Will I Play stuns Colonial crowd . . . and announcer Beem

Prior to the ninth race at Colonial Downs yesterday, there was no reason for the casual fan to get excited about first-time starter Will I Play. The 3-year-old daughter’s sire, No Never No More, had just one winner so far this year, the filly’s works leading up to the race were mediocre at best, and she drew into a race with a field of 13.

But Will I Play, under an exceptional ride by Gavin Ashton, exploded down the stretch in the race at 5 1/2 furlongs over the outer turf course and caused an explosion on the tote board as well.

The filly bred in Maryland by Winding Creek Farm broke 11th, but Ashton quickly moved her up on the inside as the field approached the turn. Nearing the top of the stretch, she still had eight rivals in front of her and it appeared as though she had no place to go. But Ashton found a hole between runners and urged his filly through, then sent her after the leaders with a powerful move. Nearing the wire, surprised announcer Jason Beem chimed in with . . . “Will I Play emerges from the pack . . . I think between horses it’s Will I Play . . . a big price – 50-1.”

Will I Play, a $9,000 RNA at OBS June, won it by a neck and lit up the tote board – $118.20 – $52.80 – $31.20. She raced the distance in 1:06.94, earned a healthy check for $19,200 and has horsemen and horseplayers anxiously looking ahead to her second start.

Not too far from Colonial, Valuable Breigh went wire-to-wire racing 5 1/2 furlongs at Delaware Park. The 4-year-old Gone Astray filly sizzled past the poles in :21.75, :45.43 and :57.71 under Eliseo Ruiz en route to a 2 1/4-length score in 1:04.01. It was nearly eight lengths back to third.

It was the first try at Delaware for the filly bred by Carol Reitman, Susan Gannon and Warren Miller after eight races at Parx and she earned a check for $8,400, raising her total to $76,070 on a record of 4-2-2 in 21 starts. She paid $5.40.