Mr. Ed’s Kentucky Downs Picks:
TRACKING MR. ED: Chalk ruled Day 7 of the Kentucky Downs annual meet on Sunday, with the average $2 Win ticket returning only $7.47. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. was king of the hilly course with five winners. Going into the final day of racing in suburban Nashville, TN, Irad’s brother Jose leads all riders with eight victories, followed by Irad and Tyler Gaffalione with seven each, Frankie Dettori with six and Flavien Pratt with four. Conditioners Joe Sharp and Steve Asmussen lead trainers with six wins apiece. Let’s take a look at Wednesday’s Kentucky Downs picks.
WEDNESDAY AT KENTUCKY DOWNS: Two outstanding stakes races, $500K The Nashville Gold Cup (Race 8) and $1.6 million Dueling Grounds Oaks (Race 9) headline the 11-race card. The action gets underway at 1:25 p.m. ET/10:25 a.m. PT with a $100 million Maiden Special Weight contest.
Mr. Ed’s Kentucky Downs Picks
Races 1&2 (1:25 p.m. ET/10:25 a.m. PT) Both are MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT going 6 ½ furlongs on turf
Mr. Ed answers Dirty Harry’s inquiry, “Are you feeling lucky?” with an emphatic “YES!” as he shares a backstretch tip on #13 HOFF (8-1 morning line) for a father-son combo of Eric and Steve Asmussen in Race 1. I’ll hook him up with a pair in Race 2: #5 MO ATTITUDE (10-1), ridden by promising young jockey Jareth Loveberry for Anna Navarrete and #11 UNHIDDEN GEM (4-1) with Kentucky Derby winning rider Brian Hernandez for Al Stall Jr.
KENTUCKY DOWNS PICK: $5 DAILY DOUBLE OF 13/5,11. ($10)
RACE 3 (2:29 p.m. ET/10:29 a.m. PT) — $190K ALLOWANCE for 3YOs & up going 6 ½ furlongs on turf
Mr. Ed likes #13 TUNISIAN SPRING (7-2 morning line), trained by sprint specialist Wesley Ward, who stretches out the costly son of Violence. Leading rider Jose Ortiz returns in the saddle. It’s springtime in Tunis.
KENTUCKY DOWNS PICK: $10 to Win & $5 Exacta Boxes of 2,10,13. ($40).
Races 7-9 (4:44 p.m. ET/1:44 p.m. PT)
R7: 2,8,11
R8: 1,2,5,6,7
R9: 1,6,9,12
KENTUCKY DOWNS PICK: $0.50 PICK 3 ($30)
Race 8 (5:18 p.m. ET/2:18 p.m. PT) — $500K NASHVILLE GOLD CUP for 3YOs & up going 2 1/16-miles on turf
Mr. Ed likes #7 LIMITED LIABILITY (7-2 morning line) for veteran trainer Shug McGaughey. A huge rider upgrade to Frankie Dettori holds the key to victory in a competitive marathon. I’m betting the son of super sire, Kitten’s Joy, will prevail on a long, uphill stretch. If he fails to win, don’t blame me.
KENTUCKY DOWNS PICK: $20 to Win. ($20)
Race 9 (5:52 p.m. ET/2:52 p.m. PT) — $1.6 MILLION DUELING GROUNDS OAKS for fillies going 1 ⅝-mile on turf
I like three to handle marathon trip: #1 WAVES OF MISCHIEF (9-2 morning line) with significant rider switch to Tyler Gaffalione; #6 KATHYNMARISSA (7-2) with returning Frankie Dettori, and #12 DANCING N DIXIE (6-1) with Jose Ortiz back aboard.
KENTUCKY DOWNS PICK: $5 Exacta Box of 1,6,12. ($30)
TOTAL WAGERS: $130
MR. ED’S NEXT MOVE: It’s on to Friday and Saturday for the beginning of the annual Belmont Park fall meet (being contested at nearby Aqueduct on Long Island, NY, due to Belmont renovations). In addition to Belmont at the Big A cards, I plan to offer a few Spot Plays from Churchill Downs.
