The penultimate week of racing this year at Churchill Downs concludes this afternoon with a 10-race card that kicks off at 1 pm ET. With a plethora of stakes races on the horizon for Thanksgiving week, it is more of a “meat and potatoes” card today, but there are definitely some attractive maiden and allowance events to sink your teeth into. Here are a trio of horses I will build my Sunday Funday around in Louisville.
Race 1:
The card kicks off with a $50k maiden claimer for fillies and mares at 6-furlongs where #3 Our Shenanigan was made the understandable 2-1-ML favorite by oddsmaker Mike Battaglia. The Brad Cox trainee has hit the board in 4 of 6, including twice against protected maidens. The problem is she has had plenty of chances already where she was supposed to win. She shook off the rust last time out in a $150k maiden claimer at Keeneland, so theoretically she should improve second off the bench. That said, she is not for me. I prefer the far lighter raced #1 Army Nurse. The Brian Lynch trainee debuted in a race that included Our Shenanigan and while she was beaten a nose back on October 17 by the morning line favorite, she has far more room for improvement. The daughter of Army Mule broke just ok and was buried down on the rail much of the way. Look for Luis Saez to get her out of that gate a little quicker today and try to get to the lead. If he does, she should be long gone in the lid lifter.
Play: #1 Army Nurse (5-2 ML)
Race 6:
I bet #2 Exclusive Star on November 7 in her second start off the layoff for trainer Eddie Kenneally and she missed by a head despite a bobble shortly after the break. The Boxman Stables filly ran huge against the flow three-back at Keeneland despite finishing off the board and has come back off the break firing two solid shots for trainer Eddie Kenneally. The American Pharoah filly comes back on just 16 days-rest, moves to an inside post, retains Luis Saez, and should either be on the lead or in the pocket throughout. Hopefully, she can avoid getting caught up in an early battle and sticks around her 5-1-morning line offering since I much prefer her to 3-1-top choice #7 Hear the Queen and 4-1-second choice #3 Competitive Threat.
Play: #2 Exclusive Star (5-1 ML)
Race 10:
The card concludes with a MSW event for 2YOs at 6.5-furlongs where Winstar Farm homebred #8 Wall Street is likely to take a lot of public support. The Into Mischief colt is a half-brother to 2024 H. Allen Jerkens (G1) and Woody Stephens (G1) winner Patch Adams. He comes in off some fast works and attracts Irad Ortiz Jr. He could be tough to beat, but I am almost willing to take at least a small swing against these well-bred types before seeing one for myself.
I will roll with the colt with experience in #2 Circle Tap. The son of Twirling Candy was underwhelming last time out at Keeneland when finishing an even fifth, but I love the way he finished two-back in his lone start over this racetrack. It is important to remember that Keeneland and Churchill are not similar surfaces, so often times some horses much prefer one to the other. I am hopeful that is the case with this Willis Horton Racing runner that put in a strong late run on September 12 to finish second to speed horse Spun DMC. He moves inside and hopefully opts to make one run like he did two and a half months ago. He should be a very fair price.
Play: #2 Circle Tap (10-1 ML)
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