Nick's Picks: Colonial Downs picks July 9, 2025 * The Racing Biz

Nick’s Picks: Colonial Downs picks July 9, 2025

Nick Hahn
July 8, 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.