SATURDAY,
MAY 2
CHURCHILL
DOWNS
KENTUCKY
DERBY DAY
SPOT
PLAYS
Race
10 – American Turf Stakes
#4
Stark Contrast
Bypassed a guaranteed spot in the
starting gate for the Kentucky Derby in order to intentionally point to this
turf spot instead. Earned enough points to enter the Derby based on his
second-place finish last time in the Jeff Ruby on the synthetic track at
Turfway Park and looked good in that race but actually prefers grass on which all
of his three career wins have come so far including a pair of stakes wins at
Santa Anita. Finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. Today’s main
opposition from Remember Mamba and Final Score both drew far outside posts.
Race
12 – KENTUCKY DERBY
#9
The Puma
Plus
exactas and trifectas with #6 Commandment, and #18 Further Ado, and #1 Renegade
#9
The Puma won the Tampa
Bay Derby over a field that included Further Ado and then came within a nose of
holding off Commandment in a photo finish in the Florida Derby after an early
wide move on the turn into a slow pace. He was impressive in defeat and can get
revenge on Derby Day for the same connections that won the Derby with Mage in
similar circumstances two years ago.
Play in exactas and trifectas with #6 Commandment, and #18 Further
Ado, and #1 Renegade Commandment was
the most consistently good horse on the road to the Derby this season based
three Gulfstream Park prep race wins including the Fountain of Youth and the
Florida Derby when he got up to win just in time after chasing a slow pace from
last. Further Ado won the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes over a weak field but did so
with such authority by 11 lengths that he just can’t be ignored. He may do his
best running at Keeneland, but he also was already a graded stakes winner at
Churchill Downs as a 2-year-old. As for Renegade, the Arkansas Derby
winner would have been the top pick if he didn’t draw the terrible rail post
position. However, he can still salvage a spot in the money somewhere.
SATURDAY,
MAY 2
CHURCHILL DOWNS
RACE
1
11
Powershift 3-1
3
Silent Way 4-1
9
Winston Ave 9-2
RACE
2
4
Memory 9-2
8
Taptastic 3-1
11
Lincoln’s Law 10-1
RACE
3
10
Vibe 6-1
12
Praetor 3-1
5
John Hancock 6-1
RACE
4 – Derby City Distaff
5
Splendora 2-1
4
Ways and Means 8-5
1
Usha 9-2
RACE
5 – Twin Spires Turf Sprint
3
My Boy Prince 5-2
9
Litigation 3-1
10
Joe Shiesty 6-1
RACE
6 – Knicks Go Stakes
11
Moonlight 8-1 Upset
Special
6
Tour Player 4-1
2
Dragoon Guard 3-1
RACE
7 – Churchill Downs Distaff Turf Mile
5
Classic Q 6-1
4
Temptable 8-1
7
Movin’ On Up 12-1
RACE
8 – Pat Day Turf Mile
4
Secured Freedom 20-1 Live Longshot
7
Crown the Buckeye 6-1
6
Crude Velocity 5-2
1
Englishman 3-1
RACE
9 – American Turf Stakes
4
Stark Contrast 4-1 Best
Bet
12
Remember Mamba 9-2
14
Final Score 8-1
5
Blackout Time 10-1
RACE
10 – Churchill Downs Stakes
6
Knightsbridge 9-5 Best
Bet Exacta Box
7
Imagination 6-1 Best
Bet Exacta Box
2
Cornucopian 7-2
RACE
11 – Turf Classic
9
Test Score 7-2 Best
Bet Exacta Box
6
Rhetorical 5-2 Best
Bet Exacta Box
10
Make Me King 6-1
RACE
12 – KENTUCKY DERBY
9
The Puma 10-1
6
Commandment 6-1
18
Further Ado 6-1
1
Renegade 4-1
RACE
13
10
Buetane 5-2
11
Noble Affair 9-2
8
Gilded Bandit 3-1
RACE
14
3
Interrogator 6-1
9
Big Jake 8-1
11
Great Moment 12-1
8
Find No Fault 9-2
