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Claiming Crown weekend at Churchill Downs gets started later today with a competitive card that commences at 1PM eastern. The 11-race slate is headlined by a $134k allowance at two-turns over the grass. Here are a few horses I like most on the Friday afternoon slate in Louisville.
Race 8:
My first play comes in this MSW event for 2YO fillies at six-furlongs over the main track where I like the chances of second-time starter #4 Seaton Springs. The daughter of Maclean’s Music debuted on October 25 over the challenging one-turn mile configuration at Churchill Downs where she showed good early speed, battled early along the inside, and tired late to finish a solid third. The Kenny McPeek trainee took live support in her first start going off a 7-2, should be fit and primed for a move forward on the turnback to six-furlongs, and retains the services of Jose Ortiz. Expecting a strong run by this Keeneland September ’25 purchase to kick off the late Pick 4.
Play: #4 Seaton Springs (9-2 ML)
Picks: 4-3-6
Race 9:
I am not overly creative in this beaten $50k claimer at six-furlongs over the main track where the pace should be honest. This should put class dropper #4 Camp Hale in a perfect spot early under regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr. The son of Mo Town has kept strong company throughout his 14-race career, including taking on strong second-level allowance fields in Kentucky over his last few starts. Trainer Ian Wilkes opts to drop the Whitham Thoroughbreds gelding in for a tag for the first time, which has led to him encountering the softest group he has faced in a while. Both of Camp Hale’s career victories came over this surface last year. He has a huge shot to revisit the Churchill Downs’ winner’s circle later this afternoon.
Play: #4 Camp Hale (5-2 ML)
Picks: 4-2-8
Race 10:
My final play of the day comes in the aforementioned featured event at one-mile over the lawn where the pace should be contentious given the presence of #3 Maui Strong and #10 Theismann amongst others. This should bode well for #2 Dr. Agne. The son of Into Mischief takes on older runners for the first time after trainer Cherie DeVaux added blinkers for his two starts this summer at Colonial Dows. The first start after the addition of shades against allowance foes led to a neck victory as the chalk before Dr. Agne raced against the flow in the Old Dominion Derby (G3). They crawled up front that early September day in Virginia, which is unlikely to be the case in this spot. Instead, jockey Jose Ortiz is likely to find a comfortable mid-pack position along the rail early and come with a strong run late. It is not always easy to best a field of veteran older runners in your first try after tackling your own age throughout your career, but Dr. Agne comes in fresh, draws favorably, and attracts Jose for the first time since last year. Hopefully, he does not get over bet due to his human connections.
Play: #2 Dr. Agne (8-1 ML)
Picks: 2-8-9
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