Optional 150k Claimer N4X for three-year-olds & up, 8 furlongs on turf, field of nine(none are actually up for a tag).
Churchill Downs, Friday June 26th, 4:46pm
Race 8
The
,
, &
are coming out of a 5/23/2020 race with similar conditions (turf Optional 150k Claimer, 10.5f at Churchill). None hit the board that day with the
having the best finish(6th).
Mr Dumas 5/2
T.Gaffalione/M.Maker
Horse for the course, with three wins here in four tries (third place finish in other). One of those wins was a Grade 3 from this post. Coming off a nice N3X win at this course five weeks ago. On the downside, of his three races this year, two were pretty bad efforts at Gulfstream.
Snapper Sinclair 7/2
R.Santana/ S.Asmussen
Name may look familiar since he had a fourth-place finish in last year’s BC Dirt mile. Two years before that, a 12th-place in the BC Juvy turf. This will be his first time on turf since 8/2019, eight races ago (a win by the way). Has been winless since so it’s hard to figure why connections ever switched him to dirt? Certainly has the class to compete. Looks ready to fire. Only question is, will he like the green stuff again? If the race switches to dirt(which looks like a longshot at this point), will be odds on. Toss .
Mr. Misunderstood 9/2
F.Geroux/B.Cox
Jockey has been onboard for his last 10 races, with two wins, a second and three thirds. Trainer has been kicking butt this meet with a 24% win plus a 45% WPS. That said, horse has been the betting favorite in his only two races this year with 7th and 8th place finishes. Sometimes Mr. Misunderstood is hard to understand. Good record at this track on the soft turf, but looks like it’s going to be pretty dry today.
Doctor Mounty 5/1
J.Leparoux/C.McGaughey
Seven year old has had 33 lifetime starts with eight wins. His only try at CD was last month where he got up for 6th (as I mentioned), but he was flying late and only lost by a few lengths. He did take a 6-month break before that, so the question is this: Has he seen is best days or did he just “need one?” Johnny V couldn’t do much with him onboard in three out of his last four, so what makes us think Julien can? Toss.
Get Western 8/1
B.Hernandez/ C.LoPresti
Speedster who likes to take em gate-to-wire but, like several here, has been off for the past six months. His last try was here on 11/2019, the G3 River City Handicap , where he folded in the stretch like a cheap card table. The River City Handicap, BTW, was won by Mr. Misunderstood. Trainer’s record not very good at long layoffs. Toss
Spectacular Gem 12/1
J.Graham/J.Baker
Of his 14 lifetime starts, four were at CD with a first, third, fourth and fifth. Of his four lifetime wins (4 for 14), all were gate to wire, so he’ll be battling with
for that attempt. Youngest in the field and has been looking good in the morning so his career could be on the upswing unlike most seniors here.
Great Wide Open 15/1
J.Burke /C.Murphy
Eight-year-old gelding had a banner year in 2018, where he earned over $400k. His other four racing years, not so much. His 2019 campaign consisted of eight starts with only two thirds and a fourth to show for it. He’s another that’s coming off of a long layoff with a trainer whose record in that category is not stellar. Guy has seen his best days. Toss.
Made You Look 15/1
A.Beschizza/P. Bauer
Beaten badly in his last three starts, coincidentally after leaving Chad Brown’s barn. Last effort was that 5/23/2020 race I had mentioned, where he finished 8th. Had been with Todd Pletcher before Chad so if those two couldn’t do anything, I doubt if this one can. Toss
Seven Trumpets 20/1
J.Talamo/D.Romans
Nice trainer/jockey but after 18 career starts on dirt, they are switching him to turf, which is a real head scratcher. Had two nice wins last year on dirt (two for four) after recovering from an early season injury. Toss
PACE
&
will be battling for the lead, with
close behind.
BETS
WIN
Spectacular Gem
EXACTA
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