Expert Pick of the Week: 2025 Star De Naskra Stakes

Jul 11, 2025

Colonial Downs (Photo by Coady Media)

A well-matched field of nine sophomores will run seven-eighths on the Colonial Downs dirt in Saturday’s $125,000 Star De Naskra S. The feature for regionally bred runners lacks a true standout, and a case can be made for numerous entrants in the heat.

Barbadian Runner has won or placed in 10 of his 12 lifetime runs on the main oval and has arguably never been better in advance of this assignment. Trained by Henry Walters, the dark bay is a three-time stakes victor who comes off a fine try when second best in the Delaware Derby on June 14 when splitting a fine pair of horses. The gelded Maryland-bred has upped his game since having blinkers added in December and registered a healthy 100 Brisnet Speed figure in his latest test, too.

The stalking type owns a win and two thirds from a trio of performances at seven panels, and the son of Barbados has also posted a pair of solid maintenance drills in preparation for his local bow, as well. Forest Boyce will pilot the leading selection.

Stakes winner Re Markably was outrun in his seasonal debut and first try for Bill Mott in an allowance attempt over a sloppy oval at Saratoga on June 7, but I expect a big move forward from the colt in his second run of the campaign. The son of Hoppertunity had won or placed in each of his six tries as a two-year-old, five of which came in the stakes ranks, and his trio of morning moves leading up to Saturday should have the colt primed to run his best in this endeavor. Jorge Ruiz will ride the bay and will have him in range throughout.

The Robert Bailes-trained Slam Notion never got going in the deep Chick Lang S. at Pimlico in his black-type debut, but the Great Notion gelding had been first or second in five straight prior to that showing, and he is a great fit in this field from a nice post draw. Maryland-bred three-year-old gives the impression of a horse that will appreciate the move to seven furlongs, and I expect him to be close from the break in a field lacking an abundance of pace. J. G. Torrealba will be in the stirrups.

Expert Pick

An exacta with #5 Barbadian Runner on top of #2 Re Markably and #8 Slam Notion in the 2025 Star De Naskra Stakes is the Best Bet of the Week.