SATURDAY, MAY 1
CHURCHILL
DOWNS
SPOT PLAYS
Race 5
#8 Smiley Sobotka
Landed
in a pair of impossible spots this year since returning from the layoff,
including a loss last time on an artificial surface. As a result, this horse is
now 10-1 on the morning line for today’s race and looms the horse to beat with
a rebound to anything close to his best efforts, which include a second-place
finish in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) last fall right here on this track at
Churchill Downs. Adds first-time Lasix and reunites with Joe Talamo, who was
aboard the lone career win.
Race 12 – Kentucky Derby
#14 Essential Quality
plus exacta and trifecta
box with #9 Hot Rod Charlie
plus exacta and trifecta
box w/#5 Rock Your World
plus trifecta box w/ #10
Midnight Bourbon
#14 Essential Quality is
undefeated and coming into this race as by far the most accomplished horse in
the field based on his win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, and his two prep race
wins this season including the Southwest Stakes (G3) and the Blue Grass Stakes
(G2). The Blue Grass spot lacked any kind of pace, forcing him into the
uncomfortable position of needing to race too close up to the pace, but in the Kentucky
Derby there is plenty of pace to chase and he will be able to sit further back
in the field. Will have no trouble with the distance and looms the horse to
beat versus this field.
Play in exacta and
trifecta box with #9 Hot Rod Charlie, who was the upset runner-up
finisher behind Essential Quality in the Breeders’ Cup, and finally came into
his own last time out with an impressive win in the Louisiana Derby. Should sit
a good pressing / stalking trip in this race and is very dangerous.
Play in exacta and
trifecta box with #15 Rock Your World, who looked good going wire-to-wire to
win the Santa Anita Derby and should be the best of the speeds in the Kentucky
Derby with a solid chance to repeat wire-to-wire or at least hold on for a spot
in the exacta or trifecta. Fellow speed horse Caddo River was withdrawn, and
that should make the pace assignment slightly easier for Rock Your World.
Play in trifecta box
with #10 Midnight Bourbon, who ran consistently well in the Fair Grounds series
of Derby preps for trainer Steve Asmussen, and picks up Mike Smith for the
mount.
SATURDAY, MAY 1
CHURCHILL
DOWNS
RACE 1
4 Cool Bobby 3-1
2 Santos Dumont 7-2
3 Money for Mischief 6-1
RACE 2
10 Elle Est Forte 3-1
1 Cadencia 2-1
12 The Ginger Queen 9-2
RACE 3
7 Alejandro 7-2
4 Cash Rocket 3-1
5 Kool Haus 9-2
RACE 4
12 Gear Jockey 4-1
4 Salvator Mundi 5-1
6 Hay Dakota 8-1
RACE 5
8 Smiley Sobotka 10-1
2 Who Took the Money 3-1
3 Quantum Leap 12-1
RACE 6 – Churchill
Distaff Turf Mile
5 Got Stormy 8-5
6 Blowout 7-2
3 New York Girl 8-1
4 Zofelle 2-1
RACE 7 – Derby City
Distaff
4 Gamine 1-5 Best
Bet
3 Bell’s the One 6-1
2 Sconsin 8-1
RACE 8 – Pat Day Mile
8 Dream Shake 7-2
3 Jackie’s Warrior 3-1
5 Prevalence 6-1
RACE 9 – American Turf
2 Winfromwithin 8-1
4 Annex 7-2
13 Scarlett Sky 4-1
RACE 10 – Churchill Downs
Stakes
5 Tap It to Win 8-1
9 Whitmore 7-2
1 Phat Man 12-1
RACE 11 – Turf Classic
3 Colonel Liam 3-1
5 Domestic Spending 9-2
6 Digital Age 8-1
4 Ivar 5-1
RACE 12 – Kentucky Derby
14 Essential Quality 2-1
9 Hot Rod Charlie 8-1
15 Rock Your World 5-1
10 Midnight Bourbon 20-1
RACE 13
7 One Fast Cat 5-1
6 Triple Tap 4-1
9 Supremacy 15-1
RACE 14
7 Mr Sippi 3-1
9 Global Appeal 5-1
1 Bagboss 4-1
8 K C Rocket 6-1
