Nick’s Picks: Colonial Downs picks August 24, 2024
Nick Hahn
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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