Nick's Picks: Colonial Downs picks August 2, 2025 * The Racing Biz

Nick’s Picks: Colonial Downs picks August 2, 2025

Nick Hahn
August 2, 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 2/12:30
RACES: 10
CARRYOVERS: None

RACE 1

Maiden optional two-year-old claimers go a mile on the turf to open the card in a field that has more participants than starts.

11. Elston Gunnn	Jonathan Thomas saddles a well-bred first-timer with Curtis aboard that was showing morning talent at Keeneland before Colonial.
12. J J Grey	McPeek’s well-bred colt also showed morning talent at Keeneland but ships in for his debut. Use both in the double.
4. No Hay Dos	Evans’ colt didn’t get out of the gate in his first start so he drops a little and picks up Gallardo aboard, looking to be forward today.

RACE 2

Going another mile, a very different one-turn mile on the dirt, are seven $16k claimers where there could be a subtle void of speed.

4. States United	Magee’s gelding with Karamanos aboard might have the most early speed but hasn’t shown it much in recent starts. Will find it useful today.
3. Ahsad	Pino brings one back to Colonial for his first starter of the meet off the claim and a win at Parx. A different Ruiz aboard here.
1. Mose Perfect	Off a win, the other Magee is the other speed threat but don’t expect to see 24 3/5 for an opening quarter here.

RACE 3

The $100,000 Keswick Stakes sprints two-year-old Virginia-restricted fillies on the dirt, three coming off of wins.

1. Smooch Up	Potts ships down a speedy filly from Presque Isle with Cupid lineage, a sharp synthetic debut, and Allen to ride.
5. Just Philtored	Trombetta’s filly, one of two Great Notions in the field, seeks a good track to improve off his good start and layoff.
3. Slewperstitus	Bailes’ filly won the meet’s grand opener at a price over two that will be here and two others that fillied out the triple earlier in the week.

RACE 4

The $100,000 Hickory Tree Stakes for Virginia-restricted two-year-olds circles back with five from a July 10 race at Colonial.

6. Cool Customer	The 22.2 first quarter was much too fast from the July 10 race, maybe providing an opportunity to turn the tables today.
1. Trendsetter	In a 12-horse field Colebrook’s gelding took advantage of that quick opener to rally, hard for twos to do.
3. G Q Worthy	Not much separates the two Robb entries here but will give race experience a notch up here.

RACE 5

The past performances for this turf mile for distaff claimers that have never won two races takes up five pages.

6. Tanka Tough	Ruiz brings the best out of McDermott’s occasional jumper that prefers fast going at a mile and not much farther.
9. Steam Knot	Despite fading to seventh, Cooney’s filly ran the best race of her career last time out. More experienced jockey today.
5. Korea	Perez gets the mount on a closer that has an extra win over jumps and has a solid turf route at Laurel for Saville.

RACE 6

Virginia-restricted $16k claiming fillies go a mile on the lawn, seven with starts during the meet but largely not versus each other.

6. Camanoe	Thomas restarts one sired by his Travers winner, Catholic Boy, who could run on anything. Drops from Virginia allowance.
9. My Dear Antonia	Centeno comes back to ride for McMahon on a Kitten’s Joy filly that ran well at 1 1/16 miles previously, shortens today.
3. Good Accelebrate	Gallardo ran two solid races for Williams last year and gets the mount again in her 2025 debut.

NICK’S NOTES

Picks continue below.
Colonial Downs jockey and trainer stats through this past weekend…
Eight different trainers and eight different jockeys were on the board Friday…
In the day’s featured $74,000 allowance for three-year-old fillies, Me Governor pressed the early pace before pulling away to win by 2 1/4 lengths. Antonio Gallardo was in the irons for trainer Carlos David. Me Governor, a stakes winner at two last year and stakes-placed this year, paid $5.00 to win…

RACE 7

Claimers go 1 1/8 miles on the turf, most with a handful of wins in dozens of starts.

9. My Sea Cottage	An Irish-bred gelding of Casse’s gets an Irish jockey looking to prevail after a solid first start in the meet.
8. Battle Call	The speed figures light up on a Hard Spun class dropper from south Florida. Nice mount for Centeno.
4. Forrest City	Makes sense for Boyce to ride this aptly-named gelding, who seems to be responding to more than her name.

RACE 8

Half of the field is up for claim in this second-level allowance/optional claiming turf sprint in which a couple moved up last out.

5. Barzini	Has seen several of these recently, including Swill, who beat him last out; maybe it’s his turn to win this time
9. Swill	The one that clearly moved up in his last start is Sillaman’s seven-year-old, who has stepped up many times in his career.
1. Incinerator	The softer turf may have been a burden to Carrasco in his last start, capable of splitting the above duo today.

RACE 9

Same condition as the previous race except fillies and mares going a mile and sixteenth on turf, all making their 2025 Colonial debut.

9. Next Girl	The little diversion to the dirt didn’t pan out for Bailes, so its back to turf where this miss just ran her best.
5. Charmed Way	Colonial hasn’t been her best venue, but Russell’s new resident ran well off the layoff last month. Look for better today.
3. Partir	A solid performer in France, Mott’s import hasn’t run poorly in trying to figure out American turf; starts have been a problem

RACE 10

In the finale, a dozen distaff maidens sprint on the turf, and first-timers are difficult to take when previous starters are credible.

9. Naval Hospital	Good breakthrough spot for Ashton on a Casse filly with plenty of early speed that will have to hold off the closers
8. Souper Upgrade	Watching Casse’s filly is Sanchez who last out took a solid charge at Fluffy, a nice runner at Colonial, and likes this level.
6. Ready to Rocknroll	Delacour’s filly gets back on turf and had several nice starts as a two-year-old.