Churchill Downs entries, picks for Saturday
Highlighted by a pair of stakes, Churchill Downs' 10-race Saturday card opens with a 12:45 p.m. first post. Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Work All Week goes in Race 8, the Grade III Aristides, while six graded winners make up the 10-horse Opening Verse field in Race 9. The rest of the card, with four more races worth more than $50,000 and the return of 2014 Kentucky Derby runner-up Commanding Curve, is nothing to sneeze at, either.
Get full entries and odds at Equibase (http://bit.ly/1d3oGCh) and find odds maker Mike Battaglia's comments below.
1st
BOSTON PROPER had to need his last race after an 11-month layoff. He drops in class and has good speed from the inside post. He appears to be in a good spot to get the win for Cox with Court picking up the mount. HIS FREEDOM REIGNS will be running late in a race that should have a lively pace. He is the one to beat. OLDWICK fits with these.
2nd
CHAS'S LEGACY does his best running at Churchill and has the tactical speed to be in contention throughout. His best could be good enough to win this one. COMMANDING CURVE is another one who loves this track as evidenced by a runner up finish in the Derby. He makes his 4-year-old debut for Dallas Stewart and will be running at the end. RPRETTYBOYFLOYD is a definite contender.
3rd
ETON BLUE didn't have the smoothest of trips last out and still rallied to finish second. He cuts back to the one turn mile but should be able to handle that distance and gets the nod in a well matched starter allowance. THUNDERGRAM was beaten by the top pick two starts back but looked sharp winning last out and figures to be the main competition again. SEVE is a consistent runner and Romans and Lanerie are always dangerous.
4th
TAKETOTHESTREETS is a 5-year-old maiden but he is lightly raced and is bred to handle the move to the grass. He is in a good spot to finally get that maiden score today. MYAKKA PRINCE showed improvement in his second career start and will be tough to beat if her likes the turf. MUTATION rates a chance.
5th
MAJESTIC RIDE exits an extremely tough maiden race at Keeneland where the runner-up and third-place finishers both came back to win. The drop in for $30,000 is puzzling but he should be able to handle this field. YESHUA HOSANNA didn't break sharply last out going 5 ½ furlongs but figures to be able to make the lead on the stretchout to a mile. He could be tough to catch. INCREMENTAL figures to get a good trip under Lanerie.
6th
CREATIVE SPIRIT looked good winning over the Matt Winn Turf Course last out. She has the speed to be in contention throughout and looks like a solid bet to make it two in a row for Casse and Bridgmohan. IN MY TIME has been off since January but also has a win over the turf course and has been training well for Amoss. GRAND ELMENDORF was dead last in a tough race here on Derby Day but had a tough trip in that one and definitely needed the race. She could add value to the gimmicks.
7th
CHARIS was beaten as the odds on favorite last out but seems to have caught a fairly weak field and should be tough to beat today. MISS COBBLESTONE prefers more distance but will be running late and has to be considered. ONE FOR LONDON ran a decent race at huge odds in her debut and is a contender.
8th
WORK ALL WEEK has been idle since an upset win the Breeders' Cup Sprint but he is training well for his return and has run well fresh in the past. He is unbeaten on the dirt and it would be tough to go against him in his return. ALSVID has run well against the top pick in a couple of races at Oaklawn and is coming off of a career best performance. He figures second best. VIVA MAJORCA will benefit from what has to be a fast pace and could figure in the gimmicks with a late run.
9th
REGALLY READY is an 8-year-old veteran who loves the Churchill lawn. He didn't show much in his only race this year but has been training sharply since that start and Asmussen figures to have him ready to roll today. He won this race last year and can make it two in a row today. FRAC DADDY runs best on synthetic surfaces and could make the lead with an inside post and Lanerie aboard. THE PIZZA MAN has won the bulk of his races in Illinois but is a classy runner who has to be respected. DEPARTING has never raced on grass but has trained will on the Churchill turf and will be a factor if he handles the footing.
10th
FALCON HARBOR was claimed off of a winning effort last out by Asmussen. He moves her up a notch for her return and she is capable of the repeat score. PEACELOVENCUPCAKES ran poorly last out but is capable of better. NEARSHORE drops in class and is a contender.