Nick’s Picks: Colonial Downs picks August 5, 2023
Nick Hahn- August 5, 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.
Nick’s Picks Play of the Day
Let’s hunt the stakes (Keswick/Hickory Tree) double. CALL IT—Race 6, $2 Double 7,10 with 1,7 (Costs $8).
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.
CHECK OUT THE LATEST OFF TO THE RACES RADIO!
RACE 1
| 6 | TWO ITEM SAVER | On the dirt…for top two, tough opponents in debuts here with Pretty Mischievous and Hoosier Philly. |
| 3 | SOUPER EXPLOSIVE | |
| 2 | P J’S RIDER |
RACE 2
| 6 | AIR RECRUIT | Nonstarters getting preference over starters in the morning line. If going by morning works, seems just. |
| 8 | ST JAMES THE GREAT | |
| 7 | SHARDS |
RACE 3
| 9 | MASIFF | If you like King Kontie later today, you’ll like Russell’s two-year-old #9, the only one to go with him in first start. |
| 7 | BIG TAP | |
| 1 | WHERE’S CHARLIE |
RACE 4
| 2 | BEN’S HERO | Having such a solid first meet, Klesaris’ three-year-olds could dead heat giving him two wins in this race. |
| 8 | THE FUTURE IS NOW | |
| 10 | GAMERUN |
RACE 5
| 8 | GO BEARS GO | Tough choice with the Bears’ dismantling of Arlington Park, but IL-bred #8 didn’t ship in without purpose. |
| 3 | DETERMINED KINGDOM | |
| 5 | OLYMPIC RUNNER |
RACE 6 – KESWICK STAKES
| 7 | RAN OUT OF TRAINER | On dirt, an impressive Charles Town debut winner #7 faces Reid’s #10 that already has a graded attempt. |
| 10 | CARMELINA | |
| 8 | LOW MILEAGE |
RACE 7 – HICKORY TREE STAKES
| 1 | KING KONTIE | Can King Kontie show on the dirt what he convincely showed on the turf? What’s his future if he does? |
| 7 | WILD WEST JUSTICE | |
| 6 | IRISH BANDIT |
RACE 8
| 10 | MOMENTOUS MISS | #10 passed on earlier week race to go here for local trainer Woodberry Payne. Good race to go wide in exotics. |
| 6 | LITA | |
| 2 | YOU’RE AVOIDING ME |
RACE 9
| 6 | MAKE ‘EM TAP | Going a little further may help Cazares gelding #6 who ran well and wide versus solid Dear Santa already. |
| 7 | NANGA PARBAT | |
| 1 | MALIBU RUMBLE |
NICKS’ NOTES
HEADING TO THE TRACK? Print a PDF of Nick’s Picks so you’re ready to make some money.
TODAY’S CARRYOVERS
- None
TWO-YEAR-OLD TESTS — King Kontie hopes to become one of the first repeat winners of Colonial’s meet in Saturday’s $150,000 Hickory Tree stakes, named after a 300-acre farm located in The Plains.
An impressive opening weekend winner for jockey Fredy Peltrouche and trainer Ollie Figgins, King Kontie scored by five unchallenged lengths on debut, and the two-year-old is 3-2 in the morning line.
Just prior, the eleven-horse, $150,000 Keswick stakes is far more balanced. Morning line favorite Carmelina is 5-2 for trainer Butch Reid. No need to sweat a surface change: both sprints are on the dirt.
BAND OR BRED? Is it the name of a horse? Or the name of a band?
Today it’s… Nellie Cashman: Band or bred?
Last out: Cocktail Cutie is a maiden filly that ran at Del Mar Friday evening carrying the hopes of Nick’s Picks.
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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