It is back to action at Churchill Downs for the first time since Derby Day when Sovereignty stole the show in the slop running down Journalism in the final strides. The quality of racing from last weekend will be hard to match for some time, but the great thing is the wagering opportunities remain plentiful. Let’s get hot!
Race 4:
My first play comes in this 5-furlong dash over the turf for MSW company where #2 Restore was made the 5-2-morning line choice by oddsmaker Mike Battaglia. The Uncle Mo colt figures to run his race, but has failed five times in grass sprints already, twice as the chalk, already.
I much prefer the chances of #6 Modus Bestia. The $500K Maryland-bred tries the lawn for the first time after his Blue Grass State debut at Keeneland last month. The son of Maclean’s Music flashed strong speed from the far outside, but gave way late against a much stronger group than he encounters in this spot. Plus, the cutback from 6.5-furlongs to five-eighths is likely to benefit the Richard Baltas trainee as well. With a clean break, I expect him to be tough to get by in the lane.
Play: #6 Modus Bestia (7-2 ML)
Race 6:
Trainer Mark Casse holds a strong hand in this starter allowance at 6.5-furlongs over the main track with 3-1-favorite #7 Art Fair and 4-1-third choice #6 Bermuda Blitz. Art Fair comes in off of a trio of top two finishes, including last out when he ran second over the slop at Keeneland. The Munnings colt is in obvious great form, but likely benefited from a surface that favored speed last month. I will try to beat him with his stablemate that should get a more favorable trip as well as offer a bit more value.
Bermuda Blitz is familiar with Churchill Downs since his first 3 starts were in Louisville, but the Vekoma gelding was in Arkansas for the winter. He definitely moved forward in Hot Springs with most of his success coming at a route of ground. His last two races at two-turns came against better company than he meets in this one and he should be full of run late on the turnback given the amount of speed signed on. Christian Torres was aboard in his maiden breaker and will get the leg up once again in his first start off a near 2-month freshening.
Play: #6 Bermuda Blitz (4-1 ML)
Race 7:
My final spot play on the card comes in a competitive full-field first-level allowance event at 1 1/16-miles where I expect a big effort from #7 Scattitude in her first start against winners. The Violence filly grinded away a win sprinting over the Fair Grounds sod in late March in a race where she was beaten out of the gate and caught 4-wide on the backstretch, yet still was able to nail the two speeds at the wire. The Barry & Joni Butzow homebred has the look of a filly that should benefit from more ground and attracts Brian Hernandez, Jr, for her first run over this course.
Play: #7 Scatittude (8-1 ML)
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