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: September 10/12:30 p.m.
• RACES: 8
• CARRYOVERS: None

RACE 1

Virginia-restricted two-year-old maidens go a two-turn turf mile with two first-timers among a group that had capable debuts.

5. Dynacito	Stretching out of a mile is Woodslane Farm’s (The Plains) colt out of a Dynaire who gave up Saddler’s Joy and Wolfie’s Dynaghost.
3. Stone Cold Jones	Taking a step forward in class and stretching out from 5 1/2 furlongs is Godsey’s pupil, in a pretty good spot to break through.
1. Vekomasan	Weaver debuts a Vekoma colt shipped down from Saratoga for a start here, one to take a close look at while in the paddock.

RACE 2

Two-year-old maiden fillies go seven furlongs on the dirt with two first-timers capturing the morning line love thanks to sales price.

4. Luv Your Neighbor	Stidham sets the meet’s leading jockey aboard a Constitution firster for Lael Stable, likely looking big on the racetrack.
1. Royalties Riches	Of the starters with starts, Trombetta’s Union Rags filly has the best start to date with a near-miss at six furlongs. Distance will help.
7. Prosecco Rita	Russell’s filly has four August works under her belt after a bit of break after showing talent this spring in the Fair Hill mornings.

RACE 3

Female $12.5k claiming maidens sprint six furlongs on the dirt, all having seen higher levels of racing with little success.

5. Slanderous	McCutchen’s Classic Empire filly comes back to $12.5k with an important jockey switch that could lead to a milestone win.
8. Irish B Goode	With the bug rider Burhnam and a steady one-turn, McClure’s four-year-old may have found a niche on the Colonial dirt in her last start.
1. Madame Markievicz	Desormeaux’s filly may have just needed a start to get going in 2025 after a sizable layoff from a better performance in 2024.

RACE 4

Sprinting on the turf are Virginia-restricted two-year-old maidens, five making their debut while six gained experience in Colonial starts.

5. Karate Island	If not for Doubting Thomas, Russell’s gelding would have two local wins under his belt. Doubting Thomas not here today.
10. Jigger	Ferris Allen’s colt disappointed on the dirt but has run two solid races at Colonial since switching to the turf. Expect another solid outing today.
3. Little Boss Man	Woodberry Payne debuts a gelding that he has been working with at Colonial the entire meet and gets Sanchez aboard.

RACE 5

The first race of the card with winners in it is a turf sprint for $16k claimers “nonwinners of three or three-years-old” led by a stakes contender.

8. Turbulent Force	Weaver’s colt tested stakes company this spring with mild success, then ran well in a drop to claiming company at Monmouth.
4. Hold Up	A recent addition to the DARRS stable is a Bodemeister claimee that won in his last start, a legitimate Virginia-bred to repeat.
6. Enahm	Schoenthal’s gelding ran well over his odds in his first career turf sprint. A repeat effort from mid-August should be good enough for a win.

RACE 6

Virginia-restricted “nonwinners of two other than” go a mile on the turf with no clear standout and not many that can be excluded.

2. Runner Eyes	Like the race spacing of Casse’s Gun Runner gelding looking to get his first win without a DQ, perhaps fresher than many here.
3. Hope’s Alive	One of three here that broke their maiden in this meet, his coming a nearly two lengths ahead of Duarte’s gelding, who won in his next start.
8. Mr. Keys	One of two here for Meyers, this one has run two consistent career starts at two very different levels. Turns to turf and two turns here.

RACE 7

Allowance/optional $75k claimers in a well-balanced field go seven furlongs with stalkers looking to capitalize on speed.

8. Radical Right	Pace could favor Allen’s gelding, who shared a second-place dead heat with Payne’s in their last start.
1. Showstopper Copper	The 2025 Punch Line winner on the front end learned to rate in his last start. Payne’s gelding is running well now.
10. Holiday Pay	One of at least three that you expect to be contesting on the front end. If the other two don’t appear, watch out.

RACE 8

Female $16k claimers “nonwinners of two lifetime” go a mile on the inner turf, many of the contenders coming out of a race at this level.

3. Nicky Jolene	Aguayo’s four-year-old filly has had trouble finding firm turf but has run well on whatever surface she’s found.
6. Ditched	For those that avoid quick comebacks, beware of Joseph’s filly, who won after a similar short break earlier in the meet at Colonial.
5. Bella Estrela	Brion’s switch to Boyce in the irons nearly worked out in her last start also at this level. Expect a similar performance today.

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