Nick's Picks: Colonial Downs picks August 1, 2025 * The Racing Biz

Nick’s Picks: Colonial Downs picks August 1, 2025

The Biz
August 1, 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: August 1/4:00 p.m.
RACES: 8
CARRYOVERS: Pick 6, $4,697

RACE 1

In this maiden special weight going seven furlongs on the dirt, speed has shown up but doesn’t hold up, setting up a stalker.

2. Chowser	A pricey Constitution gelding has seen this class and shortens, looking to take advantage of the emerging front-end duel.
1. Don’t Ghost Me	Stidham’s Ghostzapper colt stands best chance to survive the speed contest among the three that should be on the front end.
5. Flick	Tomlinson’s gelding finished well back of Stidham’s colt in the July 12 race but should get a better start today.

RACE 2

If you believe in the lone speed theory, the field gives you one clear choice, especially considering it’s one turn at 1 1/16 miles.

3. Sudden Switch	Riley Mott’s Munning’s filly has two wins on the front end this spring and sees a little class drop in the change of venue.
2. Tipple	Rice starts her first of the Colonial meet. If there was ever a course to stretch out distance, it’s Colonial and its one-turn 1 1/16 mile trip.
6. Central Avenue	Looks to make her first start on the fast going in 2025 for Stidham in the venue where she broke her maiden first time out as a two-year-old.

RACE 3

In a turf sprint for 3-year-olds or non-winners of three, five have wins in their last start.

6. Too Fast for You	Alex Concepcion is getting more difficult to overlook at Colonial and gets the mount aboard West’s filly that won her last start on the turf.
10. Roadrunner the Cat	Russell’s four-year-old filly didn’t hold up in a race pulled from the turf in July but showed some capability in the two races prior, one a win.
8. Spirit of Victory	Klesaris has a solid career win percentage at Colonial and starts a filly with a big Beyer bump up in her first turf start in a while

RACE 4

Virginia-restricted distaff maidens sprint five furlongs, with four of the nine starters making their debuts facing former starters with talent.

8. Flame Dancer	Delacour’s filly might no longer be a maiden if not for a yeilding course at a mile previously. She shortens up and looks for firm today.
6. Far Away Eyes	One of a couple first-timers that through their lineage could be a player in this field with a good start despite having first timers on each side.
2. Pancaken	Big Lick’s Oscar Performance has been training at Braeburn in Crozet and is well-bred to make an impression here.

RACE 5

A dozen claimers sprint on the turf in a standard non-winners of three or three-year-old condition, all here with two wins or less.

2. Frost Mountain	A solid win for the DARRS (Ross) claimer already in the meet over Daddy Yankee, who came back to win this week.
5. Beltane	The last jockey to deliver a win on Aquirre’s gelding was Trevor McCarthy here at Colonial, which was over a solid player in this field.
12. Freestanding	Beyers back up Farrior’s last-out claim, and his career-best Beyers were at Colonial last summer.

RACE 6

Virginia-restricted claimers go a mile on the inner turf, all looking for their second win despite having many starts.

8. Devil Anse	You win some and lose some racing in Kentucky, but look for an improved performance from Stidham’s filly on this side of the Tug River.
10. Lothario	Big Lick’s gray ran a superb race in his first attempt at a mile earlier in the meet, moving in on the winner in the late stages.
12. Sweet Tone	Regrettably, I didn’t take Woodberry Payne’s Tonalist gelding in his first Colonial start when he broke his maiden at a turf mile. Could regret it again.

NICK’S NOTES

Picks continue below.
Colonial Downs jock and trainer stats through Saturday…
Gas Alley and Shameless Bride both won Thursday, becoming the meet’s first two-time winners. The former is trained by Michael Lauer and was ridden by Antonio Gallardo, while the latter had Axel Concepcion up for Ethan West…
Jockey Micah Husbands won twice, scoring on Holiday Pay ($4.80) and on Ditched ($6.40), both for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr...

RACE 7

In an allowance turf sprint for 3-year-old fillies, some notable turf trainers send out talent, including three stakes winners and others that are stakes-placed.

3. Isle of Capri	With many having early speed, Walsh’s mount may be in the best position to benefit from shortening up in her 2025 debut after tiring in November’s Tepin.
9. Dreamaway	Ward’s filly found the front end favorable in her last start that was pulled from the turf but has shown that talent on the turf before.
5. Me Governor	Gallardo’s mount found fall form on the turf in back-to-back wins but hasn’t won since trying the dirt afterwards despite good Beyers.

RACE 8

In the Friday finale, maidens sprint on the turf in a field of $!6k claimers capable of nearly any result. Watch for Desormeaux’s AE entry, a threat.

4. Mamba Mindset	Take away all the dirt starts of Capuano’s gelding and you have a second place finished in his only turf outings. Not bred for turf but seems to like it.
9. Moonlit Frost	The two turf starts of Dilodovico’s three-year-old weren’t poor, and you may get a price despite being under a length behind my top choice last time out.
2. Italiano Kid	Carrasco is back aboard a colt that took a liking to the turf in his last two starts and is rested, making his first start since early June.