Churchill Downs Picks for Saturday, May 23:
TRACKING MR. ED: Churchill Downs might as well have been renamed SLOP CITY on Friday. Needless to say, the turf races were OFF with numerous scratches across the entire nine-race card. Among trainers and jockeys, rider Axel Concepcion stood alone with two wins, and all other winners were limited to a single score. At the windows, a $2 Win ticket returned $10.70.
HORSING AROUND: Some race cards are better than others. While today’s 11-race program at Churchill Downs features only a single stakes race, the combined results of the other 10 contests make for a challenging, entertaining exercise for the handicapper. Mr. Ed encourages VSiN followers to join him in studying the past performance charts, identifying a few horses worth playing (see below), and going to the windows and enjoying a winning day at the track. First race today goes to post at 12:45 p.m. ET/9:45 a.m. PT. Be prepared for more Spring showers to alter the racing surfaces — and good luck to all. Here’s a look at Mr. Ed’s selections.
Mr. Ed’s Churchill Downs Picks for Saturday, 5/23
Race 1 — $92K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for fillies and mares, 3YOs & Up going a mile
To start the day with a DD, Mr. Ed likes #1 SISTER JEAN (9-5 morning line) for promising trainer Whit Beckman with Tyler Gaffalione riding; either/or #2 PLAZA CUE (6-5) for popular Kenny McPeek with jockey Luis Saez returning. Mr. Ed looks for these two to compete for the lead from the get-go.
CHURCHILL DOWNS SELECTION: $5 Daily Doubles of 1,2/1,6. ($20)
Race 2 (1:15 p.m. ET/10:15 a.m. PT) — $45K CLAIMING for fillies and mares, 4YOs & Up going 6 furlongs
Mr. Ed’s picking either #1 Q’S YOUR MAMA (3-1 morning line) with young Kevin Asmussen riding for trainer Cam Milligan, or #6 MY BOSSY LADY (5-2) for powerful connections of Brad Cox and Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Race 4 (2:15 p.m. ET/ /11:15 a.m. PT) — $76K CLAIMING for 3YOs & Up going 1 1/16-mile
Mr. Ed’s betting on #4 BOURBON FLIGHT (2-1 morning line) for trainer Ian Wilkes with top rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. returning after excellent Place effort in last vs. similar. He needs to be in the mix earlier. Oh, bartender! I’ll take a flight on Buffalo Trace neat.
CHURCHILL DOWNS SELECTION: $10 to Win. ($10)
Race 5 (2:47 p.m. ET/11:47 a.m. PT) — $127K ALLOWANCE for fillies and mares, 3YOs & Up going a mile on the grass
Mr. Ed likes three: #4 ICONA (5-2 morning line), Irish-bred coed with solid connections of Brendan Walsh and Tyler Gaffalione; #8 AMBERGLEN (9-2), trained by Brad Cox with Irad Ortiz, Jr. up, and #12 LOVE AND POETRY (6-1) for Kentucky Derby winning combo of trainer Cherie DeVaux and jockey Jose Ortiz.
CHURCHILL DOWNS SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)
Race 6 (3:19 p.m. ET/12:19 p.m. PT) — $120K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for 3YOs & Up going a mile
Mr. Ed’s PLAY OF THE DAY, pricey ($1.2 million) #4 OUR FOREFATHERS, has found trouble in each of his three starts for Peter Eurton. In an effort to get the youngster’s mind right, trainer upgrades the rider to Irad Ortiz, Jr. and stretches the colt out.
CHURCHILL DOWNS SELECTION: $20 to Win. ($20)
Race 8 (4:25 p.m. ET/1:25 p.m. PT) — $76K STARTER ALLOWANCE for 4YOs & Up going 6½ furlongs
What’s not to like about #10 GET HER NUMBER (5–2 morning line) other than cheap odds? Gelding closing in on $1 million earnings mark; shortens up a bit; has won last four starts; trained by hot Robertino Diodoro, and gets promising young rider, Cristian Torres. Mr. Ed likes this guy to continue the win streak.
CHURCHILL DOWNS SELECTION: $20 to Win. ($20)
Race 9 (4:56 p.m. ET/1:46 p.m. PT) — $250K KEERTANA STAKES for fillies and mares, 4YOs & Up going 1½-mile on the turf
Mr. Ed’s pick is the favorite, #3 AYRA STARK (9-5 morning line), Argentine-bred mare for trainer Horacio De Paz with Jose Ortiz aboard for the first time. Coed was born to run marathons. She’ll need to be fast and fit to defeat this salty field.
CHURCHILL DOWNS SELECTION: $10 to Win. ($10)
Races 10-11 (5:28 p.m. ET/2:28 p.m. PT)
Mr. Ed’s EXTRA SPECIAL LATE DAILY DOUBLE:
Race 10: #3 HIGHLY CONNECTED (3-1 morning line) & #7 C MCGRIFF (6-1)
Race 11: #2 HEARTBEAT (7-2 morning line) & #11 CLASSIC GLIDE (6-1)
CHURCHILL DOWNS SELECTION: $5 Daily Double: 3,7/2,11. ($20)
TOTAL WAGERS: $130
