RT's Sunday Churchill Downs Picks: The 2nd and 9th have $120K MSWs for 3yos and older
RT’s Spot Plays
05.15.22
Follow Me @RtsSpot
Churchill Downs’ $10M investment in the turf course renovations has proven thus far to be worthy; given they have had almost all races stay on. Today will be no exception as we had clear weather last night and it is a beautiful, sunny day….and I will be there
Churchill Downs Race 2 - $120K Maiden Special
3yo’s↑ going one mile on turf
I have yet to see Umberto Rispoli win a race since moving his tack to Kentucky, so I will fade his mount, the chalk, 9-Sosua Summer (8/5). If AE 15-Blue Devil (4/1) gets in, I will go with him. He is an Uncle Mo colt, whose progeny in the defined parameters of this race are 25% winners. Uncle Mo, also the third leading sire in turf races last year and fourth so far this year, with 140 wins and $5M in earnings in 2021 and 55 wins with $1.1M in earnings to date. For further details on sires, go to bloodhorse.com. The chances are slim that Blue Devil gets in, so I am going with the Tapit colt, 11-Tepeu (4/1) who is trained by 44% route winner and 38% turf winner, Brendan Walsh. Tyler Gaffalione returns in the saddle, and it is evident this colt prefers turf and routes.
Churchill Downs Race 9 - $120K Maiden Special
Fillies and mares, 3yo’s↑ going one mile on turf
The chalk, 1-Spare Cash (8/5) looks like a deserving favorite, yet I will take the 67% non-favorites winning at Churchill Downs and go with second time starter 7-Sacred Kitten (8/1). By 2022 leading turf sire Kitten’s Joy, who was the fourth leader on turf in 2021, this filly had a solid debut at Keeneland on April 22, fetching a 72 Equibase number on soft turf. Her recent :48.4 work in the slop speaks well for condition and her propensity for softer footing. I am going to tie in an exacta play with 6-Macadamia (6/1) who was steadied early in her last, bolted to within ¾ length of the leaders, before tiring late to 5th place. 2nd time Lasix and a recent freshening.
Happy Hunting!