Pick 4 of the Week: Colonial Downs Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025

I will fire at the all-stakes Pick 4 at Colonial Downs on Saturday, which concludes with the $1 million Arlington Million S. (G1). 

Race 8 Wager

• 50-cent Pick 4: 1,4,5,9,11 with all with 3 with 6,8 ($40)

Race 8 – Van Clief S. 

A deep and talented cast of turf dashers will kick off the wager in a challenging way, and I will surely use multiple runners in the heat. #1 Witty (6-1) was a close second in the contest in 2024 and will be rolling home late after saving ground from the rail. The Merryman pupil ran into a budding star at Saratoga last time and has great value in the opening leg of the play. 

Grade 1 victor #4 Nobals (3-1) was a very good third in a tough spot at Ellis Park last time, and his best could be good enough for Rivelli. South African Group 1 star #5 Isivunguvungu (8-1), the underrated #9 Bear River (30-1), and the hard-knocking #11 Nothing Better (8-1) will also make the ticket to get things started. 

Race 9 – Secretariat S. (G2)

A well-matched field of eight sophomores will jaunt one mile on the green. I really can’t discount any of the three-year-olds in the well-matched group and will click the ‘all’ button in the second portion of the play. 

Race 10 – Beverly D. S. (G2)

The $500,000 affair for fillies and mares at 1 3/16 grassy miles attracted six good ones. I’ll make an aggressive single in the race with Graham Motion’s #3 Beach Bomb (4-1) under Luis Saez. Lancaster Bomber mare has been in sharp form in 2025 and made the electric She Feels Pretty work hard in the New York S. (G1) at Saratoga most recently. The five-year-old will move up with some moisture in the ground, too. 

Race 11 – Arlington Million (G1)

I’ll use both of the McGaughey runners to close out the play with #6 Fort Washington (4-1) and morning-line choice #8 Integration (8-5). The former has been in very good form and could appreciate the move to 1 1/4 miles, while the latter has gone close in multiple Grade 1 races and is due to earn a top-flight win in the very near future.