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.

• POST TIME: 10:45 a.m.
• RACES: 12
• CARRYOVERS: Pick 6, $1,594

RACE 1

Early post time for steeplechase racing (10:45 am) with maidens to kick off the card.

7. Swore	In his leaping debut, Brion’s gelding ran a solid second with Mulqueen aboard improving his position with every call.
3. Perfect Reel	Jumped on the lead for a long way in his steeplechase debut over a yielding course. Won’t be 42-1 today.
1. Cartographer	Can Watters get aboard and improve this mount from 7th and 40+ lengths back? Some of the way but not all of that margin.

RACE 2

In a deep jump field with no frontrunners, maiden fillies and mares, nearly all with in-meet Colonial starts, look to graduate.

8. Camcha	In her jumping debut went even with Avakate in his jumping debut who then won the Randy Rouse. Has placed well in other spots.
1. Bold Look	Simply just difficult to overlook Watters (7 wins in 8 starts) completely no matter what the margin in her last two starts.
4. Anoint	We’ll see how she handles the jumps but if she does, Brion’s mare has that closing run many at Colonial take advantage of.

RACE 3

A steeplechase handicap for those rated 110 or lower, with McDermott’s gelding the highest and Kingsley’s gelding the lowest.

1. Dante’s Fire	Morris’ gelding gets Watters and in rural setting showed talent multiple times this spring. A better racetrack outing this go around.
8. Love Foreverafter	Look for a better journey for “the other Morris” with Poretz’s assignment with a win the meet. Many were bettered by Avakate.
7. Icandothat	Maybe the flat race at Delaware Park works to orient McDermott, trainer and rider, to speed up the finish despite the weight.

RACE 4

Females in a starter allowance for past 12.5k claimers go a dirt mile (automatic Claiming Crown Glass Slipper berth to 1st and 2nd).

4. Concrete Faze	Ness tried three times this year to start on the turf, but when his four-year-old kept winning on the dirt, quit fighting it.
6. Mercy Warren	Sharp’s mare comes in off an impressive win at Saratoga and is a speedy challenger, basically a co-favorite, with Concrete Faze.
2. Ambitiously Placed	Former leading Colonial trainer Michael Pino starts his first of Colonial’s meet with one that could capitalize on a speed duel.

RACE 5

Males in a starter allowance for past $25k claimers sprint on the turf (automatic Claiming Crown Canterbury berth to 1st and 2nd).

5. Incinerator	Literally came from last to first to win at Colonial in his last start. There should be enough pace in the race to set him up again.
6. Sosua Summer	Trainer Victor Barboza makes his first start of the meet with a former stakes winner he recently claimed.
7. Chiseler	Virginia-bred jockey Chris Emigh returns to ride for partner Brittany Vanden Berg with a runner looking for his third win of the year.

RACE 6

Males in a starter allowance for past $16k claimers go seven furlongs on dirt (automatic Claiming Crown Rapid Transit berth to 1st and 2nd).

2. Gilmore	Sharp’s gelding, claimed in four consecutive starts late last year and early this, may be sent a little earlier, but has won at Churchill and Saratoga within the last three months.
1. J D Factor	Ness’s gelding, a threat to wire the field, looks for a four-peat, the previous three coming at different distances
6. Global Sensation	Likely hanging just off the pace is an Evangeline shipper who could take advantage of a speedy duel. Draw a line through the turf try.

NICK’S NOTES

• Picks continue below.
• Check out jockey and trainer stats through Aug. 16…
• Racing oddity: Three races went to jockeys named Lopez, but it was three different jocks. Jose Lopez, Carlos Lopez, and Paco Lopez all found the winner’s circle…
• Dripping Gold, the 6-5 post time favorite, surged late to nip Raptor’s by a neck to win the day’s featured third-level allowance/optional claimer. Ben Curtis was in the irons for Shug McGaughey…

RACE 7

Going 1 1/16 miles on the dirt are past $8k claimers in a starter allowance (automatic Claiming Crown Iron Horse berth to 1st and 2nd).

1. Cupid’s Dude	Camacho comes in to ride a versatile gelding that has shown the ability to win in many different ways since being claimed in March.
8. Curlin’s Malibu	Sharp starts a Curlin gelding that jumps up into stakes company on occasion, including two defeats to multiple graded winner Post Time in Maryland.
7. King of Hollywood	This Palace Malice gelding has shown frontrunning and stalking talent that work when Cupid’s Dude isn’t in the field.

RACE 8

In a six-furlong dirt sprint are starter allowance past $8k claimers (automatic Claiming Crown Ready’s Rocket berth to 1st and 2nd).

8. Silver Slugger	Won three races in the claiming ranks without any takers and now runs well except on turf and slop, even in graded stakes company.
10. Normandy Hero	Ness’s Omaha Beach colt has won his last three including one on turf, appealing if you believe versatility means talent.
2. Olazabal	Rachel Sells brings the speedy pride of Finger Lakes, a winner in 5 of his last 6 starts, to Colonial with new rider Rodriguez aboard.

RACE 9

Fillies and mares go 1 1/16 miles on the turf in a starter allowance of past $25k claimers (automatic Claiming Crown Tiara birth to 1st and 2nd).

10. Dreaming of Abba	Jock Sonny Leon comes in just for this mount, for a trainer who knows how to win at Colonial.
8. Seat At the Table	One of several in the field with a minor layoff question, but veteran enough to know how to handle it especially with Curtis aboard.
12. Getaway Palace	Perez’s mare comes into Colonial off a speedy win at Monmouth at a notable level and prefers the firmer going.

RACE 10

Going the nine-furlong Virginia Derby distance are starter allowance past $35k claimers (automatic Claiming Crown Jewel berth to 1st and 2nd).

8. Bernin Hot	Crichton’s gray won at Churchill with Curtis and then came to Colonial to win with Curtis without missing a speedy step.
3. Cadet Corps	Breen’s Will Take Charge gelding missed a three-peat seeking a higher step in the Monmouth Cup versus solid stakes horses.
7. Certified Loverboy	This Mendelssohn gelding has been a solid performer and winner in New York since claiming ping-pong over the winter.

RACE 11

On the turf going 1 1/16 miles are starter allowance past $25k claimers (automatic Claiming Crown Emerald berth to 1st and 2nd).

10. Echo Lane	The race history on Crichton’s well-bred colt includes battles with stakes performers Deterministic, Fulmineo and Crystal Quest.
5. Mowins	Making his first start since May is Joseph’s multiple stakes winner with underrated Micah Husbands aboard hoping to pounce on speed.
6. Murray	Walsh’s gelding won on the Turfway synthetic, claimed, then a 90-day layoff before a win at Indy, then a 60-day layoff to win again.

RACE 12

Not part of the Claiming Crown is the finale for female $30k claiming turf milers either three-years-old or nonwinners of three.

11. La Cantera	Joseph’s three-year-old filly has an in-meet win at Colonial as a solid favorite and is capable when not in stakes company.
6. Turf Rocket	One of five in the field coming in off a win is Trombetta’s More Than Ready filly actually dropping a little bit in class from Monmouth.
9. Hidden Presence	Motion’s filly rallied for second in her first Colonial start but has two nice wins this spring at Laurel to build on after a long maiden voyage.

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