RT's Sunday Churchill Downs Picks: The 2nd, 3rd and 7th are all for 2yo maidens with the 2nd a $120K MSW
RT’s Spot Plays
06.26.22
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Churchill Downs Race 2 - $120K Maiden Special
2yo’S going 4.5 furlongs
Really want nothing to do with the two Asmussen entries 1-Rungius (7/2) and 6-Miscial Maestro (5/2) as his 2yo record stands at 3/23 at CD. I am going with the second time starter 2-Mataro (3/1) who, on June 10, shot out to the lead until the stretch and faded off to second. Jockey Edgar Morales returns, and that race was an excellent learning lesson for horse and rider. Sire Macleans Music a healthy 18% with todays requirements.
Churchill Downs Race 3 - $92K Restricted Maiden Special
2yo’s that sold or RNA for $45K or less going 5.5 furlongs
This time next year, you will not see a Justify or Bolt d’Oro horse entered into this type of requirement as these two are the hottest first crop sires in North America. Bolt d’Oro has 1-John Grey (7/2) and Justify sired 9-Prove Right (9/2). Both have a race over the track against each other and John Grey had a hard fought battle with odds-on Undalay to just miss by 3/4-length. Prove Right got off slow and while entering the turn, passed horses to enter third place before tiring to fourth. This race is going to come down to these two horses and I am going with 9-Prove Right, who got more of a learning lesson of passing horses and will get off to a quicker start today.
Churchill Downs Race 7 - $92K Restricted Maiden Special
2yo’s that sold or RNA for $45K or less going 5.5 furlongs
We have most of the remaining horses entered from the June 8 race as mentioned above with 1-Mardukas (15/1), 5-Clear The Deck (3/1), and 7-Midnight Dreaming (8/1). 8-Cortese (4/1) has a race over the track on June 9, where he finished 4th with a 76 Equibase score. Both his sire and dam’s progeny do not have a good track record of second time starters, so he is a pass. Clear The Deck smoked the stretch in his debut, getting the final furlong in :11.85, with the winner, Undalay, getting second best at :12.55. Trainer McPeek 0/6 with 2yo’s and sire Army Mule has yet to have a foal put up greater Equibase number than this colt at 82. 9-Doc Ballard (8/1) interestingly, was owned and trained by Mary Lightner who turned this Gormley colt over to Saffie Joseph. Doc Ballard has put up a :36.6 and :48.4 works since and although was in a Maiden Optional last out, should hit the board today. I am going with 7-Midnight Dreaming (8/1) who clocked a :47.8 after his first race, showing his willingness to get back to racing. Given today’s parameters, sire Midnight Dreaming is 43% with second time 2yo’s.
Happy Hunting!