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: Aug. 15/4:00 p.m.
• RACES: 8
• CARRYOVERS: Pick 6, $2,919

RACE 1

Virginia-restricted female maidens sprint 6&1/2 furlongs on the dirt the first six from the rail having an in-meet Colonial start.

2. Harmony Road	Almost too obvious a favorite is Blake Kelly’s filly with two second-place finishes in two starts, bettering many here in first CNL start.
7. Sweet Wine	Could be a Kelly exacta by adding this longshot by Vino Russo, a Curlin sire, that makes a significant leap in class.
8. Chillow	Making her third start since Colonial opened, not all at Colonial, is Ashby’s improving filly off the Delaware mud.

RACE 2

Bailes draws the double rail with a pair of maiden claiming Virginia-restricted fillies, both capable in a twelve-horse turf sprint.

9. Hail No	Woodberry Payne’s four-year-old in place to graduate with a measured work between Colonial starts. Duplicate effort prevails.
2. Native Mischief	Finished with a wide, closing fourth in her career bow and returns Boyce today. May have a pacesetter to her inside.
1. Grosse Ile	Should be first out and stubborn. Second race back at Laurel more indicative of what Bailes’s four-year-old can do.

RACE 3

Seven maiden $12.5k female claimers sprint six furlongs on the dirt all with some kind of Colonial start this meet minus the longshot.

6. Song and a Breeze	The turf start at Colonilal didn’t pan out so coming back to dirt where Yates’ filly had run the best of her young career.
4. Bajan Bashert	Dropping a little in class is Gaudet’s mare going back to the dirt after three looks on the turf. Was competitive on dirt.
1. Catarina	Azpurua’s filly has a knack for finding “best of the rest” in recent starts and will be first pack much of the race.

RACE 4

A clash in a $50k starter allowance turf route between those who know Quokka and stranger Drilling for Gold looking for a three-peat.

5. Quokka	Tyler Conner delivered a bitter near-miss in her first start at Colonial before the rider’s injury. Concepcion gets the mount in a rematch for most.
1. Drilling for Gold	Russell’s rising gelding won her last two starts, some eight months apart, at different venues and distances. Lots to like.
4. Naptown	Magana’s gelding, who tried to three-peat and was in contention late before finishing fifth, looks for a redeeming win.

RACE 5

A dozen $16k female maiden claimers go a two-turn mile on the inner turf, most with multiple previous chances at a win.

3. American Kestrel	Thomas and Curtis teamed up for a win yesterday, try for another here.
5. Radiant Tones	With a class drop, this Tonalist filly comes back to a mile for Milosevic and should stay close to the pace the entire race.
2. Dark Pool	If not for an influx of new talent, Brion’s mare would likely be the morning line favorite, having led late in her last start.

RACE 6

A vintage response in the entry box to a turf sprint for $16k claimers “non winners of two”: Four AEs after the dozen.

7. Parola Sicura	Curtis, starting to gets some real separation in the jockey standings, gets the mount on a Yoshida filly that is tactical.
4. Diane Lee	Outfinished Parola Sicura last month at Colonial and has shown a rousing finish since switching to the turf three races back.
12. Fluffy	Following a win earlier in the meet and nose short of another, Angel’s filly may have just missed on a Colonial three-peat.

NICK’S NOTES

• Picks continue below.
• Check out Colonial Downs jockey and trainer stats through Aug. 9 here…
• Jockey Axel Concepcion had a three-bagger Thursday. He won a maiden special weight on Lovely Grey ($10.00) for trainer Kelsey Danner, posted another maiden win for Danner aboard Vulcan’s Boots ($5.40), and scored in the featured allowance contest on So Sophia ($26.80) for trainer Abraham Gardea…
• Daniel Centeno won a pair, sweeping the early double with Go to Bingo ($9.20) for Susan Cooney and Deterrent ($6.40) for Arnaud Delacour…
• Kelsey Danner doubled, the only trainer to win multiple races…

RACE 7

An interesting opportunity for favored Rigel in a starter optional claiming turf route among many good finishers.

5. Rigel	Curtis holds the reins on a gelding for Gallegos seeking a five-peat with three different owners, jockeys, trainers and venues.
6. Sell Something	Toldeo was making a run, as he has in many recent starts, on Rigel in his last start. Look for a similar outing today.
8. Class Photo	Hester’s new claim ran well in allowance company in her last start and should be competitive once again.

RACE 8

A dozen open $10k female claimers go a mile on the turf in a field with substantial pace. Look for a fabulous finish in the finale.

6. Inanna’s Quest	Welcoming back a seven-year-old mare with two previous wins at Colonial and is a new claim of DARRS. Pace helps here.
8. Solving Progress	In the event things don’t go to plan, Trombetta’s mare could find herself on the lead at the top of the stretch and finish.
9. Spoils of War	Toledo takes the reins for De Paz on a NY-bred longshot.

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