Nick's Picks: Colonial Downs picks July 26, 2025 * The Racing Biz

Nick’s Picks: Colonial Downs picks July 26, 2025

Nick Hahn
July 25, 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 26/12:30 p.m.
RACES: 10

RACE 1

The opener on the dirt is a two-year-old filly sprint on the dirt with a combined two starts among the seven in the field.

2. Sassy Fox	The Charles Town shipper for Farrior appears solid in the mornings and could be ready to make a big impression in his debut.
6. Midnight Spin	Clement starts two firsters, one by Hard Spun that could be a factor based on his lineage.
1. Royalties Riches	Trombetta debuts a February foal with Sanchez aboard with plenty of morning air from Fair Hill to be a factor.

RACE 2

On the dirt, maiden claimers sprint six furlongs.

3. Guns and Ships	Amoss’ gelding by Gun Runner drops after a layoff at Oaklawn and middling first start versus better.
8. Divine Swagger	From the turf to the off-track, Aguirre’s gelding is solid in starts that don’t involve a leap into MSW.
2. Military Grade	Look for this one to improve with his second start, this time with Sheldon aboard and Lasix on and better at six furlongs.

RACE 3

Two-year-old filles on the dirt sprint, and only one has a prior start, so works and pedigree count.

7. My Stubborn Lassie	Curtis gets the mount on one working impressively with a solid price tag and morning works to back it up.
8. Athenix	For Mellon Patch, Campbell debuts a pricey Good Magic filly.
5. Musical Power	The only horse in the field with a start is Munoz’s grey, who led most of the way in her debut.

RACE 4

Out of the chute onto the dirt are a field of six that includes two from Uruguay and several stakes competitors.

5. Strong Quality	The speed of Casse’s elder statesman has been displayed on the turf after the ’24 Knicks Go win on the dirt. Will love the bias.
1. Suablenanav Th	An acer from Uruguay makes his North American debut with Correas and Cheminaud teaming up with the four-year-old.
2. Bartlett	Servis’ gelding may not have the class but definitely has dangerous speed that has proven to hold up at over a mile (3-for-3).

RACE 5

In a turf allowance route are several veterans with similar turf ratings and success, but only one has a start at Colonial.

5. Ak Sar Ben Derby	Ortiz has seen his four-year-old competitive in tough races with deep fields and seeks a return to his 2024 fall form.
7. Factor Analysis	Churchill company may have been a bit stiff for Kenneally’s colt, though not running poorly. Seeks a return to the Tampa performances.
8. Dean Martini	The Japan (off the) Turf Cup winner at Laurel last fall is certainly familiar with turf distance and sees it again after a flirt with the dirt.

RACE 6

Female $30k claimers either three-years-old or nonwinners of three in a turf route. Sharmin seeks to be the meet’s first dual winner.

5. Wonderfull Lady	Delacour has had a nice start to the meet and returns his French lady to the venue of her best race by Beyer fig.
7. Hidden Presence	Motion’s gray filly won twice recently on different surfaces but found softer turf disappointing in her last start. Viable today.
8. Sal’s Blue Jacket	Stidham’s five-year-old mare usually finds the lead early on but found it late in her only prior start on Colonial turf, a win in ’23.

NICK’S NOTES

Picks continue below.
Check out jock and trainer stats through this past weekend.
Love Sign and Reigh Count stakes previews.
The story of Reigh Count.

RACE 7

Out of the small turf chute at the top of stretch, “nonwinners of one other than” go 1 1/4 miles in a field full of West Coast influence.

8. Rothschild	Half of Toner’s colt’s 12 starts were in graded stakes company. Carrasco gets a good assignment.
9. Presider	Russell’s gelding also saw tough West Coast competition and is nearly assured of being in the money. Off the turf in last start.
2. Middleburg	Remember Thursday Girl in the Brookmeade? Here, it’s Keri Brion returning a jumper to the flat seeking success.

RACE 8 – Love Sign Stakes

Love Sign, who was a multiple graded stakes-winning Virginia-bred in the early 1980s, now has a sprint stake. Virginia is for Love Sign.

7. Alani	At a reasonable class level, Alani has three wins on three different racetracks this year and enough early speed to have a pace say.
9. Top Gun Girl	Ross (DARRS) has had a good start to the meet and has a mare that has shown signs of previous solid form.
6. Bourbon Breeze	Consistent filly is 4-for-7 at the distance and owns wins on fast and slop.

RACE 9 – Reigh Count Stakes

Virginia’s forgotten Kentucky Derby winner from a century ago finally gets recognition. Read about him on www.theracingbiz.com.

7. Patriot Spirit	Owned by the former owners of Colonial, Campbell’s colt has run solid figures against tough company without a win since a win at Colonial last year.
5. Celtic Contender	Though going an extra furlong from his frontrunning near-miss in the DeFrancis last out, Smith’s colt will be a speed threat on the Colonial dirt.
8. Worcester	Seven furlongs is definitely the favored distance for Russell’s Empire Maker horse, who also has been blitzing in the Laurel mornings.

RACE 10

In a turf route nine maidens look to break through. Long race histories are usually discouraged in this type of condition.

7. Summer Vibes	Dropping out of MSW is a son of Good Magic that was once a $600k purchase. Seems to be warming up to the turf.
2. Brighty	Milosevic’s four-year-old has an extra year of development over most and could be a nice price play with good recent turf start.
5. Black Empire	New to the Figgins barn is this Malibu Moon gelding running well lately on different surfaces.