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: March 14/12:00 noon
• RACES: 10
• CARRYOVERS: None

RACE 1

A short but tricky five-horse field of maidens open the card with a six-furlong sprint that include a pair of Walden first time starters.

5. Ramajay	Prat gets the mount on a maiden with four second place finishes in his five career starts, all longer than what he’s going today.
4. Beijing	Higher priced first time starter of Walden ($360k) had some commendable works at Palm Meadows before the last tune up work.
1. Ballinaclash	Like Ramajay, Schoenthal’s Frosted maiden had the lead with speed in each of his career starts, also with multiple second-place finishes.

RACE 2

Virginia-restricted female $16k maiden claimers go a mile in a field where many try to find the lead but haven’t done so yet.

6. Vino Bella	New to Stidham’s barn is a four-year-old sired by Vino Russo taking the blinkers off. Ran best at the Fairgrounds at a little over a mile.
7. Mille McCall	Of the two Savilles, preference here for the one that ran a solid second at a Colonial mile last summer in a field similar to this.
3. As the Bell Toles	Russell adds blinkers to a relatively recent claim of DARRS (Ross) that has seen the toughest foes here but on the turf.

RACE 3

Virginia-restricted $30k maiden claimers where contenders have long nonwinning resumes not capable of holding the lead if they get it.

1. Cool Customer	Stidham happy to see Trendsetter isn’t in the field in his return to Colonial after two turf starts at the Fairgrounds didn’t pan out.
6. Overspent	New to Shuman and 2026 is Hendriks’ five-year-old that once ran well over the Colonial turf. Usually takes his winters off.
5. Summerinthecountry	McMahon’s Upstart gelding, who has a DQ’d win in Colonial’s March mini-meet last year redeems himself with a similar effort.

RACE 4

The fourth consecutive maiden race is a maiden special weight for 3yo going a mile in a field where long resumes aren’t preferred.

6. Ezum	Cox once won back-to-back dirt races at Colonial with $1 million first timers. His high-priced Essential Quality colt may just need another start.
8. Sir George	Pay Billy folks are big on their Street Sense colt that has two nice career second-place finishes in two starts. A great alternative to the top pick.
7. Naabaahii	DARRS (Ross) debuts a Virginia-bred by Audley Farm in Berryville, a modest purchase that has nice Tomlinson ratings throughout.

RACE 5 – Royal New Kent S.

The $100,000 Royal New Kent debuts with a solid group of six older males going a mile. Tough to turn your back on anyone here.

6. Dragoon Guard	Anticipating a rider change here on a very speedy Arrogate horse making his 2025 debut after tallying regular 90+ Beyers.
3. Pay Billy	Very capable of winning a race like this and has gathered a recent win leading up to it. Dominated the Maryland Preakness preps last spring.
1. Rolando	Last win was a track record in the “Pet Mile” at Colonial last August, the best race of his career. He hasn’t shown quite that form recently.

RACE 6 – Sandy Bottom S.

One division of the $100,000 Sandy Bottom for older females also goes a mile with multiple speed horses for closers to pounce upon.

7. Her Laugh	Mott’s four-year-old filly will have to go a furlong farther than usual, and if she realizes that, might enjoy it anyway.
1. Passage East	Will likely be a speedy but tested leader that will relish the rail. If she runs back to her last start, it will be enought to win it.
3. Running Away	The turf excursion didn’t pan out but Ward’s Gun Runner filly has had a bit of time to forget about that start with the layoff.

NICK’S NOTES

• Picks continue below.
• Jockey Jaime Torres won three times on Friday. He scored with Keewaydin ($6.00) in the fourth race and Multiverse ($3.20) in the fifth. In the seventh, the Stellar Wind Handicap for Virginia-restricted fillies and mares, Conquerthosewecan acted up in the gate and injured jockey Sheldon Russell in the process. Torres picked up that mount, went right to the front, survived a lengthy duel and an objection, and won, paying $12.60. Russell walked off after the incident.
• Conquerthosewecan is trained by Brittany Russell for Sycamore Hall Thoroughbreds.
• The Boston Handicap for four-year-olds and up went to Illuminaire, who sat off the pace before pouncing to win by 2 1/2 lengths. He was ridden by Rajiv Maragh for trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Centennial Farms. Post time favorite Lonesome Road was a disappointing third, beaten nearly five lengths, after battling for the early lead.

RACE 7 – Sandy Bottom S.

The second division of the $100,000 Sandy Bottom probably won’t have the speed tilt of the previous.

4. Conch Fried Rice	Won three of her last four on dirt including a 10-length score at the Fairgrounds in her last start. Don’t expect 13-1 today.
6. Eunomia	Joseph’s four year old seems to be running better of late and may not be tested, especially when shortening to a mile.
7. Runaway Diva	Hemingway’s Runhappy mare has two wins at Colonial and hasn’t run out of the money in a long time.

RACE 8 – Virginia Oaks

The $250,000 Virginia Oaks is headed to a West Coast/East Coast duel among speedsters with frontrunning scores behind them.

3. Bottle of Rouge	Likely the real interest of Baffert coming in with a Grade 1 winner whose only setback is not winning the BC Juvenile Fillies.
1. Dazzling Dame	Russell’s filly with have to go an extra sixteenth but offers a challenge with wins at four different venues already in her career.
2. Hit Parade	Cox will likely have to find a new rider for Ortiz but may benefit should the pending duel become intense enough to collapse.

RACE 9 –Virginia Derby

A deep field provides an unconventional opportunity for Kentucky Derby points for a large number of one-time winners going a one-turn 1 1/8 miles.

5. High Camp	Walden’s colt will stretch out in distance but may not notice with Velazquez aboard for one gradual turn. Tomlinson rating points to distance.
1. Buetane	While Baffert considered several others for this spot, he opted for this high-dollar Tiz the Law colt. The one to beat but beatable.
3. Epic Desire	Pletcher has had success in big races at Colonial through the years. So has Russell, who gets the mount out of the Sam Davis in Tampa.

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