A promising day of racing is set for Churchill Downs, featuring competitive fields across a range of claiming and allowance races. Let’s dive into the highlights for each race with some recommended bets for added excitement.
Race 1: Claiming – 1 1/16 Miles (Dirt) – $30,000
Post Time: 1:00 PM
Top Pick: (6) My Noble Knight at 4-1 with jockey C. J. Lanerie, showing good potential for a win in this field.
Other Contenders: (3) Ethereal Road at 3-1 offers strong competition, while (4) Cashmeup at 15-1 could surprise as an outsider.
- Suggested Bets:
- Exacta Box: 6/3/4
- Trifecta Box: 6/3/4/7
Race 2: Starter Allowance – 6 Furlongs (Dirt) – $72,000
Post Time: 1:29 PM
Top Pick: (8) Trust Daddy at 3-1 with K. J. Asmussen is well-placed to lead in this fast-paced sprint.
Other Contenders: (1) Line of Scrimmage at 7-2 is a solid place option, with (7) Gettysburg Address at 12-1 adding value to trifectas.
- Suggested Bets:
- Exacta Box: 8/1/7
- Trifecta Box: 8/1/7/3
Race 3: Maiden Claiming – 1 1/16 Miles (Dirt) – $30,000
Post Time: 1:58 PM
Top Pick: (10) Flashlight at 20-1 presents a high-value pick with E. Asmussen.
Other Contenders: (3) Shady Nights at 20-1 and (9) Rando at 4-1 make for a unique trifecta play.
- Suggested Bets:
- Exacta Box: 10/3/9
- Trifecta Box: 10/3/9/11
Race 4: Maiden Special Weight – 5 Furlongs (Dirt) – $120,000
Post Time: 2:27 PM
Top Pick: (6) Adalene at 6-1 with J. L. Ortiz, whose recent form looks promising for this short distance.
Other Contenders: (1) Titania's Dream at 6-1 and (4) Sweet Trouble at 7-2 add strength to place and show bets.
- Suggested Bets:
- Exacta Box: 6/1/4
- Trifecta Box: 6/1/4/5
Race 5: Allowance Optional Claiming – 6 Furlongs (Dirt) – $134,000
Post Time: 2:57 PM
Top Pick: (7) Lady Moscato at 10-1, driven by K. J. Asmussen, could be a strong underdog play.
Other Contenders: (1) Benedetta at 2-1 and (2) The Big Calhouna at 15-1 enhance this race’s trifecta potential.
- Suggested Bets:
- Exacta Box: 7/1/2
- Trifecta Box: 7/1/2/5
Race 6: Maiden Claiming – 1 1/16 Miles (Dirt) – $20,000
Post Time: 3:26 PM
Top Pick: (4) Tie Breaker Lennie at 12-1 with C. J. Lanerie, could provide a good return at longer odds.
Other Contenders: (8) Operatore Pazzo at 20-1 and (9) Puckster at 20-1 bring additional value to this race.
- Suggested Bets:
- Exacta Box: 4/8/9
- Trifecta Box: 4/8/9/2
Race 7: Starter Allowance – 6 Furlongs (Dirt) – $72,000
Post Time: 3:55 PM
Top Pick: (8) Gerlin's Empire at 4-1 with J. L. Ortiz, has demonstrated consistent speed for a win here.
Other Contenders: (1) Autumn Rhythm at 4-1 and (2) Rosato at 10-1 add solid options for place and show.
- Suggested Bets:
- Exacta Box: 8/1/2
- Trifecta Box: 8/1/2/6
Race 8: Allowance – 7 1/2 Furlongs (Dirt) – $134,000
Post Time: 4:25 PM
Top Pick: (1) Banishing at 5-1 with S. Camacho, Jr., showing strength in distance races.
Other Contenders: (2) Lambeth at 6-1 and (9) Liberal Arts at 5-2 are reliable choices in this allowance field.
- Suggested Bets:
- Exacta Box: 1/2/9
- Trifecta Box: 1/2/9/5
Race 9: Maiden Claiming – 7 Furlongs (Dirt) – $30,000
Post Time: 4:55 PM
Top Pick: (1) What's Her Number at 7-2 with J. L. Ortiz, a solid favorite to close out the day’s racing.
Other Contenders: (2) Pink Moon at 15-1 offers high-value potential, while (6) Redheadedstranger at 20-1 is an intriguing long shot.
- Suggested Bets:
- Exacta Box: 1/2/6
- Trifecta Box: 1/2/6/9
Closing Thoughts
With diverse odds and a mix of favorites and underdogs, Churchill Downs is set for an engaging day. Races 1, 5, and 9 offer particularly strong trifecta opportunities, while high-value contenders like Flashlight in Race 3 and Lady Moscato in Race 5 bring excellent potential returns.
