Nick's Picks: Colonial Downs picks August 3, 2024 * The Racing Biz

Nick’s Picks: Colonial Downs picks August 3, 2024

Nick Hahn
August 3, 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: August 3/1:30
RACES: 9
CARRYOVERS: None

RACE 1

The day starts on dirt where several three-year-olds have an edge versus elders

2. Lou Anna	Sired by Fast Anna, same as Thorpedo Anna who she faced, and whose grand dam of Colonial legend, Dreaming of Anna.
4. Divinely Bolt	Older filly will be loved by Beyers believers comes into the race after recent win at Churchill Downs.
5. Genuine Peril	Munoz, the demon of the dirt, reunited Ashton with 2023 Colonial winner in second start of the meet.

RACE 2

Two in this turf field have a chance to be the meet’s first double winners with challengers here very capable of getting their first.

5. Next Episode	Conner comes back to ride Saville’s four-year-old filly after opening day win. Also won at CNL last summer.
7. Inanna’s Quest	Like Next Episode, winning rider, this time Boyce, comes back to ride but not with the added eight days of rest of Conner’s mount.
8. Stellar Lady	Although there may be some trainer hopping, the owner, Amy Moore who bred Forte, knows her horses, this one seeing tough foes.

RACE 3

This field of nine miadens, none with last starts on the turf, are in a MSW turf sprint that include two trained by Munoz.

4. Readier	Lightner five-year-old had a great experience on the turf in March while being solid on the dirt since.
5. Contemplation	Improving Stidham young gelding for David Ross has a Tomlinson rating similar to Readier.
9. Watch Out World	Getting Boyce aboard only ticks up chances of World of Trouble-sired proven on the firm turf going at Laurel.

RACE 4

Twelve maidens all either dropping or racing at current class level, but only two made closing bids in last starts.

9. Motion Granted	Althought fifth in opening day start, Motion Granted was within a length of the winner for Schoenthal.
12. World Factor	Clancy clan sees something in this placement they like and return Karamanos who just missed at $25K at CNL last summer.
3. Miztergrandcentral	For trainer Keri Brion, eating lobster yesterday after getting her first win at Saratoga, passed on Delaware race to run in this spot.

RACE 5

The $150,000 Keswick for two-year-old fillies on dirt provides many options among winners going against high priced raw talent.

7. Winfinity	John Ortiz starts a $300,000 Not This Time gray filly bred by Smitten Farm, also the breeder of Gigante, last year’s Secretariat winner.
9. Let Thesunshine In	Opening day at Colonial, one of Trombetta’s fillies was moving on the winner. Both of his are very similar right down to breeding.
3. Bonne Fille	After a solid opening day win, Lovell returns Ashton to the dirt with a chance to become the first two-race winner of the meet.

RACE 6

The $150,000 Hickory Tree for two-year-olds on dirt includes many West Virginia restricted winners and two trained by John Robb.

8. Tap That Magic	From the Finger Lakes comes a higher priced Good Magic sired gray that Gallardo won with at Presque Isle and then bulleted a work.
11. Audible the Play	After nearly winning in his debut at Laurel, Farrior’s Audible was called to the winner’s circle at Charles Town.
12. Tojo’s Mojo	A massive improvement to Salzman’s horse to win at Laurel producing the best Beyers in this field.

NICK’S NOTES

Picks continue below.
Friday’s card was canceled after the fourth race because of the weather.
There were a pair of two-year-old maiden winners: Reggie Runs Rogue took a Virginia restricted maiden on the main track for trainer-owner Justin Nixon with Xavier Perez up, and It’s Witchcraft took a turf maiden special on the grass for trainer Mark Casse and owner D J Stable with Antonio Gallardo in the irons.

RACE 7

Casse brings in two fresh horses into a tough AOC turf race where three horses last starting in New York could sweep the trifecta.

6. Script	It’s becoming Motion season at Colonial and his five-year-old gelding may finally catch a turf route with firm going.
3. Otago	The Sophomore Turf winner at Tampa Bay Downs in 2023 has run consistently well recently for Danner.
8. Bring Me a Check	Maker’s Fast Anna sired seven-year-old makes his 50th start after solid chases at Saratoga.

RACE 8

Of the several that broke their maidens in last start, only Nagle’s Graft returns to the turf but finds competent foes.

4. Mr Scatter	Both Karamanos and Tomlinson, the rating that is, feel better about Correas’ gray three-year-old first turf outing.
2. Graft	Gun Runner-sired Big Lick-bred placed Boyce in the saddle and will be first to benefit if Mr. Scatter doesn’t like turf.
5. Whiting Field	Tough to leave McCarthy’s mount out of the money finishing third or better in 7 of his 9 career start, his last one a synthetic win.

RACE 9

The finale features fourteen filly maidens in a turf route nine with a Tomlinson more than 300.

9. Aspen Dawn	A standout in price ($550,000) and last Beyer figure (67) on turf is Cass’e Quality
14. Stratospheric	With Jordan Blair’s 2 for 7 record in the meet, you might be able to put his Sky Mesa filly on top. Returning Tyler Conner to ride.
11. Peaceful Kingdom	Danner’s Bolt d’Oror filly nearly broke her maiden on synthetic at Turfway in January.