After a good opening day at handicapping the KY Downs first card — only spoiled by the upset win of Applicator in the Tourist Stakes — we embark on another good betting opportunity today.  Full fields and wide open races could make for some handsome payoffs, if we are able to select correctly and wager wisely. Here is our closer look at today’s card:

1st: 11-8-9-10-12-5…Aircraft Carrier (11) gets the first “dot” of the day (must use). She comes into this one with 3 ITM finishes in 5 career starts with a couple of ends. Nearly pulled the win off in her last, before being edged by My Lily. Shortens up just a bit, but should be ready to roll. Ettalusive (8) ran in the same race as the preferred choice two back and finished just a half-length behind her then.  Gets Brian Hernandez Jr. back in the saddle today. Heavenly Kingdom (9) is a first time starter from the barn of Brad Cox, and is training quite nicely for the debut. Can’t ignore. A surprise in this race could be Iron Lilly (5).  Ran a good one in debut on the dirt at Ellis Park.  Faces tougher today and may be swamped out, but may improve, too, at 15-1 ML.  I bet the 11 to win/place/show and then box the 11-8-9 in one exacta and then key the 11-8-9 over (only) the 10-12-5 in a smaller version. 9-2-10-6…Exacta pays $58.80 for $1…1 winning bet.

2nd: 8-10-12-6-5-4…Hollywood Talent (8) goes for a trainer that I know little to nothing about, but his stalking style may play perfectly on this course. Ran a solid race against Tom’s Ready two back and this one has 2 wins in 3 grass tries. Attractive at 6-1 ML with a solid rider in Jon Court. Favorite Coach (10) gets back to the turf for the first time this year, but has 6 ITM finishes out of 7 starts on the grass. Solid barn operation. Curlino (12) was claimed for only $5K last time out, but goes to the barn of Steve Asmussen, who wins with .20% of first off the buy. If he can flash his old form, he is a contender. I bet the 8 to win/place/show and then box the 8-10-12 in one exacta and then key those 3 numbers over the 6-5-4 in another. 5-8-13-10…8 returns $3.40 & $2.60. Exacta pays $25.70 for $1. 3 winning bets.

3rd: 6-7-4-10-3-12-11…Keep an eye out to see if the #16 draws in…If not, I go to Souper Smart (6), a first timer from the barn of Mark Casse. This one cost $325,000 for the Live Oak Plantation to purchase as a 2YO this spring. Training lights out at Churchill Downs for the debut. Pocket Book (7) has two starts to her credit, including a credible run against Snapper Sinclaire — who romped to an easy victory over this course in a Stakes race on Wednesday. Probably the PT favorite, and I think a must use. Timeisnotourfriend (4) is a first timer for trainer Wesley Ward, who sends out the second choice.  This one is training well, too. I don’t dismiss Dreaming of JC (10), a first timer from the barn of Wayne Catalano. Training very nicely at Keeneland and this guy can win on debut. I bet the 6 to win/place/show and then box the 6-7 solidly, in one exacta, and then key the 6-7 over/under all the rest of the numbers listed.  Unlike most races, I box the 6-7-4-10 in a trifecta box, as well. 3-6-9-8…Place horse pays $3.60 & $2.60…Exacta returns $79.00 for $1. 3 winning bets…

4th: 4-1-5-7-3-2-11…Wicked Lick (4) is my first Best Bet of the Day. This one has been running in Graded Stakes races all year and finally gets back to an allowance field that she may be able to handle.  Also, she returns to the grass for the first time since last October at Keeneland.  And, she has a win and a second in three tries over the surface. Downton Kitten (1) gets her first try at NA racing, but on a European-styled course for Eduardo Caramori.  Broke her maiden in first try in Great Britain back in April.  Love the breeding on this one. Dreamcall (5) has been knocking on the door for Asmussen, with 4 ITM finishes in last 5 outs. I bet the 4 to win/place/show and then box the 4-1-5 in one exacta. I key the 4-1 over/under the rest of the numbers listed. 1-11-8-5…Miss the winner, but hit the exacta, which pays $58.40 for $1.

5th: 2-1-5-7-6-10…Keep an eye out to see if the 14 or 16 draw into the race. I prefer the 14…If not, I go with War Tom (2) in this spot, with a nice 5-1 ML odds line.  Close willingly in the inaugural and gets a HUGE rider switch for this one. Cost $130,000 as a yearling and looks to be the part. Strong Current (1) made a nice run at Saratoga before fading late.  He shortens up considerably today and should be very fit for this one. The sons & daughters of first year sire Orb have performed quite well on the grass, so far.  This may be another to graduate for the Claiborne Farm stud. Storm Runner (5) ran a solid second — at odds of $159.60-to-1 — in his debut.  But he ran second to John Tipperman, who ran second in the Stakes here yesterday, performing quite nicely at a price.  I can’t dismiss this one, who gets a rider switch for Dale Romans. Netas (7) has a shot in here, too, based on his lone performance to date. I bet the 2 to win/place/show and then box the 2-1-5 in one exacta and then key the 2-1-5 over the 7-6-10 in another one. 13-5-9-12…No winning bets here…

6th: 7-8-12-3-4-1-10…Watch to see if the 15 draws in from the AE. If she does, I have to use in the mix…Res Ispa (7) hooked a monster in her last race up at Indy, and she won’t see any of those kind in here today. A deep closer who always runs with a purpose for the barn of Ian Wilkes. Picks up a good grass jockey today, and I like the 6-1 ML price — which could slide north.  “My first Upset Play of the Day.” Sensitive (8) is coming out of a solid effort in the G3 Pucker Up Stakes at Arlington Park and is training well for the Cox barn. This one cost $475,000 as a yearling and may be on the cusp of running better. Frozen Hannah (12) has run 9 times at this distance and has hit the board in 8 of them and has a win and a third in two tries this year. Was claimed last out at Saratoga for this race. Watch out for this speedster. I bet the 7 to win/place/show and then box the 7-8-12 in one exacta and key those three over the 3-4-1-10 in another smaller version. 7-8-1-10…Winner pays $17.60, $8.20, $5.00. Cold Exacta pays $40.40 — which we hit twice. 5 winning bets.

7th: 8-3-1-10-2-6-5-4…Watch to see if the 14 draws in. That one is training very well for debut…Heavenly Love (8) is a home-bred filly by Malibu Moon who is training lights out for the Casse barn. This one looked to be making a serious move in her debut at Gulfstream Park in June when she had to be steadied in the stretch and then moved way wide. Gets a huge jock improve for this one. At 6-1 ML, I make one of my “Upset Plays of the Day.” American Frolic (3) has run two good ones at Gulfstream Park this summer and gets a huge rider switch today. Show horse in her last has already come back to win, too. Champagne All Day (1) gets Lasix for the first time and comes from a sharp barn operation, who is having a good year. Place horse in the debut effort has returned to win and this one has trained well since the first start. Is 12-1 ML and worth the risk. America’s Tale (10) nearly pulled off the trick in her debut effort on July 16 at Ellis Park. Brian Hernandez returns to the saddle and a similar effort makes this one tough in this spot. I bet the 8 to win/place/show and love the 6-1 ML odds. I box the 8-3-1 in one exacta and then key the same three numbers over the 10-2-6-5-4 in a small version. 8-10-14-2…Winner pays $11.20, $5.60 and $4.20…$1 Exacta pays $34.70. 4 winning bets…

8th: 11-2-9-4-1-12-7-5-8-3…Keep an eye out to see if either (or both) the 13-14 draw in.  I really like the 14 in the mix…Despite the long list of numbers here, I focus on the top 4…Triple Chelsea (11) has hit the board in 10 of 13 lifetime starts and is 1-for-1 at the sprint distance of 61/2-furlongs. Has won over this track previously, too. Was off from May to August, but had a nice race at Arlington Park on Aug. 12 at a mile and should be plenty fit enough for this one and has faced some good ones. My second “Best Best of the Day.” Sameeha (2) nearly won the Ta Wee Stakes at Indy in her last and is shortening up off that 1-mile try. Will be kicking late for a rider that does well over this course. Tap It All (9) faltered in the Ta Wee, but was left behind by trainer Doug O’Neill.  Will be saddled today by Brendan Walsh. At 15-1 odds, I take a good look. Excessivespending (4) comes off a nice win at Ellis Park in her first try on grass. Will be stalking the leaders on the move up in class. I bet the 11 to win/place/show and then key the 11 over/under all the other numbers listed. I box (in a small way) the top 3 numbers. 5-10-12-14…No winners here…

9th: 9-11-1-10-12-5…The Old Friends Stakes…Oscar Nominated (9) has won over this track and has 2 wins and 2 thirds in 6 tries this year.  Been facing the best of the best all year, and finally gets a little easier bunch in here today.  His run in the Arlington Million was not bad at all.  Best thing is that there are no Beach Patrols or Diversidio’s in this field. And, gets one of the world’s top riders to get aboard in this one. My third “Best Bet of the Day.” Chocolate Ride (11) has hit the board in 7 of 9 lifetime starts at this distance and will be close to the pace in this one. One Mean Man (1) ran a huge one to Flatlined in the Cliff Guilliams Stakes at Ellis Park in his last, and that effort was flattered by Flatlined’s effort here on Wednesday — which he finished second in the Tourist Stakes. Stalker has trouble tripping the wire first, but tries every time. I bet the 9 to win/place and then key the 9 over/under all the other numbers listed. Top pick was scratched…5-12-3-13…No winners here…

10th: 2-10-11-4-6-7-9…Freedom (2), who cost $650,000 as a yearling, comes into this one off a nice run at Saratoga, before tiring late. To be expected since it was her first race since last October.  This daughter of War Front should benefit from that effort and should be very tough in this spot — going over a route of ground. Magical Sky (10) gets the blinkers for the first time after a wide trip. Picks up the same rider that rode her two back and did quite well with a big closing kick. Watch out for this one today. Meister Legend (11) was extremely wide in her last out at Ellis Park, and will be a tough out today if she can manage a cleaner trip under regular rider Brian Hernandez. Sapphire Jubilee (4) gets the glasses for the first time today, too, and that is a very good angle for this barn. Picks up Gaffalione, who rode quite well here on Wednesday. Can’t dismiss at 12-1 odds. Could be a surprise play, and, as such, I make one of my “Upset Plays of the Day.” I bet the 2 to win/place/show and then box the 2-10-11 in one exacta and then key those three numbers both over and under the rest in two more — at smaller amounts.  I take the 4 across the board, too. 6-10-4…The 10 pays $4.20…The 4 pays 7.80…The $1 exacta pays $34.40…3 winners…

11th: I tweeted out (should look for the Twitter feed from now on) to be Julien Leparoux in the “jockeys wager.”  He won overwhelmingly and paid $13.20, $6.00 and $3.60.  I bet to win/place…2 winning bets.

Good luck &

All the Best/Gene