Miyoshi’s Sahara, Bug’s Girl, and Miracleonthirtieth all scratched out of a good $12,500 claimer for nonwinners of two on Wednesday, in favor of an Ontario-sired allowance for nonwinners of two in Friday's eighth race at Woodbine.
My strategy in the River City at Churchill Downs will be to bet Villandry, an 8-1 shot, as a value horse in the win pool, while emphasizing him in a late pick three play.
Villandry is my play in the River City Handicap at Churchill Downs.
With tracks such as Laurel and Aqueduct off the turf Thursday, Churchill Downs refreshingly remains on the grass due to lower-than-forecasted precipitation in the area over the past two days.
As has been the case repeatedly during a fairly wet autumn in New York, a rainy forecast puts both of Thursday’s scheduled grass races, the fifth and ninth, in jeopardy of being moved to a wet main track.
Forecasted showers never materialized overnight in the Louisville area, with only light drizzle for the most part – resulting in the turf races remaining on the grass as of Wednesday morning, though officials are calling it “good.” The main track is fast.
As the second week of Aqueduct’s fall meet begins, it ushers in a busy stretch of racing. As part of a reconfigured schedule to allow for a Christmas-time break, there will be racing next Monday, which was originally a dark day. Starting with Wednesday’s card, the Big A will be open for live racing 11 of the next 12 days through Sunday, Nov. 16.
Anything can happen during the waning weeks of this marathon meet, which concludes Dec. 7.
Breeders' Cup Trip Notes for Oct. 31-Nov. 1 by Michael Hammersly.
On a day when both Aqueduct and Woodbine have moved their scheduled turf races to their main tracks, Churchill’s turf races remain on despite overnight frost. Clear weather is on tap, though it is chilly.
