What a beautiful day to go racing, and Churchill Downs has a 10-race card for you to consider.  Here is our review of today’s fields:

1st: 1-7-2-4…Timuquana Place (1) never ran a step in her career debut on Sept. 6, but someone liked her that day.  She was bet down to the favorite at $1.30-to-1 odds.  Has trained once since that debacle and gets another shot today. Ashy Taty (7) has had a couple of bouts at this level already and showed some improvement in her last out.  Won’t take much today to best this field. Patti Patti Patti (2) could figure with this group, too.  I bet the 1 to win/place/show and then box the top three numbers in the exacta.

2nd: 6-2-3-1-4…Crawford (6) gets off the grass and drops to a career low level for a top barn.  Has a nice stalking style and picks up the barn’s regular rider here. Junket (2) has hit the board in 8 of 13 career starts and figures to make a move in this one, too. Ran against a hot one in the last out and should benefit greatly from this drop down in class. Power Walker (3) picks up the meet’s top rider and has trained steadily toward his first appearance since June. Watch out here with this class drop.  I bet the 6 to win/place/show and then box the top three choices.

3rd: 4-3-7-1…Dujac (4) gets a drop in class for a top barn operation that does OK with the switch in surfaces. Has never been on the dirt, but worth a look in this company.  Union Bowman (3) is the horse to beat in this one, with hot jock Corey Lanerie getting aboard. This one takes a drop down, too, and is a 10YO veteran of the wars. Nite of the Hunter (7) has hit the board in three of his last four outs and figures to press the pace from the get-go.  Could be fresh enough to get the job done, and has been working well for this return. I bet the 4 to win/place/show and then box the top three choices.

4th: 4-5-7-11-9-3-2…Lunaris (4) picks up a huge rider switch and should fit better with the class plunge today.  Valiant Lady (5) is another that should benefit from the drop and goes for a good barn, who knows how to place them in the right spots. Bret Calhoun sends out the first timer in Bellissima Indy (7), and he can crank them up for a first out win. I bet the 4 to win/place/show and then box the top three choices in one exacta and then key the 4-5 over all the rest in another.

5th: 8-10-5-9…Aife (8) was picked out of the claiming box by Joe Sharp in her last, which was a winning effort at Saratoga on Aug. 28.  Shows up in a good spot today, and even though she is facing winners for the first time, she appears to have a legit chance with these. Dancing Waves (10) is an Irish-bred who won her last out for red-hot trainer Brad Cox.  Will close with a rush, and may be able to get there again today, although she lost a condition in her last. Ring Me Up (5) is a deep closer, who should appreciate the class drop here. Has 5 ITM finishes in 9 starts to date. I bet the 8 to win/place/show and then box the top 3 choices in the exacta.

6th: 3-7-8-9…Colonel Swinson (3) goes for Scooter Dickey, who has won with .24% of his starters this year and is already 1-for-1 at this meet. Gets a drop today and picks up BJ Hernandez, too.  Should be closing with a purpose in this spot. Honor Thy Father (7) hasn’t hit the board in 4 starts this year, but has the back class to pop in this spot today. Pontastic (8) finally broke his maiden in career start 15 and moves up for Steve Asmussen.  I bet the 3 to win/place/show and then box the top three choices.

7th: 10-3-6-8-12-14-4…Fight On (10) comes into this one off a solid second at Ellis Park on Aug. 19.  In his career debut, ran behind John Tippmann, who subsequently won his next out and ran a huge second in a stakes race at Kentucky Downs.  The one to beat in here. Steel Shot (3) has been training lights out for a barn that can win on debut. Watch out here, if he breaks clean from the rail.  Bandito (6) is a first timer for the barn of Dale Romans, and this one has been training very well, too.  Calumet Farm home-bred may take off and never look back. I bet the 10 to win/place/show and then box the top three choices.  I key the top 3 over all the other numbers listed, too.

8th: 2-4-5-7-8-9…Avisionofchocolate (2) gets a nice class drop for the combo of trainer Jinks Fires and son-in-law rider Jon Court.  Court has been riding lights out over the past few months and may catch a live mount in here. Grantastica (4) was purchased out of his last race by a trainer that sports a good win percent (.19) with firsters off the claim. Training well and ran a huge one in his last out. Has hit the board in 4 of his last 5. Sealed With a Kiss (5) is a deep closer for a barn that is looking for its first win of the September meeting. Gets a positive rider switch to Calvin Borel today. Could score at a price. I bet the 2 to win/place/show and then box the top three choices.  I key the 2-4 over all the rest in another.

9th: 6-7-2-8-4…Fort Wise Treaty (6) is a colt that I bet the first time out and he got up to win by a neck at Ellis Park.  Went from there to try the G3 With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga, where he got an awful ride — quite honestly.  This one prefers to come from off the pace, and should revert to that strategy again today with a return to the original rider.  I love this horse today and he is my “Best Bet of the Day.” Sky Promise (7) comes in to this one off a solid showing in a Stakes at Kentucky Downs.  Wants to close, as well, and should get a better ride today from a talented and experienced hand. Trusting Friend (2) ran a good one in his first try in NA, running fourth in a Stakes at Laurel on Sept. 16.  Wheels right back in 13 days for this one.  Watch out. I bet the 6 to win/place/show and then box the top three choices in one exacta and key those same three over the rest of the numbers in another.

10th: 10-8-7-9-3-1-2…Wabel (10) gets a huge class drop from the barn of Brad Cox.  Should love this level, and, if so, figures to be very difficult to handle coming from off the pace.  Solid choice in this spot. Stormy Pacific (8) hasn’t been out since July 29, but has never missed the board in three starts at Churchill. Political Justice (7) comes into this one off three straight victories. Faces tougher today, but will be gassing it from the start and may hold on for a part. I bet the 10 to win/place/show and then key the 10 over/under all the other numbers listed.

Good Luck &

All the Best/Gene