Horse Racing picks for Churchill Downs race track on Saturday, June 4: Scalding looks a red-hot wager

Medina Spirit and jockey John Velazquez, right, pull ahead of Mandaloun and jockey Florent Geroux in the final stretch in the Running of the 147th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

There is plenty of great horse racing across America today, including at Churchill Downs race track. We have been on fire with our picks for a long time now and are up +278.06 units with our race selections to our recommended stakes dating back to August 5, 2021. Let’s keep it rolling!

Here are our best bets for today’s action at Churchill Downs.

12:45 pm ET Churchill Downs (Race 1) – Winter Pool 5/2 (2-star play)

Winter Pool registered a third career win when drawing 7 1/2 lengths clear of his 5 rivals in an allowance over a mile and 1/8th at Aqueduct at the start of March. He proved a disappointment when last of 9 in a Keeneland allowance optional claimer subsequently, however.

He gets a drop to claiming company today and having demonstrated a liking for this venue in the past the son of Curlin looks up to providing jockey Ricardo Santana Jr with a winner in the opening race on the card.

2:45 pm ET Churchill Downs (Race 5) – McKulick 7/5 (2-star play)

McKulick has demonstrated good placed form in Graded company since breaking her maiden in her debut at Saratoga last August. She made her seasonal reappearance when finishing 2 3/4 lengths 2nd in the Grade 2 Edgewood Stakes over a mile and 1/16th at this track just under a month ago.

Jockey Tyler Gaffalione comes into this contest with an 18% strike-rate (22/121) at this meeting and his mount is taken to register a first stakes success having delivered a 50-second work when breezing over 4 furlongs recently. 

3:50 pm ET Churchill Downs (Race 7) – Pauline’s Pearl 3/5 (3-star play)

Pauline’s Pearl registered a first victory at the top level when scoring by half a length in the Grade 1 La Troienne Stakes over this course and distance just under a month ago.

Returning from a break that day, she had today’s rival Ava’s Grace back in 3rd while She’s All Wolfe and Temper Time, who also re-oppose today, finished down the field. Steve Asmussen’s charge looks up to conceding weight to her rivals with Luis Saez booked for the ride. 

5:26 pm ET Churchill Downs (Race 10) – Scalding 5/2 (2-star play)

Scalding took 3 starts to break his maiden, with that victory coming over a mile and 1/16th on a sloppy track at Gulfstream Park in early January. He hasn’t looked back since, delivering victories in an allowance optional claimer and 2 Grade 3 contests including a win by 1 1/4 lengths in the Ben Ali Stakes over this trip at Keeneland in April.

He has registered some good work in the morning since and looks capable of registering a 5th win in 7 starts.

5:58 pm ET Churchill Downs (Race 11) – Grand Sonata 7/2 (2-star play)

Grand Sonata completed a double when recording a neck victory having raced in 3rd place in the Grade 3 Kitten’s Joy Stakes over a mile and 1/16th at Gulfstream Park in early February. He lost nothing in defeat in finishing runner-up over the same trip in the Grade 3 Kentucky Utilities Transylvania Stakes over the same trip at Keeneland subsequently.

He registered a 50-second 4-furlong turf work last weekend and looks capable of scoring with regular pilot Tyler Gaffalione booked to ride. 

Exotic

Late Pick 3

Race 9: 4, 5
Race 10: 5, 6
Race 11: 2, 9

Stake: $2
Total stake: $16

All of our horse racing predictions and handicapping information at Pickswise come with full analysis, brought to you by industry leaders with decades of experience. Check out our latest Horse Racing Picks today!

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