by Nick Hahn
Nick’s Notes: Mid-meet Awards
We are at the pivot point in Colonial’s meet this summer, so it’s time to pass out the oat buckets as midpoint awards for a meet that has seen a 4.5″ rainfall, power outages and now a heatwave.
Jockey – Horacio Karamanos, a.k.a. “Special K”, has proven that he can win at any level of racing at Colonial Downs and has proven that he rides a maiden claiming race like a Grade II.
Horse – Boltin’ Out, he must wear earmuffs. How else can he tolerate all that noise when he returns to the winner’s circle? Stephanie Nixon’s gelding is 2 for 2 this summer at Colonial, the only track where he has ever won. Bolt’ Out is 4 of 9 lifetime and won 2 races last summer.
Trainer – Tough one here with Reid Nagle training 5 of his 11 starters to the finish line first and Patrick Neusch winning with 3 of his 5 starters. Neusch once started a Colonial meet with 4 straight wins. Both of these guys are in my Charlottesville backyard. Edge to Neusch here because….
Owner – …Big Lick can pick up the Oat Bucket for Reid Nagle as an owner. The only owner close to Big Lick’s 5 wins is PTK with 4.
Race of the Meet – Let’s Drink on It and Brahms Bracelet finished in a dead heat Wednesday, June 19th with jockeys Samantha Colvin and Stevica Djuric aboard. Djuric had a 6 length lead at the top of the stretch after setting quarters in 23.19 and 46.44 and was trying to find the wire. Colvin closed from 3rd to even the ordeal at the wire.
Nick’s Picks
| RACE 1 | ||
| 2 | MONTELLA | How do you take against an English Channel-bred after watching Saturday’s All Along? You don’t. |
| 3 | NIKOLDINI | |
| 6 | SKIP THE RATE | |
| RACE 2 | ||
| 6 | SMOOTH ASTER | Older mare may relish the turf here and apprentice Keiser. Sheldon rides a first timer by Two Punch. |
| 4 | APPEALYNN | |
| 1 | BEAR SLAYER | |
| RACE 3 | ||
| 1 | BATHE ME IN GIN | Complete Dyno, the favorite in his 4th start of the meet. Go for Karamanos on 2nd start on the turf. |
| 6 | IRUNALATTE | |
| 9 | POWERFUL JUJU | |
| RACE 4 | ||
| 3 | PRINCE TOGIAK | Coady took a winner’s circle picture of me and this horse as “Victims of Nick’s Picks. Returns to it tonight. |
| 6 | LUCIANO’S SOUL | |
| 9 | HIGH GROSS | |
| RACE 5 | ||
| 6 | ORCHESTRA LEADER | One of the better angles at CNL is jumps to routes. Don’t believe me? Look at the favorite. |
| 1 | MR. STARR’S REPORT | |
| 4 | DUNCAN’S CIRCLE | |
| RACE 6 | ||
| 8 | ELLA MARIE | Tempting longshots behind top 2 choices w/high % jockey and trainers. Two good ’12 starts for Special K |
| 7 | FIXIN THE BOOKS | |
| 6 | NIKKI B. BAD | |
| RACE 7 | ||
| 4 | FREUDIAN DILEMMA | Done Talking, KY Derby starter and ILL Derby winner in 2012. X-man gets a blitzing mount. |
| 1 | A P ELVIS | |
| 8 | DONE TALKING | |
| RACE 8 | ||
| 7 | LOVE HERO | X-man has a CNL win this summer with 2 here, but can only ride one today, the one with the class edge. |
| 1 | PACK A PUNCH | |
| 10 | HUNTER’S HOLLOW | |
