Race #9 Allowance $134,000 1 1/16-Miles Dirt- 4:48pm EST

Coming off a pair of photo finishes in allowance company at Churchill Downs, Amber Cascade appears a solid favorite against six other fillies and mares in this 1 1/16-mile allowance race on Friday.

A winner by a neck and then second by a neck, the daughter of Free Drop Billy brings solid form into a race where she finished ahead of some of her top competition in the last race. While her form is good, it should be noted that the filly has finished second four times at Churchill Downs, while only winning once. This could be a spot where she adds her third lifetime win, but she may be beatable as the favorite.

The most likely candidate to defeat the favorite looks to be Cat’s Cave. A 3-year-old Goldencents filly, she faded to fifth last time behind Amber Cascade. This race is a sixteenth of a mile shorter, however, and she gets a nice rider change to Luis Saez. With one fast filly to her inside, she should sit a comfortable stalking position here and has a big shot to turn the tables on the favorite.

A stakes winner against Indiana-breds, Three Coats could be a solid value play in here. The late-running daughter of Paynter likes to win and should offer good value as she makes her first start away from Horseshoe Indianapolis. Overall, I do like the top two a little best, with a slight edge going to the tactical speed of Cat’s Cave. She is my top pick.

My Plays

• $5 Exacta Part Wheel – Cat’s Cave over Amber Cascade and Three Coats = $10

• $5 Exacta Box – Cat’s Cave, Amber Cascade, and Three Coats = $30

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Race #10 Mrs. Revere Stakes (Grade 2) $300,000 1 1/16-Furlongs Turf – 5:18pm EST

In a deep and talented field of 3-year-old turf fillies, Kehoe Beach will look to use her blazing early speed to run the competition off their feet in the Grade 2 Mrs. Revere Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Wesley Ward, the Omaha Beach filly was caught late in her first try on turf, but has subsequently wired a pair of allowance races in impressive fashion. She has found a tough spot for her graded stakes debut, but the way she won the last two makes her a real threat to win a third consecutive race on the front end.

Perhaps the most interesting challenger on Friday in this 1 1/16-mile test is the recent import Minoushka. Bred in England but raced in France, she was only able to win once in eight starts overseas but kept strong company and was usually competitive. In her U.S. debut last month at Keeneland, she overcame trouble to blow by an allowance field down the stretch. A similar performance here could be tough to deny.

While both of those interesting fillies will be in search of their initial stakes victory, the Mrs. Revere field features seven fillies who are already stakes winners. Of that group, Pin Up Betty, who is 2-for-2 on the Churchill Downs turf, may be the most dangerous of the bunch. With some rain in the forecast, however, I think the European invader is the one to beat. Minoushka is my top pick. 

My Plays

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Race #11 Clark Stakes (Grade 2) $600,000 1 1/8-Miles Dirt- 5:48pm EST

Riding a three-race winning streak in graded stakes, Hit Show will be in search of his biggest victory yet when he headlines a field of ten set for Friday’s $600,000 Clark Stakes at Churchill Downs. 

A winner on the Kentucky Derby trail last year and competitive in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, the Brad Cox-trained son of Candy Ride has apparently found his niche this season, with four wins in five starts. Most recently, Hit Show won the Grade 2 Fayette at Keeneland, joining the Lukas Classic and West Virginia Governor’s Stakes on the winning streak. 

His stablemate, Most Wanted, could prove to be one of his biggest rivals in this 9-furlong affair. An unbeaten Candy Ride colt, he didn’t debut until June, but now counts the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby and Ellis Park Derby among his four lifetime wins. The dark bay looks to be involved in what should be a lively early pace.

A number of accomplished older horses, including Cooke Creek, Crupi, Rattle N Roll, and Red Route One are capable of toppling the Cox stablemates in this one. Of them, I like Rattle N Roll the best. A multiple graded stakes winner at Churchill Downs, his connections tried to get him into the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar, but fell one scratch short of making the field. After a solid return race, I like his chances to move forward on Friday. He is the top pick

My Plays 

• $10 Exacta Box – Rattle N Roll and Hit Show = $20

• $5 Exacta Part Wheel – Rattle N Roll over Most Wanted, Crupi, Piroli, and Red Route One  = $20

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Race #12 Md Sp Wt $92,000 6-Furlongs Dirt – 6:18pm EST

Having run third and fourth in a recent maiden race locally, Akinmusire and Bermuda Blitz are the top two in the morning line in this field of a dozen juveniles going 6-furlongs at Churchill Downs.

Stakes placed in his second career start, Akinmusire has yet to break through in three career starts. The late-running Will Take Charge colt has three third-place efforts in four career starts. Last time he rallied to just miss second in a Nov. 1 maiden race over the track. A similar performance here for trainer Rick Dutrow certainly puts him in the picture on Friday

His top rival is the horse that finished just behind him in their most recent race. Bermuda Blitz has started twice for trainer Mark Casse and looks poised for a win. After a good third in his debut, he made a nice move on the outside to get to the lead last time before fading to fourth late. With a good trip here, I would expect him to have a little more this time when the real running begins.

Another to watch out for in this maiden race is first time starter Gunner Glacken. Trainer Eddie Kenneally is having a solid meet at Churchill Downs and often does well with juveniles. This son of Gunnevera has a series of good workouts and should be primed to make his presence felt. Overall, though, I like the experience of Bermuda Blitz best. He is the top pick.

My Play

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