Nick's Picks: Colonial Downs picks August 29, 2024 * The Racing Biz

Nick’s Picks: Colonial Downs picks August 29, 2024

Nick Hahn
August 29, 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 29/1:35
RACES: 9
CARRYOVERS: None

RACE 1

On the dirt, most maiden claimers here come over from the Colonial turf to sprint six furlongs, three out of the same race.

5. Awesome Fantasy	In a race lacking pace, Bowersock’s three-year-old showed a little at Tampa this spring before switching surfaces.
8. Coal Miner	Perhaps ambitious as a two-year-old colt, McCutchen brings a Coal Front gelding back for his first start as a three-year-old.
4. Flat Cap	A change of surface may be all Flat Cap needed and McGoey returns Curtis to test the dirt.

RACE 2

Closing out the daily double on the dirt is the rematch between Leanne Hester’s winner Cajun Expectation and Shut It Cali.

4. Compass Fire	Sharp second at this level in last start and returns Ashton. Beyer figures may show a slight edge.
1. Cajun Expectation	Sharp bullet coming into this condition after trying a mile on the turf. Both of Cajun’s wins have been one turn on the dirt.
6. Shut It Cali	Clear winner a condition lower at Colonial but still at one turn. Making her third appearance of the meet.

RACE 3

The August 17 “Steel Link” race important not only in this race but the one before this. First turf race of the card.

1. Agent Kelly	Draws the rail again but also returns Karamanos who was moving on Steel Link at this distance.
4. Voy Y Vengo	Could get away on the front end and become a threat to wire. Set quick fractions in the Steel Link race.
6. Tempest	Nixon starts a Twirling Candy colt, hoping to finally find a firm turf condition.

RACE 4

Maiden turf route has a number of angles, including near-miss veterans to layoff restarters to up-and-coming youngsters.

7. Nippy Fitz	Perhaps most disrespected by the morning line is Cooney’s Frosted gelding improving with each Colonial start.
3. Miztergrandcentral	Out of the same race as Nippy Fitz, Gallardo seeks a better trip from another three-year-old trained by Brion.
1. Dubai And Back	Irish-bred journeyman has spent some time away from the track and in Kingsley’s barn, basically a re-debut.

RACE 5

In a deep field of two-year-old maidens sprinting on the turf, there are enough quality starts by returnees to avoid the first timer leap.

3. Belle of the South	Carrasco loves the Colonial turf and returns on Delacour’s filly that seems to improve despite rising in class with each start.
5. Smart Union	If the 15-1 morning line holds, Motion and Ruiz may have the overlay of the meet in a first-time starter with good works.
8. Diane Lee	Jockey Alberto Delgado started riding 15 years before Colonial opened; this duo had a nice start at Laurel.

RACE 6

Credible contenders comprise an allowance turf route of carefully conditioned participants, some with stakes experience.

5. Souper Attentive	Casse vying for the trainer title with limited starters thought enough of his Kitten’s Joy gelding to start him in a Grade 1 at Woodbine.
3. Roundtop	Ran second at Colonial Downs last year to now-multiple stakes winner Fulmineo on the turf; Motion’s War Front colt graduated on the soft turf at Delaware last month.
1. Mackillop	A $300k purchase hasn’t followed up his win in his first start but has seen plenty of competition at higher levels of racing.

NICK’S NOTES

Picks continue below.
In today’s 8th race, Mario’s On Point, a six-year-old horse makes his third start this year and the third start of his career in a starter allowance race going a mile on the turf. Blake Kelly’s horse gets the services of Ben Curtis in the irons coming out of the #8 post position. Mario’s On Point won in his debut at Delaware Park on June 8 in his first career start over the soft going before finishing seventh in his encore trip at Laurel Park on July 20. Like Chambeau, who is entered in the $150,000 Camptown Stakes on Saturday at Colonial Downs, Mario’s On Point is starting his racing career late. Chambeau won in his first career start as a five-year-old at Colonial Downs in the $125,000 Tyson Gilpin Stakes in 2022 and has won four races since then.

RACE 7

Little separates many of these ten Virginia-restricted turf sprinters, with nearly all improving their positions in their last starts.

10. Jolly Boss	First start off the claim is Dilodovico’s gelding with Karamanos aboard, a wire threat if he can run unabated to the turn on the outside.
4. King Covee	Schoenthal’s four-year-old has run two solid races at Colonial Downs this summer; If not for a stablemate, he’d have a win.
6. Jolly by Golly	A decent chance for a Jolly exacta comes from one-time leading Colonial trainer Hamilton Smith, coming in with three straight seconds.

RACE 8

A tough starter allowance group of older runners that have raced for a claiming tag of $25,000 or less and nave never won two meet in a turf mile includes one that debuted and won at six.

1. Gettin’downonit	Beecher’s four-year-old gelding has some affinity to Colonial Downs and nearly won the Edward P. Evans at Colonial last month.
5. Admiral’s Wave	A near-miss for Karamanos in Admiral’s Wave’s last start showed McGoey enough to take on a higher division with her Palace Malice.
2. Cassius	One of several here with seconditis is Cassius, whose recent near-misses were on the dirt and turf.

RACE 9

In the finale of 12 turf sprinters, all with a single win, the field will watch the break of White Heat and wonder when to make their run.

12. Chalice	On the outside, Curtis gets the mount for Merryman’s four-year-old filly, who hated the yeilding turf at Penn and comes in rested.
9. Call the Question	Also expected to come with a closing charge is Karamanos aboard Trombetta’s younger filly with plenty of race experience.
7. White Heat	Three-year-old White Heat should get the lead and recently is finding a way to hold it, especially on firm going, just not as fresh.