Nick’s Picks: Colonial Downs picks July 13, 2023
Nick Hahn- July 13, 2023
Nick’s Picks is back with Colonial Downs picks and analysis during the 2022 live meeting.
As he has done every year since Colonial Downs opened — all the way back in 1997 — Nick Hahn will share his picks and analysis, plus news and notes and opinions on the Colonial meet. There is no better guide to racing in New Kent than Nick Hahn!
This year’s Colonial Downs meet will feature some things that are new and some that are familiar. Familiar trainer faces include Colonial regulars Graham Motion, Karen Godsey, Kelsey Danner, Mike Tomlinson and Mike Trombetta, along with multiple leading trainer Michael Stidham.
On the jockey side, look for defending champion Jevian Toledo, who is named to ride in all nine races on opening day; Colonial’s all-time leading jockey Horacio Karamanos; Antonio Gallardo, a perennial top rider at Tampa Bay Downs in the winter months; Adam Beschizza; and Joe Rocco, Jr.
Nick’s Picks Play of the Day
Colonial Downs has brought back the Pick 6 on the last 6 races of the day so let’s go big early. CALL IT—Race 4 $1 Old Dominion Pick 6, 2,4 with 1,10,13,14 with 2 with 4 with 8,9 with 6,10 (Costs $32).
CHECK OUT THE LATEST OFF TO THE RACES RADIO!
RACE 1
| 7 | RUGELACH | Motion’s Rugelach has quality starts this year while facing deep fields. Shug’s filly (#6) makes ’23 bow. |
| 6 | QUEEN’S GARDEN | |
| 5 | WATCH THIS BIRDIE |
RACE 2
| 7 | NOBLE CONQUEST | Guillaume a 2020 stakes winner at CNL but prefer other Allen trainee (#7) with Special K Karamanos aboard. |
| 1 | MINT GAME | |
| 3 | GUILLAUME |
RACE 3
| 3 | LOVE KNOT | Stidham’s Hard Spun filly drops in class and reverts back to 5 1/2. Others going up in class. |
| 1 | RED DELICIOUS | |
| 4 | AHSOKA |
RACE 4
| 4 | AMANI’S TIGER | Motion’s “Tiger” ran well at a mile; Tomlinson maiden (#2) improving. |
| 2 | YOUNGDUMBANDBROKE | |
| 1 | JEBY |
RACE 5
| 1 | TROUBLED DREAMS | 5 starts among these 14 2-year olds and Russell’s “Dreams” has two of them, both solid. |
| 13 | CANDY DOLL | |
| 10 | CONTINGA |
RACE 6
| 2 | HIGH DONNA | High Donna and perhaps bye “Donna” should she slip away on the lead. |
| 7 | MS EXCUSE | |
| 3 | RIVER CITY ROCKER |
RACE 7
| 4 | SUPER RENEE | Claimed “Renee” didn’t mind the turf when on it early on, but should she not take to it, look to “Lady.” |
| 10 | WALKS LIKE A LADY | |
| 6 | TAK E LADY |
RACE 8
| 8 | MALAWNIA | Noticeable class drop for Tomlinson 3-year old filly, and weight may be the deciding factor here. |
| 9 | ALEXA’S DREAM | |
| 3 | MARIA’S HONOR |
RACE 9
| 10 | STORMING CHROME | Nice first outing in first start with McMahon since taking over for Doug O’Neil, who still owns “Chrome.” |
| 6 | NANGA PARBAT | |
| 11 | RED OCTOBER |
NICKS’ NOTES
HEADING TO THE TRACK? Print a PDF of Nick’s Picks so you’re ready to make some money.
CHURCHILL DOWNS ERA BEGINS—There is a business axiom that says that the third owner of an enterprise will be the most successful. The new owners of Colonial would like to believe it. Fans wanted live racing to return on the weekends, it’s back. Welcome Churchill Downs to Virginia.
HOLY TOLEDO— That’s Jevian Toledo last year’s leading jockey at Colonial Downs who has a mount scheduled in each of Colonial’s nine races.
BAND OR BRED? Is it the name of a horse? Or the name of a band?
Today it’s… Speed Fossil: Band or bred?
Look on Friday’s Nick’s Picks to find out whether Speed Fossil is either the name of a music group or a racehorse.
LISTEN UP! Off to the Races Radio is on every Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m.! You can find it:
- On ESPN Richmond (106.1 FM) for a two-hour program each Saturday during the Colonial meet and one hour thereafter straight through Breeders’ Cup!
- On ESPN Harrisonburg (106.9 FM and 1360 AM) for one hour each Saturday covering the Colonial Downs Thoroughbred meet and the Shenandoah Downs harness meet!
- On Baltimore Positive (1570 AM) every Saturday morning straight through Breeders’ Cup!
YOUNG FOGIE: Former Jockey Ryan Fogelsonger joins Off to the Races-Virginia at 10:30 a.m. each Saturday! He was the 2002 Eclipse Award winner as outstanding apprentice rider.
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