Nick's Picks: Colonial Downs picks July 30, 2025 * The Racing Biz

Nick’s Picks: Colonial Downs picks July 30, 2025

Nick Hahn
July 30, 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 30/12:30 p.m.
RACES: 9
CARRYOVERS: None

RACE 1

Week four of Colonial’s ten week meet starts will a maiden claimer turf route.

3. White Blue	Lopez rides Catholic Boy gelding that is a different horse on the turf and ran game opening weekend at Colonial Downs.
10. Deterrent	Was a player in his debut on the Laurel turf last month and drops out of maiden special weight. Delacour and Centeno team up.
4. Musical Entourage	If I had any real guts, I’d pick this sophomore. Needed more track last time, gets it today. Ran well at this level in turf debut.

RACE 2

Nonwinners of two claimers sprint on the dirt where seven of the eleven are making their second start of the meet.

4. Daddy Yankee	Though the speed will be a serious threat, Lopez has a good mount to close the double with and may like the extra half-furlong.
6. General Maximus	Singh’s Maximum Security gelding also will like the extra half-furlong today and won’t be 18-1 this time.
11. Paez	Azpurua’s four-year-old could become the first two-race winner of the meet and has shown the speed that will factor.

RACE 3

Virginia-restricted two-year-olds sprint on the turf, three making their second Colonial start and eight their first start ever.

8. Feisty Notion	I like Gary Williams and respect his horsemanship, yet this isn’t a sentimental pick. Breeding, works, connections, this colt can win.
3. Principote	Pletcher starts his first one of the Colonial meet, shipping in from Saratoga. Front Royal-bred at Morgan’s Ford.
10. Doubting Thomas	Trombetta starts a Larry Johnson home-bred off a sharp morning at Laurel, maybe the best bred for turf in the group.

RACE 4

Sprinting on the dirt, these seven nonwinners of two claimers literally each made their start at different tracks, including this one.

1. Cardinale	Ness’ s colt doesn’t like off tracks, but not much else once weather is eliminated. Will benefit from the bias.
6. Blue Kingdom	Russell’s four-year-old that has speed figures that hover around comfortable room temperature (70) makes his 2025 debut.
4. Dancing Noah	Simms, having a great Colonial meet, starts one new to his barn that seems to like seven furlongs after numerous synthetic tries.

RACE 5

Distaff maiden claimers go 1 1/8 miles on the turf in a smaller field with many options, three making their second start at Colonial.

8. Starry Night	Thomas sends a Justify filly to her 2025 debut after bringing her to Colonial early on. Drops out of maiden special weight.
7. Souper Roll	Maybe a little unpredictable with her third surface switch in her fourth career start, but is well-bred for the turf.
2. Hysterics	Allen’s filly maybe needed a little more turf in her last start to get a much better finish. Shouldn’t be outside today.

RACE 6

In a maiden special weight turf route, several new players accent a rematch of Colonial’s June 9 race that was a thriller.

9. Royal Suite	McPeek’s filly will look for a better start today but had a great finish over good turf at Colonial early on. May be figuring it out.
1. Hope She Fires	Casse debuts his War of Will filly, who has shown some love for Colonial in the mornings. Will she take to turf?
4. Marcinkowski	One of several in the field that has seen tough foes in Kentucky, Lovell starts her first of the meet after a competitive start at Ellis.

NICK’S NOTES

Picks continue below.
In a pair of Saturday stakes races, Patriot Spirit won the Reigh Count, while Alani won the Love Sign.
Jockey Francisco Arrieta received a 15-day suspension for his part in the incident that sent Tyler Conner to the hospital. Arrieta will be out from Aug. 2 through Aug. 16. He won two races on Saturday…
Jockey Ben Curtis won twice Saturday, as did Mychel Sanchez. Curtis won five races during Colonial’s racing week…
Trainers Michael Stidham and Anthony Farrior each won twice on Saturday…

RACE 7

Nonwinners of two lifetime. many with sizable race histories, go 1 1/16 miles on the turf, three making their second start of the Colonial meet.

1. Mr Flowers	I liked this gelding the first time and he had the lead in the stretch. Ness’s five-year-old may seal the deal today second time off the layoff.
3. Feral’s Joy	Karamanos gets the call on Duarte’s Kitten’s Joy gelding for his second 2025 start. Has run a 70+ Beyers in last 8 starts.
7. Souper Attentive	Casse’s Kitten’s Joy gelding makes his fourth career start at Colonial, all after his win at Gulfstream last year.

RACE 8

In a turf sprinting allowance for three-year-olds, one tries to stay undefeated, three others look to repeat, and several have stakes wins.

6. Slam Notion	Bailes’s opening weekend Star De Naskra winner seeks to become the first repeat winner of the meet. New to the turf.
3. Pajaro	Though undefeated, there are a few variables to seek other angles, none bigger than it’s tough to win three races in a row.
4. Rolando	The Hutcheson winner at Gulfstream Park in March tries the turf, which his pedigree supports. Never seems to run a bad race.

RACE 9

Virginia-restricted maiden fillies and mares sprint on the turf for an $87k purse.

1. Blue Ice	Claimed out of her debut by Next Level Stables, who, if they liked what they saw before the race, loved what they saw during when this miss ran second.
4. Sporting Lady	Tough to make a ML favorite in this 12-horse field, but seeing the start of Three Diamonds’ filly last time on turf supports it.
11. Monomoy Dancer	Williams with another first-time starter that has relished the mornings and could surprise at a price.