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Free Colonial Downs Picks & Predictions
Colonial Downs runs on turf and dirt, with about 70% of races on the turf, racing from 5 fur to 2 1/4 mi, with fields averaging 9.7 starters. Every card gets free picks on selected races plus a full-card breakdown for subscribers — 32 Colonial Downs sheets published so far.
Latest Colonial Downs Free Picks
Colonial Downs is not racing today. Below are the free picks from the last Colonial Downs card, August 9, 2026.
Race 1
Maiden Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Turf
A wide-open maiden claiming field on the turf with 14 runners and no career wins to sort through — TrackWiz ratings spread nearly 73 points from top to bottom, making this one a prime exotics race.
Whaleaxe tops our TrackWiz ratings at 83.44 in a field where no horse has won a race, and that edge matters in a chaotic maiden field. Sonny Leon gets the call, and he's a rider who knows how to place a horse on Colonial's turf course. The 9/2 morning line feels slightly generous given this rating advantage — expect money to come in before post. At 5½ furlongs on the grass, pace will be a factor, and Whaleaxe's average speed figure of 55 ranks among the top in the field.
Chief Morter (No. 5) is our place pick and the hidden gem of this ticket — an 8/1 morning line on a horse with a 79.79 TrackWiz rating is exactly the kind of overlay you want underneath. Nomar Arroyo Bueno climbs aboard, and the 55 average speed figure matches the best in the field. In a spread-out maiden field at this distance, a strong closer or mid-pack stalker at this price can absolutely hit the board.
Governor Dutton draws attention at 7/2 with the second-highest speed figure in the field at 54, sitting just behind the top group. Trainer Mary Lightner has a live runner here, and Jareth Loveberry — no stranger to winning rides — keeps this one in our exotics. The 70.87 rating is legit for a horse at this price in a maiden claimer, and at 5½ furlongs, breaking well from post 12 will be the key test.
Race 2
Maiden Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Turf
Another deep maiden claiming turf sprint, but this one has a clearer top — I Love Ines separates herself from the pack on TrackWiz metrics while a trio of 70+ rated runners fight for the placings.
I Love Ines posts the field's top TrackWiz rating at 82.71 and backs it up with the highest average speed figure in the field at 56 — that's the double-confirmation you want in a maiden race with no win percentage data to lean on. Luis Fuenmayor gets the mount for trainer Angel M. Rodriguez, and the 6/1 morning line offers genuine value on a horse whose numbers say she should be shorter. In a 14-horse maiden field, a performance edge this clear doesn't come along every race — she's our anchor.
Blazing Bridgette comes in ranked second in the field at 72.16, and trainer Jamie Ness consistently shows up in this kind of spot. The 9/2 line puts her in the upper tier of the betting, and the 54 average speed figure is serviceable for the distance. She's the natural landing spot for place backers who want a strong TrackWiz-rated runner without chasing the win price.
Forty Seven Smoker (No. 9) rounds out the show at 72.11 — essentially a dead heat with Blazing Bridgette on our ratings — and the 8/1 morning line makes this a legitimate show value play. Trainer Mark Shuman sends him out with a 55 average speed figure, which is competitive for this field. If the top two get shuffled back at all in a big field scramble, Forty Seven Smoker is right there to pick up the pieces.
Race 3
Maiden Special Weight · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt
A maiden special weight on the dirt at 5½ furlongs with a compressed ratings band at the top — No Substitute holds a slim edge, but Excellent and Army Run are right on his heels in what could be a photo-finish affair.
No Substitute earns the top TrackWiz rating in this field at 56.67, which is a modest edge in a tight MSW field but enough to make him the selection. Trainer Kelly J. Breen has a strong reputation with first-time starters and lightly raced horses, and the 3/1 morning line reflects public confidence. Samuel Marin gets the mount, adding another professional layer to this combination. With no average speed figure in the data, we're leaning heavily on the TrackWiz composite and the trainer's track record.
Excellent (No. 3) sits at 55.83 on the TrackWiz scale — essentially a coin flip from the top — and Rodolphe Brisset is a trainer who gets horses ready. The 7/2 morning line is fair, and Jareth Loveberry is a strong pick-up in the irons. This horse profiles as a place natural: close enough to the top to land there most days, and the short dirt sprint at Colonial suits a forwardly placed runner.
Army Run at 9/2 with a 54.17 TrackWiz rating completes the trifecta for us, rounding out a tight cluster at the top of this field. Trainer Mark Simms, Jr. has him entered for good reason, and Mychel J. Sanchez is a capable hand. With no recorded speed figure, there's some unknown factor here — but in a wide-open MSW sprint where nothing has shown you much, that mystery cuts both ways.
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About the Colonial Downs Racing Surface
- Surfaces
- Turf and Dirt
- Distance range
- 5 fur to 2 1/4 mi
- Typical field
- 9.7 starters
- Typical card
- 9 races
Most common race conditions at Colonial Downs: Claiming, Maiden Special Weight, Maiden Claiming, Allowance.
Measured across the last 24 Colonial Downs cards we have handicapped.
Recent Colonial Downs Race Sheets
- August 9, 20269 races
- August 8, 202610 races
- August 7, 20269 races
- August 6, 20269 races
- August 2, 20269 races
- August 1, 202612 races
- July 31, 20269 races
- July 30, 202611 races
- July 26, 20268 races
- July 25, 20269 races
Colonial Downs Picks — Common Questions
Is there a free Colonial Downs card?
Yes. Every Colonial Downs race sheet includes free picks with full analysis on selected races, with no account required. The remaining races on the card are part of a TrackWiz subscription.
What surface does Colonial Downs race on?
Colonial Downs cards run on turf and dirt. Across the last 24 cards, roughly 70% of races were on the turf.
How many races are on a typical Colonial Downs card?
Colonial Downs cards average 9 races, with fields of about 9.7 starters. Distances run from 5 fur to 2 1/4 mi.
When are Colonial Downs picks published?
Colonial Downs picks are published ahead of the first post for that day's card. We have published 32 Colonial Downs sheets; you can get each new one by email before post time.