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. 16/12:30 p.m.
• RACES: 10
• CARRYOVERS: Pick 6, $6,618

RACE 1

“Nonwinners of two lifetime” female $16k claimers start on the turf going 1 1/16 miles, most familiar to this level but not each other.

2. Celestial Express	Nice spot for Hester to with an older filly dropping a little in class and looking to complete a stalking move. Beyers supports.
7. Tanka Tough	One of two entered with jumping experience is McDermott’s mare, running better in routes.
5. Silly Lily	Distance might be an assist for Boucher’s mare who has shown some closing kick in her last two start; one turf, one dirt.

RACE 2

On the dirt, two-year old maiden filly claimers sprint six furlongs, all previous Colonial in-meet starters.

7. Knickoletta	The slop may have sunk Russell’s filly in her debut but look for an improved performance on fast going.
3. Royalties Riches	After a slow start, Trombetta’s filly ran evenly in a race at this level at Colonial and might be stubborn when finding the lead.
1. Nemain	Finishes might not look the best, but Munoz’s filly drops into lower company and switches from a turf route to a dirt sprint.

RACE 3

Two-year-old Virginia-restricted fillies sprint on the turf in an eight-horse field with Colonial starters or first-time starters.

1. Hovekoma	Paco, second in the jockey standings, gets another shot with a Vekoma filly who ran evenly well in her debut among eleven.
8. Queen of Wands	Ran well deep into the race over the dirt in her debut, Trombetta switches his filly over to the turf returning Karamanos aboard.
6. Liz’s Image	A slow start to a high-end beginning for Kelley’s filly who will welcome a smaller field. Don’t expect that wide a trip today.

RACE 4

Virginia-restricted $16k claimers, many with wins at Colonial seeking to find the winner’s circle again in a turf sprint.

6. Wild West Justice	Virginia-bred of Chance Farm drops into claiming company for the first time since being a maiden. Very tacticle.
1. Lothario	Passed on a Thursday start to go here shortening from a mile where she won on the lead and ran a close second off the pace.
9. Beltane	Aquirre’s win here before came from off the pace and his four-year-old gelding sits in a position to utilize pace.

RACE 5

The $125,000 Find Stakes for Virginia/Maryland restricted has past Colonial winners Fulmineo and Gigante facing upstarts.

2. Fulmineo	At a mile and a sixteenth here, Fulmineo’s only loss at Colonial was in the mile and an eighth Virginia Derby versus Deterministic.
4. Hardspun Reason	Though an older horse, Motion’s Hard Spun gelding has half as many starts as Gigante and seeks to three-peat form.
6. Gigante	Though Asmussen’s horse wins often at Colonial, seems to be a little off in recent start, still a great Virginia storyline.

RACE 6

No outright speed in this two-turn test of maiden claiming milers that will be watching each other seeing who goes first.

7. Yancey	Draw a line through the last race pulled from the turf and Centeno’s mount looks better racing at a little higher level.
3. Shane Falco	Showed more in a firm sprint than routing on the softer going. Also seeing a minor drop in class.
5. My Vacation	Gardea’s colt wanted turf to debut but got the slopping Delaware track instead. Morning work at Colonial was impressive.

RACE 7

Allowance/optional claimers sprint on the dirt with three coming off a win with those not so fortunate hungry to join them.

4. Radical Right	Allen’s gelding would like to find a way to move past Augusta Melody and might catch him in a race with enough speed to contest.
2. Augusta Melody	Will likely go off as the favorite and deservingly so after winning three of her last four, all at different tracks for Russell.
8. Spikezone	With hints of doing it again, Ness’s gelding has run a triple-digit Beyer this year but has had a few inconsistencies.

RACE 8

In a turf route for female “nonwinners of one other than,” Correas starts a tandem of Argentinian-breds looking for their first US win.

5. Bottle Rocket	Since coming up from Florida, Trombetta’s filly has been consistent with a style that makes her a contender.
6. Ayra Stark	After success on the dirt in Argentina, Correas’ mare found North American turf beneficial and looks to improve.
3. Sleepwalker	Maybe a little underperforming on the turf since leaving Colonial last fall but found her return satisfying with some cut in the grass.

RACE 9

In the All Brandy for Maryland-Virginia-restricted fillies and mares, many contenders are entered that love Colonial looking to spoil a three-peat.

3. Lifelovenlaughter	Undefeated since coming off a layoff, Trombetta’s mare by Lemon Drop Kid has developed a stalking style that works well here.
5. Thursday Girl	The Brookmeade winner will be running evenly with Lifelovenlaughter throughout hoping “home field” helps, nearly undefeated at CNL.
2. Winfinity	An underrated success on the Colonial dirt, Ortiz tries the turf where he will be underrated again looking to surprise.

RACE 10

Eleven “nonwinners of two lifetime” claimers try a turf route where there may be enough pace to set up a closer.

3. Keen Surge	When going more than a mile Centeno has delivered nice outings on one sired by Keen Ice, who once beat American Pharoah.
2. Devil Anse	Might have needed a little more track in his first start at Colonial. Look to see how well Lothario did earlier in the card.
11. Souper Attentive	Casse’s gelding will have a clean face for most of the race by hasn’t been running to the style of his sire, Kitten’s Joy.

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