There is plenty of great horse racing action to look forward to across America on Saturday, including at Churchill Downs race track. Here are five runners whom we think look to be a class above the opposition in their respective races. Let’s dive in and take a look at some potentially lucrative plays.
1:14 pm Churchill Downs (Race 2) – Gunite +250
Has delivered two solid placed efforts at this track to date debuting with a third place finish behind two fellow newcomers in five furlong contest at the end of April. Was ridden with restraint on that occasion and similar tactics were employed when closing well to finish runner-up to all the way winner Lansdowne in a similar contest last month. The step up in distance looks likely to suit here and he can break his maiden at the third attempt.
2:45 pm Churchill Downs (Race 5) – Letruska -125
The winner of three of her four starts this year the selection has been in great form so far this year. Her two most recent victories have both come at the highest level including when taking the Ogden Phipps over one-mile-and-one-sixteenth by two-and-three-quarter-lengths at Belmont Park earlier this month. Extra sixteenth here is no issue and the daughter of Super Saver can register a fifth win in her last six starts with Jose Ortiz booked to ride.
3:50 pm Churchill Downs (Race 7) – Royal Prince +300
A dual winner in minor stakes races earlier this year the three-year-old put a below par sixth in the Grade 2 American Turf Stakes on the undercard of the Kentucky Derby here at the start of last month behind him when finishing a good third in the Audobon Stakes over a mile-and-one-eighth at the end of last month. Looks capable of racing close to the pace prior to returning to winning ways for handler Brad Cox.
5:26 pm Churchill Downs (Race 10) – Set Piece +160
Completed a stakes race double at this circuit when delivering a four length victory in the Douglas Park Overnight Stakes over a mile-and-one-sixteenth at the end of last month. Raced from off the pace on that occasion and is expected to successfully employ similar tactics here having drawn the inside post position with regular pilot Florent Geroux taking the ride on the five-year-old for Brad Cox who heads the trainer’s table by winners at this meeting.
5:59 pm Churchill Downs (Race 11) – Maxfield -125
The winner of six of his seven starts to date the four-year-old resumed winning ways following a third in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap when delivering an impressive three-and-a-quarter-length victory in the Grade 2 Alysheba Stakes over a mile-and-one-sixteenth here at the end of April. Extra half-furlong here is no issue with the previously mentioned third coming over a mile-and-one-quarter and he can help trainer Brendan Walsh improve on his impressive 29% strike-rate (17/59) at this meeting.
Exotic
Pick 3
Race 10 – 1, 3
Race 11 – 8, 5
Race 12 – 1, 8
Stake – $2.00
Total Stake – $16.00
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