Churchill Downs: DRF Plus handicapping report for May 26, 2014

Race 1

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Race 2

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Race 3

Vulnerable Favorite

JUSTICE JUDY (#1, 2-1) is technically not the favorite, at least on the ML, but she does loom a short price despite failing in her first 17 starts; much more likely to complete the exotics than she is to key them, based on her overall record. -Kenny Peck

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Race 4

Spot Play

COLUMN (#1, 3-1) Failed effort at 3-1 for this same N2L condition during Derby week shouldn’t discourage, as circumstances have shifted in his favor for this return engagement. Now gets 2 turns (from which he broke his mdn. here) while taking a subtle but meaningful class drop and while favorably drawn to the fence. Will be looking for Albarado to ease him back slightly before getting him into a winning rhythm. – Marty McGee

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Race 5

Spot Play

B L’s TSUNAMI (#8, 6-1) Throw out that last debacle at Indiana, and voila, you have a 9yo whose form seems more than enough to take the measure of these, especially with a bit of early rating from ‘Cisco. Barn quietly doing the right things. – Marty McGee

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Race 6

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Race 7

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Race 8

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Race 9

Spot Play

One more shot with BOCELLI (#7, 5-1), who failed to run to some solid works in his two starts this year; perhaps this switch to turf will wake him up. -Kenny Peck

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Race 10

Winning Colors Stakes by Marty McGee

This is one of those really good races where the favorites are 3-1 and 7-2 on the morning line and the longest shots are 10-1 and 12-1. Every one of these filly-mare sprinters has a legitimate shot, but you’ve got to take a stand somewhere, preferably by eliminating one of the would-be contenders.

We’ll do so here by saying Anahauc (#6, 7-2) will be overbet with her back-to-back triple-digit Beyers but really hasn’t beaten much in those allowances. By process of elimination, we’ll also toss the Baffert filly she beat on opening night, Socialbug (#4, 6-1), and voila, suddenly we’re down to just seven fillies. Also, Jamaican Smoke (#1, 10-1) hasn’t won in a year and should find a crush of speed to her outside to be stifling. Now down to six.

Now, for a key: Apropos (#7, 3-1), who had a legit excuse at Kee and now goes synth-to-dirt after those sensational OP efforts; comes favorably drawn to the outer, and Al Stall is full of confidence.

The play: key Apropos first and second in tri’s (and supers too if you like) over the remaining five runners, i.e., 7/2,3,5,8,9.

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