Nick’s Picks: Colonial Downs picks July 9, 2025
He’s probably the only public handicapper who’s ‘capped every race at Colonial Downs since Day One, and he’s back for more in 2025: Nick’s Picks returns with picks and analysis for every day of the Colonial meet.
- DATE/POST TIME: July 9/12:30 p.m. EDT
- RACES: 8
- CARRYOVERS: None
RACE 1
Opening the meet, the only task tougher than handicapping 12 2-year olds in a dirt sprint may be to call it.
7. Felix’s Flower | A couple of bullet works in Kentucky for Mendelssohn-sired, Virginia-certifed filly who gets Paco Lopez up. |
12. Celtic Harp | Ham Smith, who won several training titles at Colonial including 2021, saddles a Blofeld filly sharp at Laurel. |
3. Wickedwithbourbon | Of the three with starts in this field, Keith Desormeaux’s filly has the best run in a start at Churchill Downs. |
RACE 2
Conditions become more relevant in races like this dirt sprint where class is key.
3. Miami Frank | Joseph brings in a sophomore had a nice return to racing after winning at $50,000 earlier this year. |
2. Chado | No stranger to Colonial is trainer McCutchen, who starts some nice horses in nice spots early in the meet. |
1. Bebedouro | Tomlinson’s veteran has two wins this year in a little lower company and a strong Beyer speed fig last time out. |
RACE 3
Nationally known trainers abound in the first turf race of the season for female maidens going a mile.
4. Town Light | Schoenthal’s City of Light filly had a nice debut and subsequent work. |
7. Protective Custody | Shug McGaughey’s Ghostzapper filly has the field’s best Beyer generated in her first turf start. On softer going, maybe better. |
3. Circling | Derby trainer Ethan West also brings a second-time turf starter with a veteran edge to her resume. |
RACE 4
These mile turf claimers are largely veterans that have not seen much of each other, coming in from many tracks.
1. General’s Duty | First time in the irons on this one for Ben Curtis, who rides Cibelli’s gelding, who has two very different wins within the last year — on dirt at Laurel, turf at Tampa. |
9. Coaches Meeting | Four here have a win in their last start, but Sillaman’s gelding has a win in his last two start and gets Karamanos aboard. |
8. Slippin Jimmy | McCutchen’s veteran looks to win a race at Colonial for the fourth consecutive summer on turf after a dismal 2025 dirt debut against much better. |
RACE 5
Two bred by the late Larry Johnson are among 11 Virginia-restricted distaffers looking for maiden win.
10. Sporting Lady | On paper the three second place finishes of Keri Brion’s filly stand out, as does the $100,000 price tag. Has to be due. |
1. Got a Complex | Drury’s first-time starter will be one to pay attention to in the paddock, coming in with several sharp works and Curtis aboard. |
5. Cross of Valor | Allen’s filly seems to find a way to consistently be in contention and looks to carry dirt form to grass. |
RACE 6
Twelve turf sprinters in a second-level allowance field where it’s hard to find the pace that makes race.
10. Where’s Ray | Salzman’s five-year old has had some nice second place finishes of late but not a win since Colonial Downs last summer. |
6. Barzini | Trombetta’s gelding may be best to take advantage of some early sizzle as he did in a win in his last impressive start. |
4. Incinerator | Magana’s colt has come far from being a popular claim and winner of two Colonial races last summer. Returns Carrasco aboard today, a combo that won twice here last year. |
NICK’S NOTES
- Picks continue below.
- With Maryland closed this summer, there are full fields everywhere you look at Colonial on opening weekend…
- The first two stakes of the season are Saturday and are part of the new series of stakes restricted to Maryland- and Virginia- sired/bred runners…
- For a meet preview, please click here…
RACE 7
Back to dirt, a field of nine milers include three last-out winners looking to repeat. The only one with a Colonial start ran second in the Pet Mile.
6. Bernin Hot | One of those winners shortens up half a furlong and has shown to be more than capable of finding the lead returning Curtis aboard. |
2. Pirate | Once-pricey Omaha Beach colt now trained by Ness makes his first start since a speedy win in the Aqueduct mud in April. |
8. Awesome Ruta | Near-miss runner-up in last summer’s Petramalo Mile here gets reunited with that day’s jock today. |
RACE 8
Deep race histories don’t go over well in this condition, “non winners other than,” but there’s enough to see what they can do.
7. Lady de Berry | Russell returns for Russell aboard a graded stakes-placed runner that could be excused for not winning on the Delaware turf. |
10. Majestic Drive | A minor layoff for Walsh’s Quality Road filly that won back-to-back in the spring on two different surfaces. |
2. Atmidnight | Looks to find the Colonial winner’s circle for the third consecutive summer. Kantharos filly broke her maiden at first asking here in 2023. |
Picture of the day
Maiden voyage
This is the first race on the first day of live racing in 2019 — Colonial Downs’s first day back in action since 2013. Now the track hosts a Kentucky Derby points race and a Grade 1 and has purses that are the envy of the region. In this contest, eventual winner Charmn Charlie Ray is #6, inside. Photo by The Racing Biz.

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