Nick’s Picks: Colonial Downs picks July 15, 2023
Nick Hahn- July 15, 2023
Nick’s Picks is back with Colonial Downs picks and analysis during the 2022 live meeting.
As he has done every year since Colonial Downs opened — all the way back in 1997 — Nick Hahn will share his picks and analysis, plus news and notes and opinions on the Colonial meet. There is no better guide to racing in New Kent than Nick Hahn!
This year’s Colonial Downs meet will feature some things that are new and some that are familiar. Familiar trainer faces include Colonial regulars Graham Motion, Karen Godsey, Kelsey Danner, Mike Tomlinson and Mike Trombetta, along with multiple leading trainer Michael Stidham.
On the jockey side, look for defending champion Jevian Toledo, who is looking forward to a busy summer in New Kent; Colonial’s all-time leading jockey Horacio Karamanos; Antonio Gallardo, a perennial top rider at Tampa Bay Downs in the winter months; Adam Beschizza; and Joe Rocco, Jr.
Nick’s Picks Play of the Day
In no real position to chase a Pick 6 after a dismal early meet that has only solved two winners, yet I’m “Even Steven” on the year thanks to Air One, who paid $33.20 as a top-pick winner. Feel free to chop it into Pick 3s. CALL IT—Race 4; $1 Old Dominion Pick 6—6 with 2,3,6 with 1,7 with 9 with 1,2,5 with 1,3 (Costs $36).
CHECK OUT THE LATEST OFF TO THE RACES RADIO!
RACE 1
| 1 | IMMORTAL LION | Five starts among the nine 2yo here. Casse and Stidham have two each, prefer #1, who’s Kitten’s Joy-sired. |
| 3 | RUM TUM TUGGER | |
| 4 | GOLDEN ERA |
RACE 2
| 5 | AFTER EIGHT | Two here from the Stormy Blues stakes at Laurel including, Delacour show horse switching jockeys. |
| 4 | DETERMINED CHARM | |
| 2 | CAROLINE KRYSTYNA |
RACE 3
| 1 | PETIT FILS | McGoey and Zook have two each in a short field but like class dropping #1 for Lawrence. |
| 6 | TEMPUS | |
| 5 | CANDY KINGDOM |
RACE 4 – $125,000 Tyson Gilpin/Glenn Petty Stakes (VA-bred/sired)
| 6 | AISHA R N | Asmussen sends quick “RN” versus foes including Cooney filly #7 looking for 5 straight wins. |
| 8 | CHAMBEAU | |
| 7 | SPEAK YOUR MIND |
RACE 5 – $125,000 Punch Line Stakes (VA-bred/sired)
| 6 | BOLDOR | The top three from last year’s Punch Line return, likely top three again but not in the same order. |
| 3 | DETERMINED KINGDOM | |
| 2 | EMBOLDEN |
RACE 6 – $125,000 Brookmeade Stakes (VA-bred/sired)
| 7 | SURYA | 4-year-old Surya, proven at Colonial, faces three year olds proven everywhere else. |
| 1 | TUFANI | |
| 4 | BODE’S HERITAGE |
RACE 7 – $125,000 Edward P. Evans Stakes (VA-bred/sired)
| 9 | GIGANTE | Asmussen maybe a big day, here supplementing 2-time Colonial winner Gigante. |
| 7 | KENDAMA | |
| 6 | PASSION PLAY |
RACE 8
| 5 | JAN’S GIRL | Cazares filly #5 has won last two and jockey Gallardo won two on opening day. |
| 2 | CUPID’S STRIKE | |
| 1 | TIC TIC TIC BOOM |
RACE 9
| 3 | KIT CAN RUN | Casse’s four-year-old Kitten’s Joy #3 broke through on Gulfstream synthetic, chases D’oro Baby. |
| 1 | D’ORO BABY | |
| 2 | VOODOO MAMA JUJU |
NICKS’ NOTES
HEADING TO THE TRACK? Print a PDF of Nick’s Picks so you’re ready to make some money.
TODAY’S CARRYOVERS
- Pick 6: $5,327
HOW LONGSHOTS HAPPEN (Pt. 2)—One of the forgotten three-year-olds that loved Colonial Downs was Battle of Hastings (GB), who won the 2009 Virginia Derby and Colonial Turf Cup during the Grand Slam of Grass era.
The first winner of this summer’s meet was Watch This Birdie, whose owner, Michael House, also owned Battle of Hastings.
Battle of Hastings subsequently placed in a number of graded races and won the G3 River City Handicap at Churchill Downs, though he raced primarily on the West Coast. He was never better than when he raced at Colonial Downs.
BAND OR BRED? Is it the name of a horse? Or the name of a band?
Today it’s… Carbon Leaf: Band or bred?
Friday: Billy Lamb, named after the legendary Ashland teacher and trainer, was an Eagle Point colt that started five races, winning one in 1996.
LISTEN UP! Off to the Races Radio is on every Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m.! You can find it:
- On ESPN Richmond (106.1 FM) for a two-hour program each Saturday during the Colonial meet and one hour thereafter straight through Breeders’ Cup!
- On ESPN Harrisonburg (106.9 FM and 1360 AM) for one hour each Saturday covering the Colonial Downs Thoroughbred meet and the Shenandoah Downs harness meet!
- On Baltimore Positive (1570 AM) every Saturday morning straight through Breeders’ Cup!
YOUNG FOGIE: Former Jockey Ryan Fogelsonger joins Off to the Races-Virginia at 10:30 a.m. each Saturday! He was the 2002 Eclipse Award winner as outstanding apprentice rider.
NICK’S PIC OF THE DAY
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