BAILES EYES STAKES DOUBLE WITH WAR HUMOR, SLEWPERSTITUS ON EXPANDED SATURDAY CARD AT COLONIAL DOWNS
Posted on July 6th, 2026
NEW KENT, Va. (July 6, 2026) — Trainer Robert Bailes will send out a pair of live contenders on Saturday’s expanded stakes program at Colonial Downs, with War Humor targeting the $125,000 Punch Line, a 5½-furlong turf sprint for older Virginia-bred or Virginia-sired horses, and Slewperstitus set for another showdown with rival Just Philtored in the $125,000 Miss Disco, a seven-furlong dirt stakes for Virginia- and Maryland-bred 3-year-old fillies.
Originally scheduled to feature only the $125,000 Glenn Petty Stakes and $125,000 Punch Line Stakes for older Virginia-bred and Virginia-sired turf sprinters, Saturday’s program expanded to include four stakes after last week’s postponement of the Miss Disco and $125,000 Star De Naskra Stakes. The 10-race card begins at 12:30 p.m. ET.
War Humor enters the Punch Line as the 5-1 morning-line third choice off the biggest victory of his career after capturing the Edward P. Evans Stakes on opening weekend. The victory came at 1 1/16- miles, a new challenge for a horse whose previous three wins all came sprinting 5½ furlongs.
Bailes said the stretch-out was never intended simply as a steppingstone back to a sprint.
“It wasn’t a prep for this,” Bailes said. “We basically entered into the long race, and if we didn’t think we were in the right spot, then we’d probably skip it and come back for the Punch Line. We thought we could win it, so we gave it a shot going long.”
The trainer said connections have not completely committed to Saturday’s Punch Line and will continue monitoring the gelding this week before making a final decision.
“We’re going to let the horse tell us if he’s ready to go throughout the week and see how he’s doing,” Bailes said. “He’s feeling very good right now.”
Should he start, War Humor will face a competitive field that includes Determined Kingdom, a three-time Punch Line winner trained by Mike Trombetta.
Earlier on the card, Bailes will saddle 8-5 morning-line second choice Slewperstitus in the seven-furlong Miss Disco as she renews her rivalry with likely favorite Just Philtored. The two 3-year-old fillies have met four times, with Slewperstitus finishing directly behind her rival in each encounter, including both stakes meetings at Colonial Downs last summer.
Bailes believes his Maryland Million Lassie winner has developed considerably since those meetings.
“She has definitely matured physically,” Bailes said. “She’s filled out a little bit more. If you ask me, she’s just right.”
The postponement gave the filly another week between starts after last Saturday’s races were called off.
“We were really looking forward to running on Saturday, but they made the right decision not to run because of the heat,” Bailes said. “We worked her back yesterday, and hopefully we’ll be smiling on Saturday.”
Slewperstitus drew the rail for the seven-furlong test and will again be ridden by Jevian Toledo. While the inside post could produce a favorable stalking trip, Bailes is content to leave the tactics to his veteran rider.
“We’ll leave that up to Mr. Toledo,” Bailes said.
Saturday’s 50-cent Late Pick 5, featuring a 12% takeout, begins with the Miss Disco in Race 6 and includes the Star De Naskra in Race 7, the Glenn Petty in Race 8 and the Punch Line in Race 9.
Live racing resumes Thursday, July 9, with a regular first post of 12:30 p.m. ET. Colonial Downs has also added a live racing program for Monday, July 13.
