Nick's Picks: Colonial Downs picks August 6, 2025 * The Racing Biz

Nick’s Picks: Colonial Downs picks August 6, 2025

Nick Hahn
August 5, 2025

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 6/12:30 pm.
RACES: 9
CARRYOVERS: Pick 6, $1,472

RACE 1

Six start in this Virginia-restricted $16k maiden claimer going a mile on dirt, two trained by Williams making their first starts.

3. Dan d’Oro	Though making his 10th start, Desormeaux’s colt ran respectably on the dirt at higher levels in prominent venues. Forget the turf.
6. Work Hard	Has seen the toughest company of this field but largely on the turf. His last race was a three-horse field. Tough but beatable.
2. Mischief Mystery	Williams has two $10k purchases by the same sire, Maximus Mischief, making their debuts in the same field. Could surprise.

RACE 2

Virginia-restricted fillies and mares start in a turf mile, all but the morning line favorite with prior starts at Colonial Downs.

2. Power Dance	Over yielding ground, Gallardo’s mount took a charge at the winner’s circle in a 12-horse Colonial field despite her lack of turf pedigree.
6. Amie’s Symphony	First career start over the turf at Laurel nearly worked out and has breeding, trainer and jockey all working in her favor.
4. Juice	Saville’s filly has some good finishes running at Colonial and ran her best Beyers in her 2025 debut at Delaware.

RACE 3

In a maiden turf sprint, the eleven Virginia-restricted two-year-old fillies include seven with starts earlier in the meet.

9. Toot	Remember What The Beep? She won two stakes at Colonial and was sent to Goldencents to breed. Nice place for a first-start longshot.
4. Wickedwithbourbon	The switch to the turf was sharp but wondering about the juvenile’s fourth start in some six weeks. Best resume here.
3. Ginger Snap	Bailes, having a great meet, looks for his well-bred filly to rebound in second on turf and find more speed like in her debut on dirt.

RACE 4

On the dirt are $12,500 claimers, non-winners of two lifetime, which features four from a July 16 race here.

6. On a Proud Note	Trombetta’s filly sired by a Preakness winner returns Karamanos following career-best outing.
2. Countryclub Couple	This 4yo Russell filly comes out of a good race and follows up with a bullet work at Fair Hill.
7. Long Gone Sally	There is a little, perhaps enough, speed in the field to challenge, but she could be a problem if left alone on the front end.

RACE 5

In a filly turf sprint, a dozen two-year-olds, all either with a start at Colonial or making their first start. Hot Mash (AE) credible.

7. Ironclad	Some solid July mornings at TTC in Kentucky lead to the debut of Eurton’s More Than Ready colt, pricey and prepared. Curtis rides.
12. Screen Test	In a similar position is the pricey half-sister of Grade 1 winner Test Score for Motion, also impressive in the Fair Hill mornings.
10. Not Wanted	Thomas starts a Keeneland September sale filly by Vekoma, well-bred and with Gallarado aboard.

RACE 6

In a turf route, a veteran group of $25k claimers with handfuls of wins in dozens of starts look to find one more win.

9. Bring Me a Check	Draw a line through the last start pulled from the turf and see a six-year-old by Fast Anna with a win this year at this level and distance.
7. Hot Blooded	Klesaris’ seven-year-old veteran has two wins this year and makes his first start of the summer. Will be visible throughout.
2. Covert Kat	Trombetta’s gelding who won at Colonial two years ago in a turf sprint, looks for his third start of 2025 to be a return to form.

NICK’S NOTES

Picks continue below.
Check out the latest Colonial Downs jockey and trainer stats here.
Ben Curtis won three Saturday to cap off a 7-for-16 week at Colonial. His riding triple included a score in the Hickory Tree Stakes aboard Trendsetter ($4.00), trained by Ben Colebrook for Midway Racing LLC…
Jockey Mychel Sanchez won a pair, topped by a win in the Keswick aboard Just Philtored ($4.20) for trainer Mike Trombetta and owners Red White and Blue Racing LLC and London Reid Thoroughbreds… Antonio Gallardo also rode a pair of Saturday winners…
Just Philtored‘s win in the Keswick was also one of two for Trombetta, who is tied for the wins lead among trainers with Brittany Russell. Both have 11… Trainer Mark Casse also won twice, both with Curtis in the irons…

RACE 7

Sixteen entered, twelve will start in a $16k claiming race going a turf mile for nonwinners of two lifetime.

4. Koru	Riverdee gelding broke his maiden at Laurel and may have been outclassed in allowance company at Colonial. Speedy Hard Spun may find the lead and keep it.
8. Chris’s Revenge	Russell’s gelding has some class and had shown early speed before. Better than first Colonial start shows.
12. Rampagius	DARRS’ (Ross) gelding has a class advantage and comes in fresh and should stay in the first grouping throughout.

RACE 8

Second-level allowance/optional claimers go a mile on the turf.

5. Coringa	Off the turf in his last start was Trombetta’s gelding who had the lead inside the 1/8th pole in his last two turf starts.
2. Massif	A starter in Deterministic’s Virginia Derby win, he ran well in his 2025 debut at Delaware. Seems better than his most recent Colonial start.
3. Dear Dad	One of two Casse entries, he ran very well each month of 2025, all at Gulfstream and all in the money (including two wins).

RACE 9

In an allowance for 3-year-old fillies that have never won two going 1 1/16 miles on turf, where and when the maiden win was matters.

2. Mopo	Capuano’s filly won over the good turf Preakness weekend in a deep field and followed up with a strong second.
4. Bessie Abott	How about Ireland to break your maiden? Then some solid stake outings on various surfaces and conditions for Casse’s filly.
5. She’s a Swede	McPeek’s American Pharoah ran well in her first Colonial start on the lead but found the rail lumbering late in the race.