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Race 1

1^st #1 Common Courtesy drops in class from the MSW ranks, has had three months off, and is trying a new track.  She is a nicely bred daughter of Will Take Charge out of a Storm Cat mare, making her third start.

2^nd #11 Liam’s Lookout was a $75k purchase and hasn’t shown much in her first two races, but she did only lose by a little over three lengths last out, which was an improvement from her first race.  Coming down in class and coming from Gulfstream.

3^rd #8 Money Well Spent is coming from Oaklawn where she made her career debut and lost by eight lengths.  Oaklawn’s competition level is stiff, and this is a little bit of an easier race for her, so I expect her to improve.

Race 2

1^st #2 Traci’s Greely ran some solid races at Oaklawn, and just lost by a nose last out.  Kind of wish Kelsi Harr was riding her again because the two really seemed to connect in the last two races.  She’s in good form right now.

2^nd #5 Heart River looks better in this spot because she’s dropping for half the price.  Ortiz is a much stronger rider than Roberts, so that’s a positive.  Five starts, one win, and one second.

3^rd #7 Mi Chachis Intentas sits at 6/1 ML, has had some time off, and comes north from Louisiana.  She’s bred well but being that she only sold for $11K at OBS is kind of a sign she might not be much physically, and most of her performances haven’t been great.

Race 3

1^st #7 Fuel the Bern takes such a steep class drop that it’s hard not to put him on top.  He’s experienced, only been off the board ten times, and has earnings of over $270K.  He is trained by Danny Gargan.

2^nd #6 State Treasurer comes from the Fairgrounds.  He’s won nine of twenty-eight of his races which is quite impressive.  He’s never been at Churchill before.

3^rd #11 P R Radio Star drops out of the allowance ranks, is trained by Diodoro, and comes over from Oaklawn.  He faced some tough fields over there, this should help him a little bit.

Race 4

1^st 11 Duopoly is making her career debut, and is trained by Chad Brown.  By Animal Kingdom, she has quality European breeding on the dam’s side.  Decent workouts, expecting a good effort.

2^nd #7 Flabbergasted ran her first two races at the Fairgrounds and ran quite well.  The blinkers come off here, she’s a $350K purchase, and bred very well.  She is trained by Mark Casse.

3^rd #2 Well Respected gets Murill back aboard as she comes from the Fairgrounds, and ran her career best race last out.  She was beaten by three lengths.

Race 5

1^st #7 Dean Martini is the morning line favorite and has only been off the board once in seven starts.  It was his first start at Del Mar where he lost by a little over twenty-three lengths.  Since then, he’s had six seconds and thirds.

2^nd #9 Bourbon Wisdom ran better last out, and this is his second race off a layoff.  He’s bred well, and could show some talent, but hasn’t seemed to figure it out yet.  Each race gets a little better.

3^rd #1 Elite Class has had three months off, and was running fairly well at the Fairgrounds.  This is a better spot for him, and he has Jose Ortiz aboard.

Race 6

1^st #8 Candy Store is typically pretty hot in the claiming box, but Maggi Moss has hung onto him for a couple of races.  He’s dropping in for half the price, which should really help given that his last performance wasn’t good.

2^nd #7 Mississippi ran even worse than Candy Store last out when they ran together.  Oaklawn is such a tough track to win at already, but their race was tough.  I’m expecting a better effort here.  He’s well-bred, and has made $261K from only two wins.

3^rd #9 Honoring Major comes up in class a little bit and gets the blinkers on.  Recently claimed from Fires by John Ortiz, I think Ortiz has the upper hand to improve on this horse as Fires only sits at 8% for the year.

Race 7

1^st #6 Lost Ticket should pretty much own this race coming out of a grade three.  Lightly raced compared to the rest of the field, she’s bred so well, and was a $400K purchase.  Trained by Bill Mott.

2^nd #8 Fierce Scarlett has been off for seven months.  She ran in some tough races out in New York, but if anyone can bring a horse back strong, it’s Chad Brown.  Only lost by two lengths in her last start.

3^rd #9 Quiet Dignity has been off since November, where she also ran second in New York.  Brad Cox can also have horses ready off of layoffs, so I am sure she will be good to go.   She ran some tough races in New York especially from traveling from France.

Race 8

1^st #9 Raggedy Annie didn’t seem to appreciate the distance last out, and wow what a brutal race.  This spot fits her better, trained by hall of famer Lukas, she should be better here.

2^nd #7 Blinkers drops in for a tag here, ran some good races at Oaklawn.  Only has hit the board once here out of three starts, but I think that could change in this race.

3^rd #11 Don’t Mine Me recently broke her maiden, so this will be a tough ask here.  But she will gain better experience running against these gals.  She will have her hands full, being that her last race was a win at Turfway.

Race 9

1^st #8 Wrecking Crew was an impressive $875K purchase for reasons beyond me.  I don’t see anything outstanding on either side of the family, but so far he’s earned $337K which is good.  Has had almost two months off too.

2^nd #9 Toledo comes out of a KY Derby prep race three months ago.  Never been at Churchill before but also never been off the board.  Chad Brown trains, and this one is worth the bet.

3^rd #10 Art Collector was taken out of the Sharp barn recently (I assume because the owners got the purse money taken from them), and is now trained by someone much less well known.  Has also had a ton of time off, so should be fresh.

Race 10

1^st How can you not take #1 Four Wheel Drive? Such an impressive horse from his BC win in November.  He should be ready to go, his recent workouts have been decent.  This race is right up his alley.

2^nd #4 Jack and Noah (FR) has had a few months off after his stakes race in Texas.  He went to the lead too quick and it was just too much for him.  Should be in decent shape here, Casse will have him ready to go.

3^rd #8 Maven would be an interesting bet, been off for ten months and coming from Europe.  Trained by Wesley Ward, his first two wins were awesome.  His third race, he ran tenth and has been off since then.

Race 11

1^st #2 Kowalski ran at Oaklawn last out, and it was a good run only beaten by two and a half, finishing third.  This field doesn’t seem as steep, and he has Talamo aboard.

2^nd #10 Chasing Anna was a fancy $400K purchase and ran third in his debut.  He is trained by Ken McPeek.  I’d expect him to win here with how he ran last out, but we will just see.

3^rd #3 Toshio has been off since September of 2018, comes from California, and has a new trainer.  I’d expect this fella to need an out or two, but hopefully the change helps him.