The week continues this afternoon under the twin spires of Churchill Downs when their 9-race card kicks off at 12:45 PM eastern. The slate features a trio of allowance races over the back half of the day, including a pair of events with a $141k purse. I am looking to work my way out of a little slump. Hopefully, today is the day.
Race 5:
This auction-restricted MSW event for 2YOs at 5-furlongs goes through a trio of colts with experience led by 3-1-ML favorite #5 Trim Castle. The John Ennis trainee was eased on debut, but ran a lot better in his second career start. In fact, the son of Collected showed good speed from the gate, was not able to keep up with the dueling leaders early, but settled off the pace and grinded out a runner-up finish at 8-1. A move forward very easily could lead to victory for him, but I prefer #9 Bourbon Town. The son of Echo Town ran a solid second in his debut over the Keeneland slop despite traffic issues along the inside midway through before a speed and fade effort on May 25. In his Churchill debut, Bourbon Town battled with a 3-5-favorite winner for the Brian Lynch barn during the middle stages before tiring late. He drops back into the restricted maiden ranks, attracts Luis Saez, and should get the jump on his main rivals. 6-1 seems like a fair offering.
Play: #9 Bourbon Town (6-1 ML)
Picks: 9-3-5
Race 6:
The pace should be honest at the very least in this 1 1/16-mile allowance event over the Churchill lawn. This should set things up for a runner from off-the-pace. #1 Lambeth, #4 Irish Aces and #8 West Hollywood are likely to be seen as the best options for this type of race shape, but I will take a bigger swing with #7 Herchee (pictured). The Twirling Candy gelding showed a lot of talent right away for trainer Helen Pitts winning his first starts and has captured 4 of 8 overall, but his return race off an 11-month break was underwhelming. That said, he was caught 3-wide early in his May 21 return and came into the race off a limited work tab. He should run a lot better after shaking off the rust last time out. Hopefully, he shows his strong turn of foot after an honest tempo with regular rider Edgar Morales aboard. The price should be right to take a little swing.
Play: #8 Herchee (8-1 ML)
Picks: 7-8-4
Race 9:
My final play of the day comes in this first-level allowance at 1 1/8-miles over the lawn where I will hope to take them all the way on the engine with #4 Sunshine Daydream. The 4YO filly comes into this race having made the lead in each of her two starts against winners since breaking her maiden in New Orleans this winter at the tail end of the Fair Grounds meet. Unfortunately, she has not had the stamina in either try to see it out. She may not be good enough to win at this level, but I am willing to give her one more chance since she should have things her way under jockey Ben Curtis. Last month, she made an easy lead going one-mile over this course, but was unable to come close to sealing the deal. If Curtis can harness some of the early zip a bit more in the early stages later today, this is a group Sunshine Daydream fits with. Plus, her speed looks like a serious weapon against a group that does not possess too much of it. Once again, a runner that looks like an overlay regardless of result.
Play: #4 Sunshine Daydream (12-1 ML)
Picks: 4-6-7
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