Nick's Picks: Colonial Downs picks July 12, 2025 * The Racing Biz

Nick’s Picks: Colonial Downs picks July 12, 2025

The Biz
July 12, 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 12/12:30 EDT
RACES: 10
CARRYOVERS: None

RACE 1

Opening on the turf today are two well-bred first timers in a field of maiden claimers sprinting against many with recent good starts.

7. Shameless Bride	Former Eclipse Award-winning apprentice gets the mount on one of those first timers working well on the Turfway synthetic.
6. Tutta Bella	Cheminaud delivered a winner on Friday night for Correas with a poor-performing filly with bullet Keeneland works.
5. Blue Ice	Sheldon Russell, off to a good start in the meet, gets a well-bred Frosted-sired filly. Tough to ignore.

RACE 2

On the dirt are maiden sprinters with three making their debut against capable veterans running well but not quite at this level.

3. Musical	If a pricetag impresses you, this is your choice as your $700,000 purchase out of the Keeneland September Yearling sale debuts.
1. Flick	Bred by the University of Kentucky and has been bumping up his Beyer with every start, each coming at a different track.
4. Rule Sixty Two	The Correas-Cheminaud sharp Keeneland work angle can’t work every time, but it works often.

RACE 3

Nine female maidens sprint on the dirt with a unique auction condition or claliming price of $50k with only three having starts.

8. Sugaree	One of those with a start is Ken McPeek’s By My Standards filly that worked hard to get place money in her debut.
7. Queen of Wands	Country Life starts a Maryland-bred sired by Divining Rod who showed some nice works in mid-June leading up to here.
4. Charcoal Queen	Coming in from Horseshoe Indy is Ethan West’s solid worker ready for her debut also after some solid mid-June works.

RACE 4

A dozen turf milers are slated in this non-winners of two with Morris having one that could win off the AE list.

8. Union Bulldog	DARRS (Ross) has two wins in the meet already and starts one who won at Colonial Downs last year.
4. Lothario	Nagle’s grey has been improving with each 2025 start and may have figured out how to finish a turf race.
5. Drilling for Gold	First start of 2025 for the four-year-old gelding by Twirling Candy after winning in first in the Russell barn.

RACE 5

The first stake race of the meet is the $125,000 Miss Disco for Virginia/Maryland restricted three-year-old fillies on the dirt.

1. Conquerthosewecan	Russell’s entries finished one-two a head apart at Laurel last month and threaten to do the same today.
4. Mila Candy	Audley-bred Twirling Candy filly has seen the toughest competition and churned the best Beyers in the field.
6. Grayson’s Girl	Can’t move “the other Russell” too far down the list from her stablemate, and the extra furlong may move her up.

RACE 6

In a sprint, eleven female maidens with significant racing expereince on dirt without merit, so look for turf upswings.

4. Souper Upgrade	The standout turf outing in the group comes from Trombetta’s filly with Sanchez aboard, like today, at Laurel.
8. Insolenta	Blair’s new barn entrant saw some turf at Santa Anita, earning speed figs that were solid but not for the company, gets major class relief today
7. V Inspired	Ashton returns to ride this miss for the Godsey barn, a filly sired by Travers winner V.E. Day who hasn’t raced in almost a year

NICK’S NOTES

Picks continue below.
Jockey Paco Lopez had a Friday triple. The veteran took a Virginia-restricted allowance aboard Village Person ($6.00) for trainer Steve Klesaris, an allowance/optional claimer on Avenue Niel ($12.20) for Mike Trombetta, and another allowance/optional claimer on Air Recruit ($7.60) for Arnaud Delacour...
In the third race, an auction maiden event for two-year-olds, first-time starter Max Capacity ($8.60) ran ’em off their feet, winning by four lengths in 1:05.54 for 5 1/2 furlongs on the dirt. Jevian Toledo was in the irons for trainer Ricky Sillaman…

RACE 7

Eleven claimers are entered in a turf sprint with dozens of starts among each starter, a veteran group.

1. Rigel	Off the layoff, Curtis gets the mount on a veteran looking to Carpe Diem his fourth straight win, breaking from the rail.
7. Holy Moly Moses	Falcone’s gelding has won his last two turf starts including a May win at Gulfstream from off the pace.
10. Forrest City	Forrest City, with Forest Boyce aboard, makes his first start on turf in nearly two years.

RACE 8

Nobody in this allowance/optional claiming turf route is entered via the claiming route.

2. Dripping Gold	Of the nationally known trainers in this race, Shug’s Lemon Drop Kid gelding has been productive on the turf in recent starts.
3. Goldeneye	The past performance line of McPeek’s Hard Spun gelding are eeriely similar to the top selection in recent starts.
9. Eyes On the King	Casse’s gelding has found a little recent success on turf and gets Gallardo aboard, likely to be on the lead early.

RACE 9

The $125,000 Star De Naskra is for VA/MD restricted three-year-olds going seven furlongs.

5. Barbadian Runner	Beyers not the only reason to support Walters’ gelding but backs up his tracing speed and distance questions.
6. Reggie Runs Rogue	Nixon’s colt certainly likes Colonial in any form and had a wonderful 2025 debut but back in April.
1. Saxton	Along with the Miss Disco, Russell could sweep the stakes double but a tougher ask here.

RACE 10

Twelve Virginia-restricted female maidens go a mile on the turf many with the same amount of class and experience.

3. Risky Beesness	It seems like Curtis will get the condition and distance to punch through.
5. Arise My Love	A sharp uptick for Milosevic’s filly in her last start, her first on the turf, that will be shadowing Curtis nearly from the start.
11. Kimber Spice	First start in the Eagle Point barn for a four-year-old filly sired by Gun Runner that as a four-year-old may be further developed.