Nick's Picks: Colonial Downs picks July 19, 2025 * The Racing Biz

Nick’s Picks: Colonial Downs picks July 19, 2025

Nick Hahn
July 19, 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 18/12:30 p.m.
RACES: 10
CARRYOVERS: None

RACE 1

On a dirt track that took a lot of water yesterday seven maiden claimers go a mile all seasoned with starts.

4. Align	Schoenthal’s gelding has shown speed on both the dirt and turf. His disappointing muddy effort was some time back.
6. Set About	Calumet Farm sends out a McKinzie colt with a nice outing going seven furlongs in his 2025 debut at Churchill.
3. Pico Plat	A bit of a class drop for gelding under new trainer Werneth looking for better results with more distance.

RACE 2

Virginia-restricted maidens sprint on the turf where Bailes draws both inside posts.

5. Buthespretty	Without winning her 2025 debut, proved herself on the dirt and has the pedigree to match on the turf.
3. Colonel Tully	Minor bullet works before and after a solid first start on the dirt now switching to the turf.
2. Vernor’s Junction	Seems to find the lead in all her turf starts and looks for a way to keep it.

RACE 3

The field of the Brookmeade, a $125k turf route for females, has many paths to victory in a short field.

5. Buzzaway	Toledo gets the mount on an improving filly that won with drama in her last start.
1. Quadra	Delacour’s three-year-old bred is a different filly since trying the turf in her last two starts.
4. Mila Candy	Beyers and Tomlinson says the Audley Farm-bred works but changes surfaces and distance.

RACE 4

Twelve two-year-old maiden fillies sprint on the turf with only one having made a start.

10. Ginger Snap	Off a solid first start on the dirt, bloodlines suggest the turf would only be better.
12. In Her Glory	If Trombetta’s Constitution filly on the outside can find the lead, she very well may keep it.
4. Arete	Russell’s Twirling Candy filly has some turf pedigree with Jevian Toledo aboard.

RACE 5

Female nonwinners of two go a mile around one turn where speed should still rule.

6. Disco Rules	A quick change of surface early in her career has paid off, with a little different adjustment today.
2. Meg	When not on the turf, seems to find a way to the lead, which has been dangerous in the meet so far.
7. Lou Anna	McCutchen’s older filly has a win on the dirt at Colonial but goes a little farther today.

RACE 6

A dozen nonwinners of two claimers sprint on the turf with several with a win at Colonial.

8. No Cents Non Cents	Pretty good opportunity for Eagle Point to collect a win off a bullet work. Ashton back aboard.
7. Lazio	Lightner’s colt has turned out nice performances on synthetic and turf consistently, comes in fresh.
10. Graydaria	Tomlinson the trainer saddles one bred a little more for the turf and drops to the right level.

NICK’S NOTES

Picks continue below.
Colonial was off the turf on Friday, which left the field in the $125,000 Edward P. Evans Stakes for Virginia-bred or -sired runners entirely at the mercy of Repo Rocks, who won by 6 1/2 lengths in 1:42.11 for 1 1/16 miles. Mychel Sanchez was in the irons for trainer Jamie Ness. Repo Rocks paid $3.20 to win and now has 11 wins and more than $1.1 million in earnings…
In the 5 1/2-furlong Punch Line, also Virginia-restriced. Showstopper Copper won by five lengths and paid $3.00 as the odds-on choice. Ben Curtis was up for Thomas Lingenfelter. Showstopper Copper is now 5-for-9 in his career…

RACE 7

The $125,000 Glenn Petty features seven Virginia-bred females sprinting on the turf with last year’s winner.

5. Mystic Seaport	Ness’s mare is in a good position to repeat coming into the race with turf form and few newcomers.
1. Chickahominy	If there is an advisory to last year’s winner, its Eagle Point’s mare that’s faced her twice.
7. Noquestionaboutit	A newcomer is Trombetta’s three-year-old filly, a Larry Johnson homebred trained by Trombetta.

RACE 8

A full dozen claimers sprint on the turf, many seeing that surface for the first time in a while.

2. Lady Zeta	Ness’s mare will take a lot of money with three wins this year, one switched to it from the turf.
5. Wonder Girl	Magee’s mare is a different horse on the turf and returns winning jockey Lopez.
1. Jokes Up	Curtis gets the mount on one that has been knocking on the door on the synthetic.

RACE 9

A dozen nonwinners of two sprint on the turf, many of those wins not happening recently.

4. Grand Opening	The turf setback last year sticks out but the class of the NY-bred program may carry through for Bailes.
6. Enduring Gold	Trombetta’s colt followed up a recent win with a good performance next time out.
8. Monsieur Candy	Winning form seems to be on the front end, but there may be too much chaos in this field for that to happen.

RACE 10

Twelve fillies look to graduate in a turf route in a field about as even as they come.

10. Lorraine	A four-year-old may be a little more developed who has been close multiple times recently.
2. Sheila’s Lion	Look for a move from mid-pack for Desormeaux’s class dropper.
11. Be Together	Thomas turns to the turf for his Strawbridge-bred that picks up Curtis to validate a solid first start.