Today is a day set aside to remember and give Thanks. There is so much to be Thankful for in our abundant lives. But I will save that for another column, on another day. Suffice to say, though, like most of you, I want to write a special note of thanks to my Mother; Wife; beautiful children, both young and younger; my Sister; my close friends who have help launch and keep this site going on a daily basis; and my friends far and wide who I never doubt have more important things to do than worry about a guy in Kentucky, yet still do. Until I am able to see you and thank you personally, please know that I love each and every one of you and cherish you so.

Now, onto business on this cold November morn.  We are headed to the track in a couple of hours for the first race to begin at 11:30 a.m. Here is a closer look at today’s card at Churchill Downs:

1st: 5-2-7-3-8…Analyzing (5) gets the nod in this high-level MCL event. He nearly pulled this job off in her last at the same level and at the same distance. He will be closing strong to try again today, but will do so with the barn’s #1 rider aboard. This one will get bet down, but should. He is best — if he gets a clean trip. B Dubya (2) picks up a new rider, as well, and will be closing strong, too. Comes out of the same race as the preferred choice, but was about 5 lengths behind that one. Needs to improve a ton to make up that difference, but these are 2YOs — and they can move quickly. Five Man Wolf (7) is very well bred for the Albaugh Family Stables (one of the best owners in the game today, with the likes of Dak Attack, J Boys Echo and many others). He will be making his debut today, and is training lights out for a trainer who sends them all in the a.m. Look for this son of Bernardini — who was bred by the owner — to set sail early on and try to hold on.  Tough assignment going 2 turns on debut, though. I bet the 5 to win/place and then key the 5 over/under all the numbers listed in the exacta.

2nd: 2-3-8-5-9-6…Cheponera (2) This 2YO filly gets a huge class drop today for a guy going for the Trainer’s Title here. She hasn’t show a ton to date, but seems to be training better. She comes out of a MSW event where she faced a monster in Go Google Yourself. Will need to improve some, but very capable of doing just that. On the Clock (3) goes for the team of Mike Maker and rider Corey Lanerie. They win with .27% of their mounts together. This one is stretching out, but will finally get a fast track for the first time today.  Looking forward to seeing how this one reacts to the surface change. The Weef (8) is a speedster, who will shorten up a tad today and that should help her cause. She has wilted in the last two when in position to score. Can’t dismiss. I bet the 2 to win/place/show and then box the top 3 choices in one exacta and then key the top 3 numbers over the rest in a smaller version.

3rd: 4-5-6-3-2…Party Mocha (4) picks up Lanerie, who is running away with the rider’s title here. He loves the turf and the distance and is having a solid year, too. Claimed out of his last effort for a trainer that turns around quickly and wins with .24% of his first tries with the new purchases. Major Munnings (5) started his career like a real good thing. Won his first two starts going gate to wire in each by a total of over 12 lengths. Has struggled in the last two, both on the dirt and against tougher foes — like Uncontested and Petrov (2 nice ones). Back on the grass today and it will be interesting to see if he returns to form. Indy Hill (6) comes out of two straight Graded Stakes events, so the going will be much easier in this spot, for sure. Ran against the preferred choice four back and didn’t fare too well. Capable, but will take his best. I bet the 4 to win/place/show and then box the top 3 numbers in one exacta and then key them over the rest in a smaller version.

4th: 2-8-3-5…Seattle Firm (2) goes for a good guy trainer, Daniel Sanner. Closed well in the last to get nipped by a neck over in Lexington. If she can run that same race back today, she will be salty. Wood Not Mind (8) ships in from up Chicago, where she ran a deep closing second on a sloppy racetrack. Stantioned at Fairmount Park, normally, which is not the a great betting angle, but fits with these. Show Me Inday (3) is an Indiana-bred. Tread lightly in this spot. I bet the 2 to win/place and then key the 2 over/under all the rest.

5th: 4-1-8-6-7-12-10…Ever Special (4) is another trained by Brad Cox, who seems to be pulling the plug. Drops all the way from MCL30 to MCL10 today and shortens up off a mile to 6F. Last work on Oct. 27 came before her last race, when she breezed the leaders and faded. Who knows? On a Mission (1) is a filly who goes for one of the best young trainers around. He just needs a good horse to pop.  She drops all the way down from the MCL 50 ranks, so she rally should fire against these. My bet. Eloquent Moment (8) ran a good one on debut at Turfway Park back in March, but has faltered since. This one drops from MSW events to this low level. I bet the 1 (take note) to win/place/show and then key the 1 over/under all the numbers listed.

6th: 4-2-8-5-3…Annathela (4) comes into this one with having hit the board in 8 of the last 10 tries, but has only 1 win over that span. In 14 lifetime starts, only 1 win, but 7 seconds and 2 thirds. What does that tell you? She likes to run second. She may be able to crack that ceiling today, against these. But you have to back this one up, considerably. Tap of War (2) is a horse I have been watching since she ran 3third to Someday Soon at Oaklawn Park back in February for trainer Kelly Von Hemel.  This is a War Front filly who prefers the dirt, and runs for the Albaugh Family, as well. Came off a 6-month layoff to run a game third at Keeneland in October. If she is fitter today, she will be tough. My choice. True Boots (8) certainly is talented, giving her second place finish to Our Majesty back in February at Oaklawn Park, too. Had a break between April and September, when she came back to break her maiden on this track. Training lights out over this track, now. Watch out. I bet the 2 (take note) to win/place/show and then box the top 3 choices in the exacta.

7th: 5-9-10-3-2…Flatter the Queen (10) gets a class drop of sorts today for a trainer having a nice meet. He will be stalking the leaders and should get the first chance to pass. Rider is very suspect here, with a win % of .03 at this meet. That doesn’t bode well. Rock Shandy (9) gets the blinkers on for a nice young trainer. Has struggled to find the board this year after shipping East from CA. Hasn’t won a  race since 2015, but did face Stormy Liberal way back then. Perplexed (10) is exactly what I am in this race. He drops down, too, for “The Coach.” Won three back in the slop at Saratoga. That effort would be lights out today. Have to give a shot with these. I bet (get this) the 10 to win/place/show and then box the top 3 choices in one exacta. Light. Go light.

8th: 5-9-8-7-4-1-2…If the #15 draws in from the AE list, I have to put that one right on top. If not, I get my best numbers on Zorzor (5), who may finally break his maiden today. Has many gaps in-between races, which is not a good sign, what had a bullet work at Keeneland on Nov. 18 and looks ready. Neon Gator (9) is my betting choice, though. Ran a good one on the grass over a “good” track here on Nov. 2. Tired late in that one, but gets a huge, huge rider switch for this one and has the speed to carry. Almoreb (8) ran poorly on the dirt in his last, but gets back on the preferred surface today. Goes for a trainer who doesn’t win many, but this one has show that he can close on the grass. A part? Big Bad Zin (7) has a shot, too, for trainer Buff Bradley. I bet the 9 to win/place/show and then box the top 3 choices in one exacta and then key those 3 over the rest in a smaller version.

9th: 1-2-7-8-5…C Z Rocket (1) is just that in the lane. This deep closer by City Zip is a perfect 2-for-2 and comes running like a rocket ship in both of his first two career races, winning by 2 and then 21/2. Steps up in class today and stretches out from 7Fs to a mile. Should love the added distance, though. Greeley and Ben (2) is 15-1 ML, but I am not missing out on this guy. He won back in July for a trainer who has only 2 wins in 75 starts this year off a similar layoff. But look back.  He beat Hence here at Churchill Downs to break his maiden, and he has talent. Don’t overlook. Lookin for Eight is super talented, and then there is the return of J Boys Echo (8) — who has been missing in action since he ran 15th in the Kentucky Derby and 9th in the Belmont Stakes. He won the G3 Gotham in style, and obviously has real talent. Romans has prepped him well for the return, too. But does he need one? I bet the 1-2 across the board and then key the 1-2 over/under all the other numbers listed in one exacta and then box the 1-2-8 in another.

10th: 4-1-5-7…The G2 Fall City Handicap…Faithfully (4) has been facing the toughest of the tough on the West Coast for trainer Bob Baffert. She has tried Paradise Woods, Stellar Wind, Val Dori. None of those in this race today. She is looking for her first Graded Stakes win, and I think she finds it today. Baffert doesn’t ship them if they can’t run. Remember Abel Tasman this spring? Money’soncharlotte (1) ran second to the another good one, Farrell, here on Nov. 4 in the G2 Chilukki. Stalked the pace that day, but couldn’t get past that talented runner. May face similar scenario today. Blue Prize (5) and Tiger Moth (7) both could close late to split the favorites in the exacta. I bet the 4 to win/place and then key the 4 over/under all the others listed.

11th: 12-10-5-6-14-7-1…The G3 River City Handicap…War Correspondent (12) gets hooked way wide, which is not good and will be making his second start since April. But gets back on the grass and gets a top rider, who is on fire of late. This 7YO veteran knows how to find the finish line, with 4 wins and 4 thirds in 11 grass starts. Some in Tieme (10) is my bet, though. This one is a dead closer, who will be shortening up after a couple of tries at 11/2 miles. Only been this distance once in his career, with nothing to show for it, but looks to love this surface, with a win in his only try over it. Shinning Copper (5) is the likely PT favorite, with Lanerie up after the two won over at Keeneland. Went right to the lead that day and held sway. Looks to employ the same strategy today, with only one other horse in the field that shows any talent for speed. Look out. I bet the 10 to win/place/show and then box the top 3 numbers in one exacta and then key those 3 over the rest in a smaller version.

12th: 2-5-4-6-10-8…Tribal Transit (2) broke her maiden in her last start and will face winners for the first time today. I normally steer clear of these types, but trainer Brad Cox looks to have this one primed and pumped. Chasing Cars (5) was claimed the last time out and was closing fast in that one. Trainer scores with .18% of first timers off the purchase. Regular rider, Lanerie, opts elsewhere, though. Blaze Star (4) and Moolamiss (6) both have legit shots. Wide open affair, but I stick with the 2 to win/place/show and then box the top 3 numbers in one exacta and then key those 3 over the rest in a smaller version.

Good Luck &

All the Best/Gene