Today’s feature at Finger Lakes (Race 7) is a New York state-bred Allowance NW1 for 3-year-olds and up. As a whole, this is an average field, but if all nine entrants stay in the race it may end up a decent betting race.
Some thoughts:
There is a lot of early speed lined up here. 4 Victory Built and 5 Son of Darkness will surely send out of the gate, with 2 Father Walsh in hot pursuit.
The pace scenario sets up beautifully for morning line favorite 8 Zircon, who should get a perfect trip sitting behind the leaders and get first run down the stretch. This is his race to lose.
In order to get paid in the exacta, tri, or super, we must get a price in there somewhere. I’m looking at 7 Invaluable Will to get a piece. He’s been in the money in half of his lifetime races. If the pace is blazing as I think it will be, he definitely has a shot.
If either Victory Built or Son of Darkness scratch, the one that stays in the race could wire the field.
Picks: 8-7-4-6
SPOT PLAYS (W-P)
Churchill Downs Race 1 I’m upgrading morning line favorite 8 Awesome Charge and betting it at 2-1 or better.
Churchill Downs Race 6 Gun Runner offspring alert on 7 American Icon, who is 4-1-1-0 lifetime and tries 6.5 furlongs for the first time today. A fair price at the morning line of 5-2 or better.
There are two Gun Runner offspring entered in race 7 as well, but that Maden Special Weight race looks wide-open and could go multiple ways.
Best of luck!