HORSES TO WATCH

By: AMERICAN TURF CLUB

CHURCHILL DOWNS

CONTESSA B.: Put in fair run for third when in with winners and up in price following claim from her winning debut by trainer R. Hess, Jr.; stay on board.

K C KID: Gained wide and in belated fashion to pick up fourth when dropped in class and cut back to sprint trip for his latest; sharper for experience, he can notch overdue maiden score now.

MY CHRISTINI: Rallied wide to pick up third in her first attempt with winners most recently; filly shows layoff lines following each of her first two starts, so relatively quick return could prove key to improvement now.

SMOKING ROMANCE: Set the pace and weakened to third most recently but did show improvement with class drop and move to dirt track; clear early shake could do the trick.

TAP AND TRADE: Showed wide speed, shot clear, and held comfortable stretch margin in latest score when in from FG off brief respite; has back class, is sharp, and can take another.

BLUE Y GOLD (ARG): Rated, split foes, led, and weakened when it really counted in third-place finish when in from HAW and stretched to seven furlongs most recently; another try.

CONSPIRACY: Managed third of five off a rocky start when back to main track in his first try off claim by trainer K. Gorder (21% wins this year); stay with him.

BIM BAM: Led in the lane and came up second-best in typically solid effort most recently; 7YO has $675K in earnings and knows how to get the job done.

JOYFUL MOMENTS: Showed subtle improvement for fourth of 12 in his latest, and has been developed patiently by connections with four starts and only his last two on turf (big pedigree); jumps up.

4*SPECIAL: ANYRIDERILL DO: Returned from August-layoff and finished full of run off a slow break to be a narrowly beaten third; always liked this colt, so take shorter price next time.

LONGSHOT: SAMIAM: Chased the pace and weakened to fifth when back from November-break most recently; has shown flashes, and merits another chance at square ticket.

 

PENN NATIONAL

CAMP COPPER: Showed good interest throughout and lived up to favored billing in debut score; proves worthy $5k-claim for trainer C. DeMario.

GOOD SONG: Chased and weakened to third when up a touch in class in search of repeat score most recently; don’t dismiss.

NEBIKON: Has been second at allowance level in each of his two starts since claimed for $6,250 by trainer T. Lingenfelter (four-for-15 this year); next time.

DANTE’S VICTORY: Showed strong speed with blinkers added and faded to third when it counted late in most recent start; atones for favored loss for dangerous M. Rojas barn.

BRUM BRUM BOY: Rated, rallied, held a three-length lead in the lane, and was nailed late in most recent second-place finish; big effort in first start since late-November.

4*SPECIAL: STARRY MOON:  Ran into some early trouble and managed a more than respectable fifth in stakes bid at PIM most recently; always liked 3YO colt who can get back to winning ways here.

LONGSHOT: PILOT LIGHT: Chased and weakened in fair fourth-place finish when tried at restricted allowance level off $4k-claim for trainer L. Watson; can score on drop now.