It’s a huge day in the horse racing calendar, with the Kentucky Derby taking place at Churchill Downs race track. We have been on fire with our picks for a long time now and are up +272.25 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, including the Run for the Roses.
12:36 pm Churchill Downs (Race 5) – Speak Of The Devil 2/1 (2-star play)
Speak Of the Devil demonstrated good form in her native France, placing at the top level as a 3-year-old in 2020 and when a head 3rd in the Prix Rothschild over a mile at Deauville in August.
She ended her time in Europe by completing a double in minor contests, including by a nose on heavy going at Saint-Cloud in November. Quicker ground here is no issue and she looks capable of making her first outing for Chad Brown a winning one.
1:56 pm Churchill Downs (Race 7) – Jack Christopher 2/1 (2-star play)
Jack Christopher impressed in 2 starts as a juvenile, following up a wide-margin maiden special weight victory over 6 furlongs at Saratoga on debut when winning by 2 3/4 lengths in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes over a mile at Belmont Park in October.
He was subsequently scratched late on from the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar and is taken to make a winning 3-year-old debut following a 47.80 4-furlong breeze at this track at the end of last month.
3:40 pm Churchill Downs (Race 9) – Balnikhov 5/1 (1-star play)
Balnikhov has plenty of experience, having made 9 career starts, ending his time in France with 2 victories on synthetic surfaces at Chantilly and Lyon-la-Soie in December.
He made a highly promising debut for the Philip D’Amato barn, going down by a nose in the Singletary Stakes over a mile on turf at Santa Anita at the start of last month. He is selected to deliver a victory with Manny Franco booked for the ride.
4:31 pm Churchill Downs (Race 10) – Jackie’s Warrior 5/2 (2-star play)
Jackie’s Warrior made up into a top sprinter last year, including when winning in Grade 1 company over 7 furlongs at Saratoga at the end of August. He went to November’s Breeders’ Cup bidding to complete a 4-timer but could finish only 6th behind today’s rival Aloha West.
He looked back to his best however when winning by 3/4length in the Grade 3 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at Oaklawn Park on his seasonal debut and looks up to maintaining his unbeaten record at this venue.
6:57 pm Churchill Downs (Race 12) – Epicenter 7/2 (2-star play)
The winner of 3 stakes races at Fair Grounds, the son of Not This Time completed a double when winning by 2 1/2 lengths in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds in March. He had taken the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes at the same venue the previous month and with the slight step up in trip in his favour, he looks capable of providing Hall Of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen with a first Kentucky Derby victory.
Exotic
Late Pick 3
Race 10: 3, 6
Race 11: 1, 8
Race 12: 3, 6
Stake: $2
Total stake: $16
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