Nick's Picks: Colonial Downs picks August 30, 2024 * The Racing Biz

Nick’s Picks: Colonial Downs picks August 30, 2024

Nick Hahn
August 30, 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 30/4:40 p.m.
RACES: 9
CARRYOVERS: Pick 6, $607

RACE 1

On the dirt, it didn’t take a lot of races for this entire field competitive seven-horse field of two-year-olds to find a win. Many live options.

5. Rio Chama	With many choices, going with the stabled option, so to speak, with an American Pharoah colt sharp after a win in his career debut.
4. Ace It	Now running a half furlong shorter than he did in the Saratoga Special where he was second until late in his last start.
7. Anlon	Good luck to New Kent resident Chris Kuhn. Bailes sends Barbosa back again, like he did in his impressive 7+ length win in his debut.

RACE 2

Nine “non-winners of three” sprint on the turf, some with few races and some with dozens to get two wins.

9. Incinerator	In a sharp first Colonial start that was on the turf Delacour’s colt got a win over Rennie, who came back to win. Carrasco back aboard.
5. Elusive Edge	Hemingway brings out her first time gelding who had the lead late in a $40k claiming race. Won’t be far off the lead.
2. Katie’s Notion	Ruiz will be making a charge in the final stages as he has in his last four starts at 5 1/2 furlongs, all on the turf.

RACE 3

Ten entered with two AE’s in a filly two-year-old turf sprint of maiden claimers with few positive starts to move on.

7. Slanderous	McCutchen’s filly has been stepping down in class but showed improvement in his recent switch to the turf. Drops a little more today.
3. Respect the Law	Karamanos gets the mount in the first turf attempt of Sillaman’s filly, who is bred pretty well for it.
1. Wickedrevolution	Desormeaux filly comes in from Ellis Park to make her first start after several sharp morning works. Ben Curtis rides.

RACE 4

Nonwinners of two claimers tackle a turf route in a deep field of twelve, with three here getting their win at Colonial during this meet.

7. My Sanctuary	It seems like forever since we saw Ross’s four-year-old show his tactical speed and charge up the rail to win on opening day.
10. Graft	Big Lick’s Gun Runner gelding comes into this test off a win at Laurel before this meet started. Rested and ready to contend.
1. World Factor	After the jump thing really didn’t work out, Riverdee’s four-year-old gelding took a break and won at first asking on the flat. Karamanos returns.

RACE 5

Similar condition to the third race except this time for two-year-old males with a full field of ten and two AEs. Maiden claiming turf sprinters.

9. Freddy Boy	Started out on the dirt but Tomlinson figure indicates turf. Villalobos, improving with each start, nearly had the win on the Colonial dirt.
7. Imperial Brut	Linda Albert saddles her first one of the meet with a well-bred Vino Russo (Curlin) out of a Kitten’s Joy mare. Tempting first timer.
4. Chill Boss	Without a lot of fanfare, Phil Schoenthal has four wins in 15 starts. Maybe his colt just needed a change of scenery.

RACE 6

Turf route optional claimers include a pair from both Maker and Casse, as well as Orseno. More like a race you would see on a big card.

3. Bring Me a Check	Took aim at Otago racing at the same level at Colonial earlier in the meet. Granddam Dreaming of Anna was a Colonial Downs star.
7. Crabs N Beer	Second place finisher in the Dinner Party on the soft Pimlico going. Brion brings downs after trying Saratoga.
4. Liar’s Poker	Empire Maker gelding hasn’t had a hard time finding the winner’s circle, just the starting gate.

NICK’S NOTES

Picks continue below.
In the eighth race tonight, Stevica Djuric starts his second horse of the meet and the third of his career when he saddles Bomboloni, the horse that won his first start at Laurel in Djuric’s first ever start as a trainer. Bomboloni was claimed in that debut race but has found his way back into Djuric’s barn at the Braeburn Training Center in Crozet nineteen races and nearly two years later. Next to him in the starting gate is Patrick Nuesch’s gelding, Valiant Vinny. Neusch is the owner of Braeburn so not only with side-by-side to race tonight, but they also commuted to Colonial together.
Looking for some value in your Pick 3 play tonight? Try one starting in the seventh race where each of the fields (before scratches) has 12 entered. If you are looking for Nick’s Picks play, try a Colonial Downs $1 Pick 3, 4,7,9,11 with 2,7 with 6,11,12 on a $24 ticket for a one-dollar wager.
Just a reminder that Colonial Downs will have a special make-up day of racing on Wednesday, September 4^th with a post time of 1:30 pm. The Wednesday card that begins the final week of the meet has eleven races on the docket.

RACE 7

Twelve female “nonwinners of three” with very little separating the field sprint on the turf, most with two wins in umpteen starts.

7. Little Josie Wales	Toledo, who won twice last night, gets the mount on a four-year-old going back and forth on surfaces.
9. In the End	The two wins of this filly came in her last two starts with Paco Lopez aboard at Monmouth. She will again vie for the lead with Ruiz.
11. Nuwanda	Take out the race at Pimlico and Nuwanda’s poetry shines through dropping from higher company to seize the day.

RACE 8

Sprinting on the turf, another twelve-horse field of claimers doesn’t include any recent winners by condition but some talent in the past.

7. B Determined	Karamanos nearly ended the drought for a veteran Artie Schiller gelding here at Colonial three weeks back. Makes it rain today.
2. Speak Unity	Russell’s ride will be making a sharp run at the end in his first Colonial start, a threat dropping from optional claimers.
1. Ragtime Blues	One of two entered for Angel Rodriquez coming off a win last night and who ran well in his first recent turf start in July.

RACE 9

In the finale, twelve elder female maidens sprint on the turf many looking for the right level and some close at the right level.

6. Donate Life	Schoenthal’s filly had the lead late is her turf debut this year. Looks to cure a severe case of seconditis.
12. Rapid Tula	Drops out of special weight company after first attempt to try Colonial turf was foiled by weather and dirt, not so much.
11. Thy Name Is Woman	Trombetta’s filly comes out of Virginia restricted company to run at a lower claiming level. Has run OK in first three starts.

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