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: 10:45 a.m. (steeplechase)/12:30 (flat)
• RACES: 12
• CARRYOVERS: Pick 6, $1,846

RACE 1

Start of the Steeplechase Pick 3 is a $60k maiden race several with solid starts at Colonial just shy of a win in jump margins.

2. Gratia Prince	Expect Foley’s gelding to be in the first pack and on firm going reel in the margin while keeping an eye on In Effect.
4. In Effect	With Watters aboard, likely to be the post time favorite after two second-place finishers during the meet.
5. Predominate	Was within a length of Gratia Prince in his steeplechase and 2025 debut three weeks ago and showed closing ability on the flat.

RACE 2

A short field $40k handicap with weights ranging from 150 to 158. All in this short field have a steeplechase win.

6. Brie’s Mission	A good effort at Saratoga may carry forward better in his first Colonial career start where Neilson’s gelding can use his closing kick.
1. Kitten Around	After a similar handicap win at Colonial last summer, Brion’s veteran was disappointing at the Spa this summer, a venue change helps.
5. Awesome Strike	Beecher’s gelding had a better summer at Saratoga, but was in allowance company, not a strike against but still not quite the class.

RACE 3

In the $100,000 Life’s Illusion, named for a steeplechase mare than won an Eclipse Award half a century ago, nobody stands out.

3. Anoint	Brion returns the mount to Mulqueen who looks to stay perfect over jumps over the course where this mare broke her steeplechase maiden.
1. Madaket’s Arrow	Dalton’s mare outfinished many in this field in a second-place finish to recent jump sensation Avakate in the Randy Rouse.
5. Anador	McKenna’s mare was just a length off Madaket’s Arrow in her Colonial jump debut after breaking her maiden at Willowdale (PA).

RACE 4

What a wonderful opportunity with a two-mile turf flat for horses that have started over jumps at the meet but have not won a jump race at the meet.

8. Cartographer	For Neil Morris, Watters may run out to the lead and look to not surrender it in a deep field that not use to staying in touch early on.
7. Ocean City	Brion’s gelding will likely try to keep Cartographer in sight, even contesting the lead but like all, not used to two miles in the afternoon.
5. Take Your Seats	Garner’s gelding ran some healthy distances in Florida and will be more of a threat as the turf gets firmer with Dwan aboard.

RACE 5

In a $50k optional claiming race, seven fillies and mares go seven furlongs with Passage East looking for a five-peat, all coming since April 18th.

3. Passage East	McMahon’s three-year-old will have to face older horses again, but that really hasn’t bothered her at any of the tracks where she has won.
7. Willow Bend	Cutting back to a mile only improves the likability of Ness’s speedy five-year-old mare with two second-place finishes during the meet.
1. I’m a Cutie Pie	Eubanks’ four-year-old filly looks to take advantage of a pace duel and if that occurs stands best to capitalize on it.

RACE 6

Ten sprinters that have never won twofill a $12.5k claiming race on the dirt, with a bit of a reunion of Colonial’s August 20 race.

5. No Cents Non Cents	A bit of a wildcard trying the dirt for the first time in a while but is a trier on the turf.
10. Catalina Express	Showed ability in his last start a win before being disqualified for excessive crop strikes, making him eligible today.
1. Who Says So	Won’t have the benefit of the bug weight with Villalobos aboard, but will hopefully find a better trip than the meandering last start.

NICK’S NOTES

• Picks continue below.
• Jock and trainer stats through Sept. 6…
• Jockey Ismerio Villalobos had a riding triple Wednesday, scoring on Anna Jean ($30.40) for Abraham Gardea, Jigger ($9.00) for Ferris Allen, and Queen in the Deck ($34.40) for Carlos Munoz…
• Jockeys Jevian Toledo and Samuel Marin each won a pair…
• Slam Notion, winner of the Star de Naskra Stakes over the strip July 12 before a subpar outing July 30, returned to his winning ways in a third-level allowance/optional claimer, winning by 2 1/4 lengths for his fourth win of the year. Toledo was in the irons for trainer Robbie Bailes…

RACE 7

Maiden fillies meet in a turf sprint, with firsters, shippers, and Colonial-based runners all meeting.

8. Judith	Thomas’ filly found five furlongs at Del Mar a welcome adaption over a mile and has that Speightstown speed in his lineage.
2. Veola	Brion brings a speedy Vekoma filly in off a layoff and places Curtis aboard, hoping this three-year-old will go a little farther.
7. Mun Mun Can Run	Cibelli drops her filly a little bit in class and finds two worthy newcomers for her filly that could take advantage of pace.

RACE 8

Twelve Virginia-restricted two-year-old fillies tackle two turns on the turf, an exhibit of the impact of Virginia’s residency program.

7. Meredithslightning	Playing a little ROI catchup leads to a first timer than has shown energy at Laurel for Saville who historically does well at Colonial.
6. Dare Greatly	No reason for Lightner’s filly not to be a top pick other than she will likely be bet heavy as an underlay based on her last start.
11. Squirrely	Sharp improvement for Cibelli’s filly from her first start on dirt to her second on turf, both with Curtis aboard. Will have a closing burst.

RACE 9

In a turf sprint, female $75k allowance/optional claimers, all with some sort of stakes history, leave horseplayers many options in a short field.

7. Obstreperous	A seven-wide trip in the Caress at Saratoga might have been the undoing of D’Angelo’s filly, but before and after wins show promise.
2. Twirling Queen	The summer at Saratoga hasn’t churned top outcomes, a tall task versus Future Is Now, but D’Angelo’s filly is capable of big outings.
1. Simply Stated	The first start for a Colonial dual winner this meet in the DARRS silks is a rise in class after a claiming win just over a month ago.

RACE 10

Contenders dropping in class, whether at Colonial from afar, face better finishers rising up in a maiden turf route going 1 1/16.

8. Uncle’s Gold	With a solid debut at the Spa in tough company Trombetta ships down an Uncle Mo colt and gets Curtis aboard looking to break through.
3. Gallant Lad	Matz’s colt found consistency with the summer and adding blinkers might be a tempting top pick if not for the Saratoga shipper.
9. Freedom Glider	Not sure what went awry in the last start of Duarte’s American Pharoah gelding at Monmouth but proved to be a threat with Paco aboard.

RACE 11

There are other choices but the August 16 race at Colonial will exhibit significance to the outcome of a $30k claiming turf route.

4. Souper Attentive	Casse’s Kitten’s Joy gelding had the lead late in that field but was edged, leaving this last chance at a Colonial win.
3. Cobblestone Bridge	Not much separated DARRS’ gelding from Souper in their last race. Look for Russell to duel Stidham’s frontrunner again.
5. Look to the Cross	McPeek’s colt rallied in his first Colonial start at a mile but found nine furlongs a challenge in the follow up. Goes 1 1/16 today.

RACE 12

A deep field of experienced female maidens go 1 1/16 for a $16k tag with no standout among those with improved recent starts.

6. I Heard Somethings	Curtis gets aboard one of two entered for Woodberry Payne, a class dropper from NY-bred company which has a nice program of its own.
5. Souper Roll	DARRS’ filly brings a huge class edge to this field and will be a tight price at the window, not a good choice for a horseplayer’s finale.
8. Insolenta	Blair’s More Than Ready filly hopes to be rude to others here after a frontrunning near-miss last month. Added distance won’t help today.

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