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 27/12:30 p.m.
• RACES: 9
• CARRYOVERS: Pick 6, $16,272

RACE 1

In a turf sprint, $!6k claimers, “non-winners of three or three-years-old” know this class but not necessarily each other.

7. Contemplation	After switching to the turf, Ross’s gelding kicked off the meet with a win and has the meet’s hottest jockey aboard.
1. Hot N Lucky	Saffie Joseph’s gelding, who has been doing well without winning in south Florida, comes to make his Colonial debut for owner Ken Ramsey.
3. Sinetic	Machado’s sophomore maybe didn’t have enough class for the Ben’s Cat but will do better with Ben Curtis and a drop in class.

RACE 2

On the dirt and nearly the same level and condition, a field of eight has three speedy starters all capable of a triumph.

6. No No Joe	Off a voided claim last out at Churchill and a barn switch, Magee’s new gelding comes East with just a little more capability than the other two.
5. Kosher Capone	Mendelsohn four-year-old trained by Angel Rodriguez has shown stamina on the front end at a mile and recently nearly enough speed to win at six furlongs.
3. We Called Sol	After six consecutive starts at Presque Isle synthetic, all in the money with two of them wins, Baez changes the venue.

RACE 3

Two-year-old fillies sprint on the outer turf with half of the twelve-horse field making their debut in a $30k maiden claiming race.

11. Nenas Star	Seems to be a good race to go long with a first-time starter with a decent turf pedigree and a very capable Toldeo aboard.
3. It’s Fine	West, who has started a few at Colonial, debuts a filly whose worktab on the Turfway synthetic says she’s ready.
6. Hoping	With the Tomlinson rating on turf, expect the filly of Gary Williams to run over her odds despite being a little sleepy in the Colonial mornings.

RACE 4

Two McPeek and two Munoz two-year-olds highlight a MSW field of eight sprinting six furlongs on the dirt.

2. Antrax	Trainer Munoz cuts this one back a furlong in his second start after Ashton moved up the rail in his debut to get second.
5. S S Quality	Of those in the field with starts, McPeek’s Essential Quality colt has the best Beyer in the field out of a classy field at Saratoga.
1. Thunder Murphy	Lopez gets the mount aboard Secretariat Stakes-winning trainer Keith Desormeaux’s first-time starter with a lengthy worktab at Churchill Downs.

RACE 5

Three-year-old fillies that have never won two races go 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf in an allowance with several stakes starters.

5. Bessie Abott	Casse’s filly looks for her first US win and once finished second to Nitrogen, albeit seventeen lengths behind the Alabama winner.
4. Hidden Quarry	West’s filly makes her sixth start at her sixth different venue with her sixth different jockey. Her only win came on the synthetic at Presque Isle.
1. Town Light	Schoenthal’s Town Light comes in with a little vacation after her win opening weekend at Colonial on the front end.

RACE 6

In an open $10k claiming race, a full dozen go 1 3/16 miles on the inner turf. Watch for Ness’s Bodemeister from the AEs.

1. General’s Duty	Cibelli’s gelding has had some traffic in recent starts over softer going. Looks for a firm, flowing ride with Curtis returning today.
11. Kendama	Magee’s eight-year-old has been a consistent performer with a high floor but a low ceiling. The class drop may be enough for a win.
8. Kennel Club	From Lone Star (which held its grand opening the same day as Colonial) comes a veteran with Figueroa making his first appearance at this meet.

NICK’S NOTES

• Picks continue below.
• Jockey and trainer stats through Aug. 23…
• Saturday’s two stakes winners, Just Philtored and Doubting Thomas both are undefeated in their young careers. The former is 3-for-3 and the latter, 2-for-2. Both are trained by Mike Trombetta, who was the only trainer to double up on the day.
• Jockey Mychel Sanchez, who rode Just Philtored, was aboard two other winners, giving him a Saturday hat trick. He also rode Sporting Lady ($7.40) for trainer Keri Brion and Carcano ($6.20) for Vicki Oliver.
• Jevian Toledo was the only other rider to win multiple races, scoring on Jack’s Legend ($5.40) for Kenny Cox and C’mon Eileen ($16.20) for Brittany Russell. The latter, a two-year-old Complexity filly, won her career bow by nearly 10 lengths while getting six furlongs in 1:09.97. Jack’s Legend, now 2-for-6 in his career, is a full brother to popular Maryland-bred Talk Show Man, who earned $456,000 and won the Maryland Million Turf twice.

RACE 7

Second-level allowance/optional claimers sprint on the turf with many familiar with Sillaman’s Swill from afar and at Colonial.

3. Swill	Centeno delivered one win in the meet aboard this seven-year-old and looks like a major player again today.
8. Esperon	Centeno also delivered an in-meet win aboard this four-year-old after a layoff but lands on #3. Sanchez aboard today will provide a speedy test.
5. Petcoff	Russell has been seeking a return to the turf form her gelding showed around New Year’s Day. Seems to be coming back.

RACE 8

In a distaff turf sprint for $30k claimers that have never won two, three of the four that won their last start are 12-1 or higher.

4. Cachinnation	Delacour hasn’t really cooled off much since his sizzling start to the meet and returns one back to the turf where he last won before Turfway.
3. Souper Upgrade	Trombetta’s filly has been on the rise and after her maiden breaking score at Colonial earlier this month, is on the rise again.
10. Maddy R	Saffie’s filly has been shown good speed in recent starts but hasn’t found a way to finish. A class drop may help that today.

RACE 9

All 11 of the fillies in this $70k MSW are lightly raced three-year-olds.

9. Magica	Motion’s Good Magic filly, who nearly won at Delaware in her debut, gets Curtis aboard a Fasig-Tipton Kentucky yearling six-figure purchase.
8. Oppose	Certainly the switch to the turf has made a difference for Matz’s filly, tallying better Beyers and getting Russell aboard today.
5. Click Here	With a name like that, Blair’s filly is sure to gain wagering at the self-serve totes along the grandstand. Needs a better start today.

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