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Churchill Downs :
Race 1: LOST IN TRANSIT has had some bad racing luck, but will be ridden today by Rafael Bejarano, the rider who was in the saddle for his last win. He takes a drop back into lower claiming company and carries seven pounds less than my second choice, Federale, could make all the difference down the stretch. FEDERALE has been running well at this level and finished third in a similar race at this distance and over the Churchill surface. His tactical speed could give him an advantage over my top pick and he's a real threat if he can duplicate his last performance. MACHINE TO TOWER is coming off a driving win at a mile with apprentice Brian Hernandez, Jr. who rides again today at the lightest weight in the field. At a price, this pair could pick up a check.
Race 2: APALACHIAN THUNDER has been favored in six of nine career starts and looks to add to his already impressive bankroll with another win today. He has an impressive turn of foot and natural speed and figures to be either on the lead or pressing the pace early. Having been the favorite in six of his last nine races and will certainly be my top pick today. DUBAI SHEIKH comes out of an extremely tough race in which he was a strong second to the talented Battle Won. This formidable veteran from leading trainer Dale Romans will be coming late in the stretch. CAPTAIN THUNDER has been running competitively and won three in a row before he stepped up into tougher company. He should be on the pace and in the money today under jockey Robby Albarado.
Race 3: TUSIN TAK just missed breaking his maiden for trainer Dale Romans in his only start, but ran a game second while prompting some fast fractions over this track and at this distance. He has put in a good work since that race and a similar performance could make him a clear winner today. OCOTILLO has run four times for the strong team of trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey Shane Sellers, picking up a pair of seconds but turning in a flat seventh-place effort last time out. He has two good works since that race and should be within striking distance early. MIDNIGHT PASS is a first time starter for trainer Bernie Flint that gets in light today with apprentice rider Brian Hernandez, Jr. He sports some very fast works and looks like a contender at first asking.
Race 4: CHARCOT takes a drop into softer claiming company today after having shown some ability at the higher claiming levels. With some good tactical speed, this colt could be on the pace early and he has a stubborn streak that could help him hold on for the win. THINK JAZZ will be carrying five pounds less than the top choice and has been running competitively at this level. He tired after flashing his natural speed in good efforts in his last two starts and should appreciate today's shorter distance. GRAND LUCENICI ships in from New York and takes a drop from allowance company. With the early speed in this race, it could set up nicely for this colt to come running at the end.
Race 5: SUTTON'S BAY has run twice with game second place finishes in each and she is ready for a win. Today's added sixteenth of a mile should benefit her come-from-behind style of running. BEAM QUEEN who ran fifth in a race in which the top choice was a runner-up, but was checked and steadied and the eighth pole that day and was placed fourth via disqualification. She should also benefit from the added distance of this race. SUNNY DISPOSITION came from behind to run a decent fourth in his first and only start. He's likely to improve off of that, adds Lasix today and should be running at the end.
Race 6: KEEP THE FEELING stretched out while making her turf debut in her second start and went wire to wire for a very convincing win. Since then she has put in a bullet work over the Churchill Downs turf course and a repeat performance makes her a candidate to win two in a row. NO OTHER LIKE YOU has been running competitively with a good history over the turf at this distance. This 4-year-old filly runs her best races by coming from off the pace. GLIMMER TWIN will be making her Churchill debut after campaigning successfully in Ireland. She carries 15 pounds less than in her last race and adds Lasix today.
Race 7: LENNOXWOOD ran a good fourth in his last start over the Churchill course at this distance despite being bumped and steadied at the 3/8ths pole. He retains the riding services of Pat Day and could win with a similar performance and a cleaner trip. TERRIFIC STORM rallied to finish third when he stretched out and added Lasix last time out. Today's added sixteenth should further help this late running colt. GRAHAM CRACKER ships in from New York to make his Churchill debut for trainer John Bell. He gets in light with apprentice Brian Hernandez, Jr. and should be running late.
Race 8: BIG BROKEN STRAW ran a game race last time out when he finished third despite a five-wide trip over this surface and distance. He has put in some solid works since then and his good tactical speed could be a big advantage today. STASH THE BOOTS will be carrying three pounds less than the top choice and today's slight drop in claiming company should only help. He comes out of six and seven furlong races and could be the pace setter as he stretches out for the first time. DANCE PRO takes a drop into claiming company with the hope of a better performance.
Race 9: SILENT STREAM runs an impressive race each and every time she is led over and has won three of her last four races, with two wins coming over this course and one at today's distance. She was favored in only one of those, but is my top pick today and her quick turn of foot could put her on the lead again today. GOLDEN MARLIN beat the top choice last time out and stretches back out today after a pair of one-turn races. She could be battling for the lead with the top choice today. MAY GATOR has class, talent and Pat Day, but has been a beaten favorite in four of her last seven races. She has had some excellent efforts, but it's been too long a stretch between wins.
Race 10: VICTORY LIGHT adds blinkers and drops out of stakes company today as trainer Elliott Walden looks for a light spot for his battle-hardened colt. He sports two bullet works since his last start in the $100,000 Woodlawn Stakes at Pimlico.. FANTASTICAT has not been out of the money since breaking his maiden two starts back. His versatile running style could prove an advantage from the one hole going a mile and a sixteenth. STEAMBOAT SPRINGS will be stepping up, but he has outrun his odds in picking up two wins in a row. This young colt could be peaking at just the right time and is likely to pick up a check at a price.
Race 11: PAINT BALLADO has been trying to break his maiden for quite some time and barely missed last time out in a runner-up finish over this surface. He has had two seconds in his last three starts, but trainer Alice Cohn has put him in perfect position to find a win here today. DIZZY SPELL ran third in only his second start while going a mile and an eighth on the turf here at Churchill. He was charging hard and led momentarily before weakening late, but today's shorter distance should help. HANNEL will be at a price but could be dangerous after a strong runner-up finish for trainer Darrin Miller in his second start off the layoff. He should be a factor as he's back on the turf today going a flat mile.
G.L.
***MMM***
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Race 2: APALACHIAN THUNDER has been favored in six of nine career starts and looks to add to his already impressive bankroll with another win today. He has an impressive turn of foot and natural speed and figures to be either on the lead or pressing the pace early. Having been the favorite in six of his last nine races and will certainly be my top pick today. DUBAI SHEIKH comes out of an extremely tough race in which he was a strong second to the talented Battle Won. This formidable veteran from leading trainer Dale Romans will be coming late in the stretch. CAPTAIN THUNDER has been running competitively and won three in a row before he stepped up into tougher company. He should be on the pace and in the money today under jockey Robby Albarado.
Race 3: TUSIN TAK just missed breaking his maiden for trainer Dale Romans in his only start, but ran a game second while prompting some fast fractions over this track and at this distance. He has put in a good work since that race and a similar performance could make him a clear winner today. OCOTILLO has run four times for the strong team of trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey Shane Sellers, picking up a pair of seconds but turning in a flat seventh-place effort last time out. He has two good works since that race and should be within striking distance early. MIDNIGHT PASS is a first time starter for trainer Bernie Flint that gets in light today with apprentice rider Brian Hernandez, Jr. He sports some very fast works and looks like a contender at first asking.
Race 4: CHARCOT takes a drop into softer claiming company today after having shown some ability at the higher claiming levels. With some good tactical speed, this colt could be on the pace early and he has a stubborn streak that could help him hold on for the win. THINK JAZZ will be carrying five pounds less than the top choice and has been running competitively at this level. He tired after flashing his natural speed in good efforts in his last two starts and should appreciate today's shorter distance. GRAND LUCENICI ships in from New York and takes a drop from allowance company. With the early speed in this race, it could set up nicely for this colt to come running at the end.
Race 5: SUTTON'S BAY has run twice with game second place finishes in each and she is ready for a win. Today's added sixteenth of a mile should benefit her come-from-behind style of running. BEAM QUEEN who ran fifth in a race in which the top choice was a runner-up, but was checked and steadied and the eighth pole that day and was placed fourth via disqualification. She should also benefit from the added distance of this race. SUNNY DISPOSITION came from behind to run a decent fourth in his first and only start. He's likely to improve off of that, adds Lasix today and should be running at the end.
Race 6: KEEP THE FEELING stretched out while making her turf debut in her second start and went wire to wire for a very convincing win. Since then she has put in a bullet work over the Churchill Downs turf course and a repeat performance makes her a candidate to win two in a row. NO OTHER LIKE YOU has been running competitively with a good history over the turf at this distance. This 4-year-old filly runs her best races by coming from off the pace. GLIMMER TWIN will be making her Churchill debut after campaigning successfully in Ireland. She carries 15 pounds less than in her last race and adds Lasix today.
Race 7: LENNOXWOOD ran a good fourth in his last start over the Churchill course at this distance despite being bumped and steadied at the 3/8ths pole. He retains the riding services of Pat Day and could win with a similar performance and a cleaner trip. TERRIFIC STORM rallied to finish third when he stretched out and added Lasix last time out. Today's added sixteenth should further help this late running colt. GRAHAM CRACKER ships in from New York to make his Churchill debut for trainer John Bell. He gets in light with apprentice Brian Hernandez, Jr. and should be running late.
Race 8: BIG BROKEN STRAW ran a game race last time out when he finished third despite a five-wide trip over this surface and distance. He has put in some solid works since then and his good tactical speed could be a big advantage today. STASH THE BOOTS will be carrying three pounds less than the top choice and today's slight drop in claiming company should only help. He comes out of six and seven furlong races and could be the pace setter as he stretches out for the first time. DANCE PRO takes a drop into claiming company with the hope of a better performance.
Race 9: SILENT STREAM runs an impressive race each and every time she is led over and has won three of her last four races, with two wins coming over this course and one at today's distance. She was favored in only one of those, but is my top pick today and her quick turn of foot could put her on the lead again today. GOLDEN MARLIN beat the top choice last time out and stretches back out today after a pair of one-turn races. She could be battling for the lead with the top choice today. MAY GATOR has class, talent and Pat Day, but has been a beaten favorite in four of her last seven races. She has had some excellent efforts, but it's been too long a stretch between wins.
Race 10: VICTORY LIGHT adds blinkers and drops out of stakes company today as trainer Elliott Walden looks for a light spot for his battle-hardened colt. He sports two bullet works since his last start in the $100,000 Woodlawn Stakes at Pimlico.. FANTASTICAT has not been out of the money since breaking his maiden two starts back. His versatile running style could prove an advantage from the one hole going a mile and a sixteenth. STEAMBOAT SPRINGS will be stepping up, but he has outrun his odds in picking up two wins in a row. This young colt could be peaking at just the right time and is likely to pick up a check at a price.
Race 11: PAINT BALLADO has been trying to break his maiden for quite some time and barely missed last time out in a runner-up finish over this surface. He has had two seconds in his last three starts, but trainer Alice Cohn has put him in perfect position to find a win here today. DIZZY SPELL ran third in only his second start while going a mile and an eighth on the turf here at Churchill. He was charging hard and led momentarily before weakening late, but today's shorter distance should help. HANNEL will be at a price but could be dangerous after a strong runner-up finish for trainer Darrin Miller in his second start off the layoff. He should be a factor as he's back on the turf today going a flat mile.
G.L.
***MMM***
:cool: :cool: :cool:
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