Closing Day at Churchill Downs

 The Spring season ends today under the Twin Spires and we take in the Lucky Last on the card.

Churchill Downs Race 12 {Tepin Stakes~1 mile~3 year-old~Fillies~Stakes}

A tremedous field of thirteen will hit the green in this stakes race named after one of the best female turf horses in this century. 

Past Performances used:  DRF Classic.

There is enough speed in this race to create a swift pace. Speed numbers are very close making it highly competitive. Most in here have run over the Churchill course; only four have not. Any of these gals are poised to win. It should be a fantastic race to end the Churchill meet.

#10 New Boss (Beschizza / Calhoun) holds the highest (tie) last out speed number and three strong workouts. She should be forwardly placed ready to strike when the real running begins. This gal won her only race at this distance. A daughter of Street Boss, she is 75% in the money from eight career starts.

$2 WIN  /  $3 PLACE  /  $5 SHOW.

#1 Invincible Gal [GB] (J. Ortiz / Motion) should challenge with the second highest last out speed number and three hearty workouts. This gal should settle nicely close to the pace ready to strike. She has had success at the distance, but has not yet talked the Churchill course. A daughter of Invincible Spirit [IRE], she is 83% in the money from six career starts.

$2 PLACE  /  $3 SHOW.

#8 Toby's Heart (Castellano / Lynch) will contend as she stretches out to this distance. She holds the fourth highest last out speed number and four solid workouts. This gal will track and close into the swift pace. A daughter of Jack Milton, she holds a 60% win rate from five career starts.

$2 SHOW.

#13 Arm Candy (Gaffalione / Asmussen) has improved her speed figs in each of the last three races and has put in four sound peaking workouts. It will be her first effort over the Churchill course, but she will relish the distance with her tracking capability. A daughter of Twirling Candy, she is 62% in the money from eight career starts.

$2 SHOW.

#7 Adventuring (J. Velazquez / B. Cox) should round out the top five with the potential to score the victory. She comes in off a dismal effort at a longer route in her last; however, she has put in three robust workouts prepping for this race. A daughter of Pioneer of the Nile, she is 80% in the money from five career starts.

$1 Saturday Exacta Wheel ($4.00)

#10 New Boss  //  #1 Invincible Gal [GB],  #8 Toby's Heart,  #13 Arm Candy,  #7 Adventuring.

10 CENT Superfecta Box ($2.40)

#10 New Boss  +  #1 Invincible Gal [GB]  +  #8 Toby's Heart  +  #13 Arm Candy.

$1 Super High Five [Pentafecta] ($1.00)

#10 New Boss  /  #1 Invincible Gal [GB]  /  #8 Toby's Heart  /  #13 Arm Candy  /  #7 Adventuring.

Best of luck to all. May you cash most of your tickets to close out a successful Churchill Downs meet.

Kentucky Derby Wagering Menu is Fantastic

 Fantastic KD 146 Wagering Menu

The Kentucky Derby wagering menu was made for horse players in mind this year. There will be all types of opportunities for handicappers to cash. Aside from the usual $2 WIN, PLACE, and SHOW options, it will feature the following wagers for the big race:

• $1 Exacta.

• 50 CENT Trifecta.

• 10 CENT Superfecta.

• $1 Super High Five (while the kentuckyderby.com website does not mention it, Equibase.com does list it among the wagering options for KD 146, race number 14.

Those of us with a modest bankroll will be able to take advantage of the best race on the horse racing calendar.

Aside from the big race, Race 14, there are number of great wagering opportunities on the undercard which includes some very fine races including:

Race 8   American Turf Stakes with eight entrants.

Race 9   Pat Day Mile Stakes with nine entrants.

Race 10 Iroquois Stakes with eleven entrants.

Race 11 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile with eight entrants.

Race 12 Derby City Distaff Stakes with ten entrants.

Race 13 Old Forester Bourbon TURF Classic with ten entrants.

Race 14 Kentucky Derby 146 with a field of eighteen.

All of these races present excellent wagering opportunities for the 10 CENT Superfecta player. What a great day it should be.

Kentucky Derby 145 Notable Nine

On this the first Saturday in May we look at the greatest two minutes in sports, The 145th running of the KENTUCKY DERBY.

Churchill Downs Race 12 {KENTUCKY DERBY~G1~1 1/4 mile~3 year-old~Graded Stakes}

A smashing field of nineteen will go the gate this afternoon (6:50 pm EDT) to compete in the greatest horse race in the world. The pace will be fast. The speed numbers are fairly close which makes this the most competitive Kentucky Derby in recent memory. There are already two millionaires in the field, Game Winner and Plus Que Parfait, both bred to relish this distance. The program numbers remain the same, but with the scratch of Derby favorite, Omaha Beach and Haikal, the post positions have changed somewhat.  Wager and watch what will be the absolute best race of the year.

#16 Game Winner (Rosario / Baffert) has been peaked for this race by his connections as he will make his third start in the form cycle. He holds the second highest (tie) last out speed number and has put in two stamina producing workouts in preparation. A son of Candy Ride [ARG], he should be tracking the pace closely. The juvenile champ is ready to conquer this field over the track he was crowned as such.
$2 WIN  /  $3 SHOW  /  $5 PLACE

#1 War of Will (Gaffalione / M. Casse) has the best pedigree to get this distance. His chances have greatly improved since the scratch of Haikal as he will launch out of post position two and not the dreaded post position one. It is possible for him to wire this field just as Serengetti Empress did in yesterday's Kentucky Oaks. His connections have already indicated he will use his speed from the gate. This colt did not fair well in his last race, but has put together the best workout tab of any in this field, stringing together four powerful peaking workouts. A son of War Front, do not underestimate his talent.
$2 PLACE  /  $3 SHOW.

#8 Tacitus (J. Ortiz / Mott) should challenge from a great post position. This lad shares the second highest last out speed number combined with two hearty workouts. He comes into KD145 on a three race winning streak. This colt has improved in each race run and should continue to do so. A son of Tapit, he will be tracking the pace looking for openings to move through the pack.
$2 SHOW.

Other Wagering Interests

#7 Maximum Security (L. Saez / Ja. Servis) will contend. As of this writing he is the favorite at 9-2 among the current wagers. The winner of the Florida Derby, he should be forwardly placed. Undefeated in his four career races, this guy could do it for the same ownership that owns our top selection. A son of New Year's Day, this guy has put in three quality workouts prepping for this Derby.

#5 Improbable (I. Ortiz / Baffert) should be in the mix with the highest last out speed number and three hearty workouts. He has been victorious over the Churchill track. A son of City Zip, he should be running close to the pace ready to strike in the long stretch.

#9 Plus Que Parfait (Santana / B. Walsh) has the stamina for this distance. While there are those that do not give much weight to the winner of the UAE Derby in Dubai, this guy is different. He is 100% in the money over the Churchill track from two starts. Should the pace get a little frothy, this guy will be running late. A son of Point of Entry, he is what the Brits like to call a "stayer".

#6 Vekoma (Castellano / Weaver) is another that is 100% in the money from four career starts. He holds some excellent last out speed numbers and two robust workouts. This lad should be sitting in the mid-pack with so many others looking for holes to shoot through. Another son of Candy Ride [ARG], he won the Bluegrass Stakes last time out.

#13 Code of Honor (J. Velazquez / McGaughey) will be closing gamely into a strong pace. This colt holds the second highest (tie) overall speed number and has put in three solid peaking workouts in preparation for the big dance. A son of Noble Mission [GB], he is 80% in the money from five career starts.

#20 Country House (Prat / Mott) is another closer that has a chance to break into the exotics. He has improved with every race run and has put in two superb workouts in preparation. A son of Lookin at Lucky, he could surprise.

Exotic Plays

50 CENT TRIFECTA;  #16 Game Winner  /  #1 War of Will, #8 Tacitus  /  #7 Maximum Security, #5 Improbable, #9 Plus Que Parfait, #6 Vekoma, #13 Code of Honor, #20 Country House. ($6.00 wager).

$1 SUPERFECTA:  #16 Game Winner  /  #1 War of Will  /  #8 Tacitus  /  #7 Maximum Security, #5 Improbable, #9 Plus Que Parfait, #6 Vekoma,  #13 Code of Honor,  #20 Country House.  ($6.00 wager)

$1 SUPER HI-FIVE:  #16 Game Winner  /  #1 War of Will  /  #8 Tacitus  /  #7 Maximum Security  /  #5 Improbable, #9 Plus Que Parfait, #13 Code of Honor, #20 Country House.  ($5.00 wager).

$1 EXACTA Wheel  #16 Game Winner /  #1, #8, #7, #5, #9, #6, #13, #20.  ($8.00 wager).




Last Superfecta Sunday (4/28) Results
Lone Star Park R7.  Steve Sexton Mile.  We just missed on our 10 CENT Superfecta box effort, capturing three of the four wagering interests required to cash. Superfecta went 9-4-1-6.
Our Bronze Horseshoe selection, Forevamo, finished 7th.
Bankroll drops to $53.26.