Mr. Ed’s Churchill Downs Picks for Thursday, June 5:
TRACKING MR. ED: The five-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga got off to an exciting, yet sentimental start under sunny skies. Hall-of-Fame jockey Johnny Velazquez was the lone rider or trainer to win more than one race. The racing day concluded with new trainer Miguel Clement winning the nightcap with favorite Coach Case. Clement inherited the trainer designation following the death of his popular father, Christophe, who passed away earlier in the week. On the tote board, the average $2 win ticket returned $21.70. Looking ahead to Thursday, mostly sunny skies were expected, before expected rain over the weekend. Post time for the first race is 12:40 p.m. ET/9:40 a.m. PT. Here are Mr. Ed’s picks.
Mr. Ed’s Saratoga Selections for Thursday, June 5
Race 3 (1:46 p.m. ET/10:46 a.m. PT) — $150K ASTORIA STAKES for 2YO fillies going 5½ furlongs
Mr. Ed likes #3 SASSY C W (8-5 morning line), the speedy gal for trainer Larry Rivelli and jockey Jareth Loveberry. Both teamed up for an impressive debut victory at Churchill Downs in April. Speed is all she needs.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $20 to Win. ($20)
Race 4 (2:19 p.m. ET/11:19 a.m. PT) — $110K ALLOWANCE CLAIMING for fillies and mares, 3YOs & up going 5½ furlongs on turf
I’m betting on three for the money: #4 TALES OF THE HEART (3-1 morning line) for Bill Mott; #7 SOL HOPE (4-1) for Saffie Joseph, Jr., and outsider #11 BUNDCHEN (8-1) for my cash machine trainer Wesley Ward.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)
Race 5 (2:52 p.m. ET/11:52 a.m. PT) — $90K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for fillies and mares, 3YOs & up going 1 1/16-mile over inner turf
Mr. Ed likes #5 NONNA LYNNE (7-2 morning line) for Chad Brown-Manny Franco team. I look for 3YO to make a big move forward, following green debut.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $10 to Win. ($10)
Race 6 (3:26 p.m. ET/12:26 p.m. PT) — $110K OPTIONAL CLAIMING for fillies and mares, 3YOs & up going a mile
I’m betting #7 PURE BEAUTY (6-1 morning line). Fast filly cuts back following fade in G3 Aqueduct stakes. Shug McGaughey upgrades rider to HOFer Johnny Velazquez. Beauty might just be a beast.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $10 to Win & Place. ($20)
Race 7-10 (4:02 p.m. ET/1:02 p.m. PT) — $1 Pick 4
R7: 2,4,7
R8: 5,8
R9: 1,3
R10: 1,9,10 ($36)
Race 9 (5:12 p.m. ET/2:12 p.m. PT) — $300K G3 POKER STAKES for 4YOs & up going a mile on turf
It’s as easy as: #1 CAMEO PERFORMANCE (3-1 morning line) with Manny Franco riding for hot trainer Brendan Walsh; #2 INTELLECT (5-1) for Chad Brown barn, and Brazilian-bred #3 FILO DI ARIANNA (4-1) for HOFer Mark Casse.
SARATOGA SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box of 1,2,3. ($30)
TOTAL WAGERS: $146
FRIDAY AT THE SPA: The day-long, eight-hour, 14-race marathon card offers something for everyone: six stakes, five allowance-claiming events and three maiden special weight contests. Early indications are that Mr. Ed will concentrate his selections on the second half of the card, where the major stakes live. He also plans to limit his total wagers to $150. First post is 11:40 a.m. ET/8:40 a.m. PT. All will be said by Mr. Ed and run at the Spa around 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Weather forecast: 80% chance of rain.
