Mr. Ed’s Churchill Downs Picks for Friday, May 2:
TRACKING MR. ED: Chalk ruled Thurby as the average $2 win ticket returned a minuscule $6.90. Riders Juan Hernandez and Jose Ortiz each had a pair of winners. The hot Cherie DeVaux barn had two trips to the Winner’s Circle. As for Mr. Ed, he had two winners and hit a small exacta box to top off another good day.
OAKS DAY AT CHURCHILL DOWNS: If the 1 ¼-mile Kentucky Derby is the fastest two minutes in sports, then the shorter Kentucky Oaks is the quickest 1 ⅛-mile for fast young fillies. Led by the undefeated Good Cheer (6 for 6), 14 sophomore fillies will enter the starting gate this evening at historic Churchill Downs to the applause of 150,000 cheering fans. Setting the stage for the $1.5 million G1 Oaks will be 10 preliminary races, most starring the very best fillies and mares in racing. The day’s 13-race card goes off at an early post of 11 a.m. ET/8 a.m. PT. Weather: Unsettled, like Mr. Ed’s picks.
Mr. Ed’s Selections at Churchill Downs for Friday, 05/02
Race 1 (11 a.m. ET/8 a.m. PT) — $127K ALLOWANCE CLAIMING for 3YO fillies going 1 1/16-mile
Mr. Ed likes two: #3 SHRED THE GNAR (5-2 morning), trained by Brian Lynch and ridden by Luis Saez, filly cuts back after win at mile; and #4 CHASTEN (2-1) for Brad Cox and Florent Geroux; adds Lasix.
CHURCHILL SELECTION: $5 Daily Double 3,4/3,9. ($20)
Race 2 (11:29 a.m. ET/8:29 a.m. PT) — $120K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for fillies and mares, 3YOs & up going 1 1/16-mile
To complete the DD I like #3 SAUCIER (6-1 morning line) for the Cox-Geroux team and #9 SALTED (3-1) for HOF trainer Mark Casse with rider Irad Ortiz returning.
Race 3 (11:58 a.m. ET/8:58 a.m. PT) — $120K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for 3YOs & up going 1⅛-mile on the turf
I’m betting on #11 VIVALDI (5-1 morning line) for trainer Chad Brown with Flavien Prat riding. Like music to my ears.
CHURCHILL SELECTION: $10 to Win. ($10)
Race 4 (12:29 p.m. ET/9:29 a.m. PT) — $127K ALLOWANCE CLAIMING for 3YO fillies going 6½ furlongs
I like overdue outsider #10 FOIE GRAS (6-1 morning line) for top trainer Steve Asmussen with Flavien Prat returning to ride. Outside post favorable. Mr. Ed likes duck fat.
CHURCHILL SELECTION: $10 to Win. ($10)
Race 5 (1:03 p.m. ET/10:03 a.m. PT) — G2 $600K EDGEWOOD STAKES for 3YO fillies going 1 1/16-mile
Mr. Ed likes three: #2 VIXEN (3-1 morning line) with Irad Ortiz, Jr. looking to repeat; #5 NITROGEN (8-5) looking for four in a row, and #7 LUSH LIPS (7-2), Walsh and Prat unite.
CHURCHILL SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)
Race 6 (1:42 p.m. ET/10:42 a.m. PT) — G2 $750K ALYSHEBA STAKES for 4YO & Up going 1 1/16-mile
I’ll take #3 HALL OF FAME (4-1 morning line) to pull the upset for HOF trainer Steve Asmussen and Joel Rosario who rides. The last three 100+ speed figures are all the convincing I need. A Hall of Fame winner seems appropriate.
CHURCHILL SELECTION: $20 to Win. ($20)
Race 8 (3:12 p.m. ET/12:12 p.m. PT) — G3 $400K MODESTY STAKES for 4YO fillies going 1⅛-mile on the turf
I like #7 SHE FEELS PRETTY (6-5 morning line) as my BEST BET OF THE DAY for the highly successful team of trainer Cherie DeVaux, who had a pair of winners on Thursday, and jockey Johnny Velazquez. Filly has earned more than $1 million, earns more today.
CHURCHILL SELECTION: $20 to Win. ($20)
Race 9 (4:07 p.m. ET/1:07 p.m. PT) — G2 $600K EIGHT BELLES STAKES for 3YO fillies going 7 furlongs
Mr. Ed has three for the money: #9 BOURBON MEMORY (8-1 morning line) for hot trainer Brendan Walsh; #10 IMPULSE BUY (7-2) with top jock Flavien Prat, and #12 ECLATANT (5-2) for superior trainer Brad Cox.
CHURCHILL SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)
Race 10 (4:51 p.m. ET/1:51 p.m. PT) — G3 $400K for fillies and mares 3YOs & up going 5½ furlongs on the turf
I like #4 AG BULLET (8-5 morning line), winner of $1.3 million for West Coast-based trainer Richard Baltas, who retains Umberto Rispoli in the saddle. Bullet locked and loaded, never fails to fire.
CHURCHILL SELECTION: $20 to Win. ($20)
Race 11 (5:51 p.m. ET/2:51 p.m. PT) — G1 $1.5 Million KENTUCKY OAKS for 3 YO fillies
I’m betting on quirky trio: #2 SIMPLY JOKING (10-1 morning line) for new favorite conditioner Whit Beckman, who had big winner for Mr. Ed on Wednesday, with undefeated #11 GOOD CHEER (6-5) and #14 QUIETSIDE (8-1) from far outside.
CHURCHILL SELECTION: $20 to Win on 11 and $5 Exacta Boxes 11/2,14. ($40)
TOTAL WAGERS: $200
DERBY DAY AT CHURCHILL DOWNS: Stakes-packed, 13-race card kicks off at an early post time of 11 a.m. ET/8 a.m. PT. The headline event, the 151st Kentucky Derby, is set to begin at 6:57 p.m. ET/3:57 p.m. PT. Forecast: Showers possible. Mr. Ed’s Derby Day picks will appear here on VSiN.will return with several exclusive VSiN.com picks.
