Nick’s Picks: Colonial Downs picks August 13, 2024
Nick Hahn- August 13, 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 13, 2024/1:30
- RACES: 9
- CARRYOVERS: Pick 6, $3,586
RACE 1
On the dirt, Munoz has two entered for seven furlongs including Collected Dream who has a win in the meet.
| 4. Practical Miss | Disregard the turf start other than saved plenty for first Colonial start on the dirt and a preferred distance. |
| 9. Shut It Cali | Just missed three weeks ago at Colonial at the same level and gets the extra furlong today which may have helped in last start. |
| 3. Corinth | Hard to go against the demon on the dirt, dropping a little in class, one of two Munoz three-year-olds that a capable. |
RACE 2
A previous Keswick stakes winner is among the eight in a turf route containing tough foes but only two with a win this year.
| 6. House of Melody | Filly faces older females but has won in a turf route against an older group before. Saffee Joseph saddles his first one of the meet. |
| 1. Cat One | Riley Mott’s filly has a win on the turf and recent win on the synthetic by seventh lengths. Mornings also sharp. |
| 4. Save the Flag | Zook takes another look at a turf route with another jockey aboard the five-year-old mare by Super Saver. |
RACE 3
A seven horse field in a turf sprint includes the outside speed of Oxymore and Bruder, previously entered at Colonial.
| 7. Oxymore | Nearly wired in first Colonial start and definitely has faced the toughest foes, especially in the BC Juvey Turf Sprint. |
| 6. Midnight Tequila | Was closing in head-to-head with Oxymore but never a real threat. If the pace gets pressed, he may benefit most. |
| 3. Bruder | Back to the turf for Eagle Point’s Bruder, where his best career Beyers has been. He’s the best chance to contest the lead. |
RACE 4
Ten two-year-olds nearly all with trainers having excellent meets in a turf sprint. Watch for Godsey’s Katarzyna if she draws in.
| 7. Rocio | Though a wonderful spot to chance a first timer, Munoz’s second timer comes off a closing debut and nearly delivered at price. |
| 3. Ready to Rocknroll | Delacour saddles a Bolt d’Oro working well at Fair Hill looking ready for her debut. |
| 2. Mun Mun Can Run | Live Oak homebred also at Fair Hill with Trombetta gets Sanchez to ride. |
RACE 5
Godsey returns her landmark winner for Richards versus a diverse field of challenges going a turf mile.
| 3. Guildenstern | Irish-bred class dropper of Orseno should see enough pace to close but needs to start his run earlier. |
| 2. Green Beans | Green Beans win wasn’t a surprise. He went off the favorite and had several good starts prior. Ashton returns. |
| 5. Will’s Music | Allen’s gelding broke his maiden at Colonial last summer and shortening to a mile may helps. |
RACE 6
Ten turf sprinting two-year-olds on the turf have only eight career starts among them, usually an edge over first timers.
| 8. Buy Tom a Beer | A closing effort in his first start over a yeilding turf course is eye-catching. Coming back to Virginia-restricted. |
| 3. Stormy Flight | Well-bred Get Stormy sired gelding didn’t get a high Beyer in first start but like to change to turf, as does Tomlinson. |
| 2. Moon Factor | Likely to get overlooked but one very capable to reward well to deliver in the exotics. |
NICK’S NOTES
- Picks continue below.
- Recapping some of the undercard stakes, jockey Sheldon Russell earned his first win of the meet when he captained first-time gelding Regalo to a win in the first running of the Petramalo Mile. It was Regalo’s first start since February, and both Sheldon and trainer Brittany Russell credited the win the time off.
- Jockey Mychel Sanchez went to the lead and kept it aboard Carmelina giving the three-year-old filly her first win in 2004 after winning three stakes in 2023 including the Keswick Stakes at Colonial Downs. Trainer Butch Reid hope to use her age to her advantage at least one more by racing against three-year-olds before rising up to face older horses.
- It wasn’t the first time that jockey Paco Lopez had ridden Beauty of the Sea last Sunday when they won the Andy Guest stakes. Lopez was the winning jockey in both of her wins earlier this year. Trainer Joseph Orseno credited Colonial Downs for pausing racing for a day to get the better track condition or she may not have shipped, staying for a race at Monmouth Park. Kevin Attard ,who trains Beverly D winning Moira, gave similar praise.
- It was the first time jockey Ben Curtis rode Dream Shake ($18.40) for trainer Michael Stidham, delivering a come-from-behind effort to win the Van Clief, his first start in 2024. Though Dream Shake won twice in 2023, including the Grade 2 Connaught Cup at Woodbine, the Van Clief was his first win in over a year.
- The promised scramble for the riding title continues today with Ben Curtis holding a narrow lead with 11 wins on the meet, one more than Antonio Gallardo with 10. Jockeys Trevor McCarthy, Mychel Sanchez and Horacio Karamanos all lay in wait with nine wins each with Victor Carrasco with eight. The trainer standings are just as compelling with Michael Stidham, Brittany Russell, and Michael Trombetta in a three-way dead heat with seven wins each.
- Next Episode is entered in the opening race of the card on Saturday, which will provide him the opportunity to become the first three-peat winner of Colonial’s meet.
RACE 7
In this turf sprint, three of the dozen, a quarter of the field, have a win at Colonial Downs during this meet.
| 10. Share the Blessing | Curtis, who deliver one of the meet’s three previous winners in this field, goes to Stidham’s filly, first start of the layoff. |
| 4. Atmidnight | Atmidnight, one of those winners, starts again for Saville, having a great meet. This time Conner rides. |
| 6. Beanpot | Clement’s $410K filly has a lot of potential upside , much of it will start showing up today. |
RACE 8
One of the most thrilliing finishes of the meet was the five horse blanket opening day, with its winner returning here.
| 9. Lonely Ride | Of a win in his last start, lightly raced three-year-old maybe more fresh than the other recent winners in this field. |
| 8. My Sanctuary | Curtis up the rail on opening day may have been the ride of the meet so far, but can his do it again? |
| 4. Where’s Charlie | A week after a disappointing opening day setback, Where’s Charlie won at a mile. A little bit more rested here. |
RACE 9
The finale features a turf route for dozen maidens most with a sampling of starts and three first timers.
| 12. Oskar Martinez | Delacour’s four-year-old has long times between starts but could be fresh after a nice start at Laurel in June. |
| 10. Mandatory Meeting | Jordan Blair starts his $100,000 colt for Novogratz Racing for the first time in 2024 and first time out of Kentucky. |
| 4. Waxing Moon | First time starter gets Cheminaud’s experience for Shug who seems to be riding Vincent more often. |
Picture of the day
Under the lights
Nations Pride led ’em home to win Sunday’s Grade 1 Arlington Million. Because of issues transmitting the signal, which delayed the first post by 52 minutes, and other complications, Colonial ran more than an hour behind schedule, necessitating turning on the lights on the turf, which leads to this nifty picture. Photo by Coady Photography.
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