Nick's Picks: Colonial Downs picks September 4, 2024 * The Racing Biz

Nick’s Picks: Colonial Downs picks September 4, 2024

Nick Hahn
September 4, 2024

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 2024: Nick’s Picks returns with picks and analysis for every day of the Colonial meet.

DATE/POST TIME: September 4/1:25
RACES: 11
CARRYOVERS: $2,139

RACE 1

On the dirt, two Colonial winners off their maidens and two of Munoz start in a “non-winners of three” with just a single win.

4. Just Great	Coming back into a more familiar winning distance and surface at Colonial that worked so well at Delaware last summer.
3. Levisa	Best of the older fillies working well in the morning at Laurel where she is also shipping in from a July win.
5. Genuine Peril	Runs a furlong shorter for Munoz and expected to be hoovering on the early pace. Better distance and drops in class.

RACE 2

Virginia restricted female maidens sprint on the turf where nearly every entry had a start at Colonial Downs this meet.

8. Splash of Jack	In her fourth Colonial start this meet, its the older filly’s turn to graduate coming out of MSW with Karamanos aboard.
3. Donate Life	First start in a Virginia-restricted race off passing up a weekend event to go here. Carrasco rides a special filly.
7. Granuaile	Curtis rides for Meyers at the same level and distance as before. Has enough but needs a little more.

RACE 3

On the dirt, nine maiden claimers go seven furlongs with two females of Munoz among the boys, few showing speed.

2. Kistler	What looks like a sharp uptick for Stidham’s gelding was actually the first start in over a year. Too early to expect a bounce.
1. Coach Campbell	Jockey switch for Desormeaux and returning to an added furlong will help close the gap on Kistler, but not 2&1/2 lengths.
5. Optimistic Nate	First start on the dirt for recent claim of Seale, who returns Sanchez part of a sub-22 opening quarter pace over yielding turf in last start.

RACE 4

A morning line is nearly worthless in this field of evenly matched starter optional claimers in a turf route, many with recent success.

9. Bodecream	Might find a very similar situation as the last start at Colonial, a win on Festival of Racing day. Maybe fresher than his challengers.
3. Dear Santa	Comes in after two wins at Penn and two wins last summer at Colonial, but not sure if his turf speed with hold up.
2. Clint Maroon	The only knock I have in the PPs on Clint Maroon’s material is age. Sheppard’s gray gelding improves with Curtis aboard.

RACE 5

Virginia-restricted maidens go a mile on the turf, all but the first two in the starting gate lightly raced.

1. Come Rain Or Shine	Making only his second start of the meet is Larry Johnson’s Nyquist gelding. If you can beat him, you’ll be rewarded.
3. Public Defender	Foyce rides a Constitution female among the boys off the layoff, carrying 114 pounds with Forest Boyce aboard.
5. Magic Path	Trying the turf this time is Brion’s gelding returns Carrasco who points up when starting on the turf.

RACE 6

Virginia-restricted two year old maidens sprint on the turf in a ten horse field with two by Nagle and two by Russell

8. Hightailing Harry	Karamanos gets the mount of Woodberry’s gelding who ran well above his odds in his career debut at Colonial.
5. Potcake	One of two Big Lick first timers, this one with a nice Tomlinson on turf being sired by Oscar Performance.
7. Nola Boss	Russell’s January foaled colt nearly delivered three weeks ago near this level at Colonial, a sharp turn up on the turf.

NICK’S NOTES

Picks continue below.
Trainer Patrick Nuesch (or should we say “Twousch”) won both of his races for owner Lisa Beige last weekend with Valiant Vinny and Charmed, both on the front end with jockey Denis Araujo aboard. The weekend results raise Neusch’s record for zero wins in two starts to two wins in four, a winning percentage of 50%. In 2013, Neusch won with three of his first five starters and in 2007 started the meet with five straight winners with four different horses. Neusch who operates the Braeburn Training Center in Crozet, Virginia, obviously is a trainer who knows where to pick his spots at Colonial.
There may finally be a little separation from the pack leading to a duel for the jockey and trainer standings heading into the last weekend of racing, a long four-day one. Wins can come in bunches, though, so it is not unlikely a late comeback could occur. Jockey Ben Curtis (22 wins) has a two-victory lead over Antonio Gallardo (20 wins) while trainers Michael Trombetta and Michael Stidham are tied with 12 wins each.
Trainer Phil Schoenthal’s Donate Life is 8-1 in the morning line of Wednesday’s second race, a special filly named after a life-saving heart transplant for nine-year-old son, Emerson, received several years ago. The three-year-old filly has been knocking on the door, finishing second in four of her last five starts. Whatever the odds, she’ll always go off as the favorite.
Following the bouncing first race post times this week. Wednesday (today) is 1:25, followed by Thursday at 11:45 with early steeplechase action, then the usual Friday time at 4:30 followed by 1:00 on Saturday for Virginia Derby day. The cards are full of races with Wednesday (11 races), Thursday (12 races), Friday (11 races) then Saturday (12 races) concluding the meet.

RACE 7

Another mile on the turf for ten maidens but this time up for a $40,000 claiming price. Three also-eligibles wait to get in.

5. Gotta Have a Guy	Meyer’s colt may have shown a preference for routes after closing in a sprint and running out of track. Curtis aboard today.
1. Courageous Mission	Robbie Bailes comes out of Virginia-restricted maiden claiming to test a mile closing in each of his career two starts.
10. Buoyant	Toledo returns to ride for Russell, on a rested Union Rags colt looking for firm going on the turf for the first time.

RACE 8

In an allowance turf sprint, the “Share the Blessing” race is prominent but muddled by other options coming in solid.

7. Charlottesapproval	Casse’ filly, well-bred for the turf, impressed in her first attempt on the turf on “Million” day at Colonial. Gallardo is back on board.
5. Heart	One of the late chargers in the race won by Share the Blessing should improve today. Another closing winner expected today.
10. Lady d’Oro	Pino’s Catholic Boy filly will be there at the beginning and the end and tries Colonial for the first time.

RACE 9

A field of ten starter optional claimers has many winning veterans in a turf route, Love Foreverafter and Lovely Ever After side by side.

7. Jenny Lind	Back history shows some turf ambition at high levels for Girten’s Mendelssohn filly. I like the running style and how pace could set up.
5. Love Foreverafter	Morris’ filly was solid in turf routes at three different tracks last year before trying the hurdles. Four wins by four different riders.
8. Gold Digging Broad	Vera’s filly was the runner up in the All Brandy at Laurel, twice, once on the dirt and once on the turf.

RACE 10

Maidens sprint on the turf all elders seeking their first win in a field of twelve. Waiting to draw in is Wesley Ward’s filly.

4. Monster Summer	A younger Summer Front filly for Joan Reynolds took a liking to the turf, though Karamanos now rides Chica Music.
8. Bond’s Belle	A small drop in class in the first turf attempt of Ness’s gray filly, working well at Laurel at Parx.
9. Cirilla	First race off the claim for Allen’s four-year-old who may have run better than the comment line suggests in last start.

RACE 11

In the finale, a maiden turf route, a dozen females of varying class and age seeks their first win.

4. Streetcorner	In a race largely void of pace, Curtis may be able to throttle enough of it for Ross’ filly to maintain the lead.
7. Cheyenne Spring	Libertini’s six-year-old mare got within sight of the lead late in her last start and gets Karamanos today.
5. Bold Look	Araujo won a couple of races for Neusch last weekend, maybe improved Valvo’s filly’s results.