Nick's Picks: Colonial Downs picks July 11, 2025 * The Racing Biz

Nick’s Picks: Colonial Downs picks July 11, 2025

The Biz
July 11, 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 11, 2025, 4:00 p.m.
RACES: 9
CARRYOVERS: Pick 6, $7,919

RACE 1

Opener on the dirt has a half-dozen maiden fillies going six furlongs with three having made only one start.

2. Determined Achoti	Despite not having a start, Trombetta’s filly has been sharp in the Fair Hill mornings and gets Paco Lopez aboard.
4. Harmony Road	Trainer Blake Kelly has a win in the meet already and is in good position should Trombetta’s filly not fire.
6. Alyvia Mavis	Ness’s filly has a lot of starts without a win, but many of her better starts have come recently.

RACE 2

Nine two-year-olds sprint with only three starts among them and seven making their racing debut.

8. Hutchinson	Keith Desormeaux ships in perhaps the priciest freshmen in the field that has displayed some morning energy.
7. Smols	Might “be killing me,” not to take one of Munoz’s two starters, the only two in the field that has actual race experience.
9. Jigger	Allen may flip if Paco Lopez delivers Warwick horse from the outside to win, but will be happy to make the board.

RACE 3

Yet another dirt sprint, this time a Virginia-restricted allowance that has three previous Colonial winners.

3. Eastbostonbenny	Klesaris, who has had some great meets at Colonial, looks for the lead and a three-peat, including one here at Colonial in March.
2. Enduring Gold	Trombetta’s colt comes back from the turf but ran well on the Colonial dirt in March, a little behind the other Klesaris in the field.
4. Village Person	Klesaris could sweep the exacta here, a rare feat, as this guy won his only prior start, here in March

RACE 4

First turf of the evening is a maiden sprint, all three-year-olds, with plenty of race experience underneath them.

2. Captain Eddie	Lightner and Curtis teamed up for win earlier in the week; this gelding nearly won in his first start on the turf in December.
4. Transactional Guy	Russell’s ride in his debut made up a lot of ground after being pinched at the start. A better start today makes him legitimate.
3. Wheneveruremember	A bit of a sentimental pick is homebred of the late Larry Johnson sired by Gun Runner and perhaps maturing at the right moment.

RACE 5

Claimers that haven’t won two races make up a seven-horse field largely void of speed.

6. Takethefifth	Though it took a while to break through with a win, Rubley’s four-year-old ran consistently well last summer in tough fields.
1. Mi Dinero	Many know Munoz a little better for churning dirt wins, but the only win of this gelding’s career was on the turf in his debut.
4. Athletic Star	Sillaman’s gelding passed up an opportunity to run yesterday, preferring a little firmer turf today.

RACE 6

In a turf route, these female claimers are very familiar with each other, squaring off in several mid-Atlantic venues.

4. Don’t Tell Deren	Can’t fault the setback of Magee’s mare on the Delaware turf, considering she showed love for Colonial’s turf early in her career.
5. Maximo Madness	Since the switch to the turf and the claim, this miss of Allen’s looks like a different filly and may benefit from the extra sixteenth.
11. Next Episode	Schoenthal won on opening day, here starts an interesting veteran mare looking to make it four consecutive seasons with a win at Colonial

NICK’S NOTES

Picks continue below.
Nick’s exotic play of the day: Race 8, $2 double, 5,12 with 3,7,10,12
Thursday’s three scheduled steeplechase races were canceled because the turf was wet after evening rains, which also drove some of the flat turf races onto the main track. The turf was listed as yielding for the first couple of races and then upgraded to good…
The eight races went to eight different riders and eight different trainers…
17-1 Vintage Year won the nightcap to help trigger a carryover in the Pick 6. Sheldon Russell was up for Jack Fisher…
The featured allowance contest went to Mister Abarrio ($7.60) with Micah Husbands up for Saffie Joseph, Jr.

RACE 7

None of these mares is up for the claim in this allowance/optional claiming turf route, and nearly all have some kind of stakes experience.

9. Elysian Field	Casse has two solid entries in this group but this one makes her 2025 debut after a Grade 3 win at Woodbine in November.
7. Belle of Rights	A Virginia Oaks starter last September is Shug’s Constitution filly with Boyce aboard, a trusty go-to rider for Shug at Colonial.
4. Chick’s Shadow	Angel Rodriguez trains a steady performer making her 54th start with wins at Colonial Downs in 2022….and in 2019.

RACE 8

Twelve males of largely equal ability meet in the best betting race of the evening exhibiting Colonial’s deep jockey colony.

12. Deuteronomy	A Virginia Derby-winning trainer starts a 4-year-old colt by Virginia Derby winner Kitten’s Joy with Curtis aboard in his favorite situation, a turf route.
5. Massif	Russell the trainer parlayed a Colonial win last summer into a Virginia Derby start. Her gelding nearly won at Delaware in his 2025 debut.
3. Mission North	Looks for a fifth consecutive win, two of those coming over jumps, for trainer Jack Fisher, who won here Thursday. Commands respect.

RACE 9

Twelve maiden claimers contest a turf route, and the also-eligibles figure well if they can get in.

10. War Code	Robb’s gelding finished sixth but closed nicely and was beaten a little over two lengths in 12-horse field in debut.
12. Gladstone	Cibelli’s Lemon Drop Kid-sired four-year-old benefitted from a class drop to nearly win in his last start.
3. Fountain Run	For good reason, Curtis’ mount shipping in from Indiana will be a popular play, not the best win bet but an exotic must.