Here is a closer look at today’s picks at Churchill Downs:

1st: 3-6-1-5…Saucy At Midnight (3) tried the turf in the last out and that didn’t work.  Now, this one will get fast dirt for the first time. What to expect? Who knows, but if she can run anything close to her first out — when she won impressively on the polytrack at Arlington — then she will be tough in this spot. Nice class drop for this try. Bringyourownbottle (6) won two back at this track from a nice stalking position. Actually made a nice late move in the last at Keeneland. Should be the one to beat, with a return to the winning rider. Got Moxie (1) flashed some speed in the last two before spitting the bit late. Gets a change to a more patient rider today. If she can harness a bit of that early lick, she may get in the money at a price. I bet the 3 to win/place/show and then box the top 2 picks solidly.  I key the top 2 numbers over the rest in another.

2nd: 1-3-4-6-7…Ritzy Lass (1) Has not been close in any of the last four outs, but gets a nice class drop in a rather soft field. If she can return to her early season form, then she has a shot against these. Mizz Tutu (3) ran a real good one three back with the same rider aboard. Didn’t handle the slop at Saratoga two back and then ran OK at Churchill while wide in the last.  Watch out here. Delusional K K (4) has never missed the board at this track and likes the distance, too. Has been either 1st or 2nd in four of the last 5.  Moves up a tick, but capable. I bet the 3 (take note) to win/place/show and then box the top 3 numbers in one exacta.

3rd: 8-5-3-4-1…Clever Serve (8) ran a real good one in her last for trainer Steve Asmussen, who claimed her two back. Should be tough again today at the same level with the same rider. Jemrose (5) loses the meet’s leading rider to another in here, but really has been running well enough — hitting the board in 4 of the lat 7 tries. One Dollar (3) is a dead closer who does pick up Lanerie for this one. Won, breaking the maiden, in the last, but now faces winners for the first time. Trained very well here on Oct. 31 after the win.  Maybe had a lightbulb moment? I bet the 8 to win/place/show and then box the top 3 in one exacta and then key the 8 over all the numbers in another.

4th: 3-2-1-4-7…Nineteenth Street (3) gets my top selection here, despite three rough ones in a row against much tougher competition.  Will drop to the claiming ranks for the first time since breaking her maiden at The Fairgrounds at this level back in February.  I look for a nice return to form at decent odds here. Girls Know Best (2) gets a huge rider switch to Lanerie after being claimed last time out by a trainer who does quite well with first timers after the purchase (.20%). This one has won 3 of the last 4 races and looks primed for another nice one after a solid work here on Oct. 31 for the new connections. Ma Bella Rossa (1) gets back to her regular rider after a rough start and extremely wide trip in the last — which is a throwout.  Could surprise at some odds, too. I bet the 3 to win/place/show and then box the top 3 numbers in the exacta.

5th: 5-1-3-2-7…Irritator (5) has a win and a third in only 3 lifetime starts and has faced some real nice ones along the way. I think he can handle this bunch with a huge rider switch to Lanerie. Unmoored (1) goes for a little-known barn outfit for Oaklawn Park owner Charles Cella. I throw out the last one, which was too far for this sprinter and he showed some early lick in that one despite the extra distance. Gets back to a sprint and may be tough in this spot. Imma Bling (3) is a turf sprint specialist and may be good enough to hit the board against better today. I bet the 5 to win/place/show and then box the two top numbers solidly, and then key them over the rest in a smaller version

6th: 7-10-3-11-12-1-6…Keep an eye out to see if the #14-13 draw in.  They figure against these, if they do.  If not, I go to Forge Ahead Franki (7), who gets a massive class drop for this fire sale. The 5YO gelding won here in May against allowance company.  Has fallen on hard times since then, but has never been close to this level before. Dr. Calahan (10) goes for an owner/trainer who has gotten this one to win and finish 2nd here before. Having a good year for this caliber and may be tough again today at 8-1 ML. Backlash (3) hasn’t been close of late, but does have 2 wins over this track. I bet the 7 to win/place and then box the top 3 choices in one exacta, and then key the 7 over/under all the numbers in two more.

7th: 8-9-10-2-7-4-11…I really like the top 3 choices here, with Demolition (8) figuring to get improvement in his second start with the addition of Lasix. This trainer takes his time normally, but is having a good year with 2YOs and this one showed some class in the debut. The extra furlong should help today, as well. Principe Guilherme (9) is a son of Tapit, who cost $600,000 as a weanling. Has been prepping nicely for trainer Steve Asmussen for today’s debut. King Zachary (10) cost $550,000 as a yearling and will make his inaugural run today for trainer Dale Romans. Training well, too. Can’t dismiss. I bet the 8 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.

8th: 4-8-7-2-5-1…Private Eye (4) gets my first Best Bet of the Day designation in this spot. This one got Lasix for the first time in the last and ran a huge one to break his maiden at Keeneland.  Since then, he got the ultimate equipment change and will race as a gelding for the first time. In the maiden win, he beat a good one, Sir Sahib, who came back to run a nice second two days ago.  Watch out for this one at 5-1 ML. Get the Facts (8) broke his maiden last time out for Mark Casse. This son of Tapit looks to be coming into his own quickly, and the show horse in the last won the next time out.  Has faced tougher. Tres Equis (7) picks up Lanerie and has faced two tough races in a row. Has talented, as evidenced by MSW win by nearly 7.  I bet the 4 to win/place/show and then box the top 3 numbers in one exacta solidly.

9th: 6-3-9-10-8-5…Mo Knows (6) has faced some good ones of late (look at the race 3 back; recognize any of those?), and has not been beaten all that badly. If she can run those kind today, she will be very tough at 7-2 ML odds. My second Best Bet. Browse (3) figures to be the PT favorite after closing from nowhere to win at Keeneland in her last for a HOF trainer. Figures. Don’t dismiss Miss Gossip (9), either. This one is 8-1 in the ML, and could have a big shot in here. Caught some real good ones in the last out, but her best puts her in the mix here. I bet the 6 to win/place/show and then box the top 3 solidly.  One saver exacta key with the top 3 over the others in a smaller version.

10th: 3-6-2-1-4-11-10…The last Best Bet of the Day goes to Diamond Delight (3), who gets a massive class drop for the barn of Brad Cox. Lanerie gets the assignment today, and the odds will be low, but this 3YO colt looks much the best in a very soft group. I bet the 3 to win/place and then key the 3 over/under all the rest.

Good Luck &

All the Best/Gene