Nick’s Picks: Colonial Downs picks August 24, 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 24/1:30
- RACES: 9
- CARRYOVERS: Pick 6, $2,128
RACE 1
On the dirt, eight “nonwinners of two” claimers go one turn to start the day and the double.
6. El Guapo | Munoz passed up a race last night so he could run his six-year-old gelding here. |
5. Orange Juice | Stidham, Ross and Curtis teamed up for a nice win on Friday night. Tries the dirt for the first time. |
8. Spurs Up | At this level, McCutchen four-year-old gelding has been competitve in last two starts. Gets Gallardo aboard today. |
RACE 2
Though maidens key players here have experience on the turf at upper levels largely at distances going over a mile.
6. Shakrevenge | In his first start at Colonial looking for a little more steadiness for D’Angelo’s filly, who nearly carried after a tough start in Delaware. |
7. Baywatch Blonde | Ruiz returns on Motion’s filly in her second start after a brief layoff coming out of MSW from Delaware. |
2. Capo Donna | Jason Werth’s Two Eight Racing and West Paces Racing sends their first to Colonial Downs, a class dropper to run before the Travers. |
RACE 3
Seven females set for a starter allowance going a mile on the turf “non-winners of two” and starting for $25,000 or less.
6. Dreaming of Abba | When Kathleen O’Connell brings one in for the meet, its worth a real look despite being winless for the meet. |
1. Lady Ophelia | Curtis rides for Meyers again off the maiden score in July staying with the same distance. |
3. Kobe’s Smile | For start of the year for Boniface’s filly who broke her maiden at Colonial last summer impressively. |
RACE 4
Colonial filling a field of two-year-olds on the dirt with ten but only one having started a race before.
10. Montador | This team of Stidham and Curtis for Godolphin appear to be on a cusp of multiple wins to close the meet, here with a Nyquist first timer. |
7. Love Pack | Motion having a great week at Colonial sends out a Classic Empire colt that has been blitzing in the mornings at Fair Hill. |
2. Pascaline | Delacour for West Point Thoroughbreds gives a leg up to Carrasco with a solid morning worker sharp at Colonial and Fair Hill. |
RACE 5
In a Virginia-restricted turf sprint for maidens, the two first timers are tempting but having prior starts is still important for young horses.
5. Hail No | With a little more measured pace, Ashton could deliver a win for a Get Stormy filly who had the lead late in his first start. |
1. Strutsherstuff | Curtis, this time for Meyers, gets aboard a first timer sired by Exaggerator, a son of Curlin. |
3. Splash of Jack | Making his third start of the meet is English’s four-year-old filly who despite not earning high finishes seems to be near the wire often. |
RACE 6
Motion has two solid chances in this turf route for allowance option claiming females with a field of eight but Clement has a talented entry.
3. No Show Sammy Jo | After two wins in New York, Motion’s four-year-old filly is looking at Colonial for the three-peat. |
2. Eastern Empress | Also looking for her third consecutive in is Clement’s English-bred with Cheminaud returning to the scene of last win at Colonial. |
4. Priyanka | Motion’s pair in this field are side-by-side in the starting gate. On the firm going, “the other Motion” is more of a threat. |
RACE 7
Participants in this allowance turf route are coming in from Ellis, Saratoga, Delaware, Laurel and even Ireland.
1. Big Brass Bed | It’s not often you see Drysdale, Delacour, Walsh, Casse, Clement and Trombetta in the same race at Colonial. |
3. Planet Clare | Sheldon Russell knows Colonial well and rides for the emerging trainer Brion recently starting nice horses on the flat. |
5. Settling Storm | Won the softer going at Colonial after a win on the softer going at Finger Lakes for owner/breeder Shel Evans |
RACE 8
Eight two-year-old fillies try the turf at a mile. Several have tried before with lackluster results so seeking a fresh charge.
2. Judy’s Flyer | A subtle sign of improvement for Desormeaux’s filly in her last start who moved up to MSW and stretched to a mile in her last start. |
5. All Gas No Brakes | Brion drops out of MSW, though Virginia-restricted, and stretches her Hoppertunity filly out to a mile and adds blinkers. |
7. Huixtla | It’s been a while since this filly started on the dirt at Churchill in a restricted race on the dirt. Different surface and venue may help. |
RACE 9
In the finale, ten Virginia-restricted maiden claimers sprint on the turf with many local trainers looking for an early career breakthrough.
4. Kongzi | Missed Robin Richards getting her first win as an owner with Green Beans a while back. Don’t want to miss another one. |
2. Forced Attitude | The way Curtis is riding right now, its difficult to list his mounts to far down the selection list. |
1. Grey Flannel Boss | Shuman’s gelding may benefit from his first start where he didn’t lose ground on the winner, running even late in the race. |
Picture of the day
When the moon is in the…
As Catch Can and jockey Vincent Cheminaud won a maiden event August 16 at Colonial Downs and paused on the way to the winner’s circle to admire la bella luna.
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