Photo:

Ben Breland / Eclipse Sportswire

Churchill Downs hosts an all-dirt 10-race program Wednesday, and here are my picks and wagering advice for five of these races below.

Best bet: Cruz Chica (race 4)

Best value bet: Coyote Road (race 6)

Race 1

No. 5 Bernin Hot (8-5, morning-line favorite) and jockey Luis Saez have fit like a hand in a glove, winning two straight together. Horse and rider team up once more, and the speed figures suggest this son of Bernardini will be hard to beat. No. 1 River in Egypt (5-1) was a game runner-up off an extended layoff when last seen and is the main danger to the top choice with the rust shaken off. No. 2 Harleezy (5-1) doesn’t always break cleanly but can pick off the tired ones in the lane.

How I’d bet it, based on a $100 budget: $8 exacta 5/1,2, $4 exacta 1/5

Race 4

No. 10 Cruz Chica (5-1) gets a post draw conducive to her stalking tactics, and scaling back to a one-turn mile should put her over the top. No. 2 Lovebug (9-2) might take to the mile trip as she tries to ration out her speed vs. slightly cheaper than she met at Keeneland last time out. No. 7 Fun to Run (4-1, morning-line favorite) tries a new low and lures Tyler Gaffalione for Joe Sharp, who is off to a strong start at the meet with a record of 16: 6-1-1.

How I’d bet it: $10 exacta 10/2,7

Race 6

No. 4 Coyote Road (10-1) invades from Belterra off two wins and two thirds and does not look overmatched vs. these based on speed figures. No. 7 Sir Ollie (3-1, morning-line favorite) drops slightly and holds a 5: 2-0-2 record at this distance, but the 6-year-old gelding’s stamina has been an issue of late while sprinting. No. 10 Call of Honor (7-2) steps up off two straight wins at Horseshoe Indianapolis – consider.

How I’d bet it: $10 win/place 4

Race 7

No. 6 Barbanera (6-1) broke slowly from the rail at first asking and went wide on the turn for home before coming on to split a field of five. The pedigree suggests the stretchout will work to her advantage, and going from a sloppy track to a fast one may also aid her cause. No. 2 Sonhador (2-1, morning-line favorite) is a logical alternative after hitting the board in three straight races to kick off her career. No. 3 Happy Talk (5-2) hasn’t raced since March, but the speed figures earned at Oaklawn last winter put her in the hunt.

How I’d bet it: $3 exacta box 2/3/6, $1 exacta box 2/3

Race 9

No. 12 Thoughtthatcounts (8-1) was an impressive winner in his only start on dirt to date. This doesn’t look like the saltiest allowance group in the world so I’m not all that concerned about the class jump. No. 6 Attache (7-2) has hit the board in three straight and boasts a 6: 2-3-0 record at Churchill Downs, and note the sharp tune-up work for this. No. 9 Senior Officer (5-2, morning-line favorite) was a highly rated debut winner but the pace setup was extremely favorable and he’ll be no bargain with Brad Cox training him.

How I’d bet it: $3 exacta box 6/9/12, $2 win 12

Robert Criscola is a free-lance handicapper based in New York.