day preview with Mikee P & Will Humphrey →
Mark Your Calendar: Michael’s Colonial Coverage
Michael isn’t just here for Opening Day. He’s handicapping the meet’s 20 most influential days — written analysis on the site, plus podcast coverage — so you’ll know exactly when to check back:
June: 25 (Opening Day), 27
July: 3, 4, 11, 18, 25, 30, 31
August: 1 (Arlington Million Day), 2, 8, 15, 22, 29
September: 5, 7 (Old Dominion Derby & Closing Day)
Plus three flex days to be announced during the meet.
The Weekend Ahead
Saturday is a big one. Reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty returns in the $2 million Grade 1 Stephen Foster at Churchill, and the contest crowd has seats on the line all over the place — Laurel’s $500 De Francis Dash Handicap Challenge, the $3,500 Stephen Foster Betting Challenge on TwinSpires, and our own ITM HorsePlayers Tour feeder (which benefits Breeders’ Cup charities).
And we’ve got shows to get you ready: Friday, PTF and Mike P dig into the ITM HorsePlayers Tour; Saturday, PTF and Dan Illman go through the Laurel contest card, and JK and PTF preview the Stephen Foster. Watch on the ITM YouTube channel.
ITM Plus
All Summer Long
Exclusive podcasts, detailed written analysis, and premium selections — including Rob Dove’s private picks — every day, all the way to the Breeders’ Cup.
More all week at inthemoneypodcast.com, with daily previews on the ITM YouTube channel and premium tips on ITM Plus.
