RT picks 2yo races at Churchill Downs, Belmont Park and Pimlico in a Maiden America Thursday

RT’s Spot Plays

05.12.22

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I went to Thurby and stayed away from the Oaks and the Derby. Thurby had 105,000 in attendance, Oaks 120,000 and Derby, was 150,000. That is 375,000 people and all went off without a hitch. Louisville may be a small city, yet Churchill is big enough, and excellent at catering to their signature weekend.

Three, 2yo races today and we will start with my home track of Churchill Downs

Churchill Downs Race 1 - $92K Maiden Special

2yo’s going five furlongs

I am going with first time starter 8-Jeremy’s Jet (12/1) by Street Sense, a 23% sire of 2yo colts, who missed garnering the Triple Crown by a nostril. This colt fits our criteria with trainer Paul McEntee having a 12% win rate with first time starters and he has three or more :12er works; certainly, the most recent :46.6 from the gate stands out.

Belmont Park Race 1 - $90K Maiden Special

2yo’s going five furlongs

While the public drives down the odds on 2-Ever A Rebel (1/1), a Wesley Ward trainee who put in a poor :51 4f work (his only at that distance), I am going with the 37% sire Practical Joke’s son 3-Kerry (8/5). Christophe Clement no slouch with 2yo first timers at 23%. He just had a :48.8 breeze at Payson Park, fitting the trend of :48 or less works.

Pimlico Race 1 - $40K Maiden Claimers

2yo’s going 4.5 furlongs

Both 7-Tiz No Clown (12/1) and 5-Dontinvademyspace (6/1) got out of the gate slowly in their debut on May 1, and 3-Left Hand Thread (8/5), my selection, who also debuted that day, had the more interesting finish. Jockey Jevian Toledo never went to the whip down the stretch, yet this colt by second leading first crop sire Army Mule, put out the third best final fraction in the field. If he gets a clear shot into the stretch, he should get to the wire first.

Editor's Note: 3-Left Hand Thread scratched.