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: Sept. 4/12:30 p.m.
• RACES: 8
• CARRYOVERS: Pick 6, $3,744
• Play in our free handicapping contest Saturday featuring Colonial!

RACE 1

Virginia-restricted female $16k maiden claimers sprint on the turf, with one big newcomer shipping into familiar Colonial circles.

6. Hail No	One of the better finishes of the meet cost Woodberry’s filly a win. Not much left in the way after two near misses at $16k in the meet.
5. Drifting	One question might be how much the speed gets pushed? Cruz’s filly may be the best known threat to Hail No.
4. Big Earn	While the only unknown threat is Trombetta’s newcomer coming in from the Asmussen barn and has only seen turf once.

RACE 2

Perhaps the shortest field of the meet is this first-level allowance/optional claiming six-furlong sprint on the dirt.

1. Village Person	Klesaris looks to stay undefeated with his Mucho Macho Man gelding, a potential three-peat with one Colonial win in the spring and one (to date) in the summer.
4. Uncaptured Warrior	Joseph’s gelding has amassed six career wins in Florida and Minnesota. Had one at this level and distance to start the summer.
5. Kirin	Missed by a nose in an allowance at this distance. Coming back to the distance and surface where he broke his maiden.

RACE 3

In a $70k MSW turf sprint, the leading candidates are sent by trainers largely unaccustomed to Colonial this meet against many with solid starts at this level.

6. Virtuosity	Could the cutback by a half-furlong be to the detriment of Trombetta’s colt? Not likely as he appears ready for another step forward.
7. Danner	The mile didn’t work out for Bailes’s new Omaha Beach gelding, but he showed some ability at Laurel with Toledo aboard.
8. Rebel With a Clue	Ward starts his Irish-bred for the first time this year with Lopez aboard after running a solid race on the Gulfstream grass in December.

RACE 4

Four of these starter/optional claimers have won two of their last three starts..

4. Rigel	A little uncertainity with the new jockey aboard, but this popular gelding has performed well switching riders and even trainers before.
6. Class Photo	Lucky (no longer Longshot) Leanne Hester to win for the third time in this meet with a colt that also sees new riders in a rematch with Rigel.
1. American Unity	The extra sixteenth may have been a bridge too far in his last start for Ness’s veteran making his Colonial bow in his 39th career start.

RACE 5

Fillies and mares go a two-turn turf mile in a $50k maiden claiming race that features an interesting inside duel.

1. Dandy Vandy	Lopez and Sanchez basically switch mounts with Sanchez getting the call on a Saratoga ship-in for Ness that prefers a mile.
2. Mambo Queen	Lopez takes the reigns from Sanchez on Trombetta’s Mendelssohn filly that should like the minor cutback and the lead.
8. Hope Diamond	Centeno will be looking to the inside aboard Brion’s high-priced Authentic filly but stretches out and jumps a little in class.

RACE 6

In a turf sprint, $16k claimers “nonwinners of two lifetime” feature two Capuano geldings with wins this summer and jockeys named Lopez.

9. Great Artist	A question remains about sprints but there is little doubt about running on the turf at this level. May prefer Colonial’s turf to Delaware.
2. Mamba Mindset	It wouldn’t be the first time a trainer sweeps the exacta. Adding Paco aboard is a plus for the recent maiden breaker at Colonial.
7. Paez	Though Paez has a win over Mamba Mindset early in the meet, that was on a wet-fast track that was pulled from the turf.

NICK’S NOTES

• Picks continue below.
• A pair of jockeys won twice each on Wednesday. Jevian Toledo won a pair, aboard Night Time Nap ($5.40) for Brittany Russell and on Boujee Bubblez ($19.60) for Hugh McMahon…
• Also doubling up was Ubardo Casique, who won aboard Ihaveanappforthat ($42.40) and Blessings Bestowed ($4.80) both for Roland Clement, III…
• Leading trainer Michael Trombetta also won a pair, scoring with Maclean’s Rook ($10.00) and Souper Forces ($14.40)…

RACE 7

The pace of this distaff second-level allowance turf sprint leans toward early speed.

8. Cavalier Cupid	Colonial lover passed on a previous start to run today in her home venue.
7. Top Gun Girl	After some recent attempts on dirt, Russell turns to Russell in the return to grass for this six-year-old journeyman mare, a pre-meet claim.
1. Numero Seis	Sharp, getting reunited with Colonial, drops his Frosted mare for her Colonial debut off a layoff among other speedy combatants.

RACE 8

An first allowance/optional $25k optional claimer for fillies and mares going a mile on the turf drew 11 to add value to the late double.

7. Cairo Street	A Claiming Crown qualifier returns to Colonial again, looking for her three-peat. Shortening to a mile shouldn’t be a factor.
5. Quadra	Delacour’s filly ran the race we’ve been waiting for in her last start, a turf sprint win, but now returns to two turns for Audley Farm.
6. Lady de Berry	Russell’s filly hopes to find the firmer going for the first time in 2025 and will find the shorter route to her advantage.

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