Churchill Downs: DRF Plus handicapping report for November 29, 2013

Race 1

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Race 2

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Race 3

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Race 4

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Race 5

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Race 6

Spot Play

BENNY BOY (#7, 6-1) is stretched out in distance and adds blinkers for a winning barn; can be excused for a poor performance at this level last time when racing in the slop. – Byron King

Vulnerable Favorite

Some horses just do not want to put forth the effort required to win races at any level, and Z CAMELOT (#1, 3-1) sure seems to fit that description. After Romans lost him for the full-retail price of $15k, Pat Byrne also was glad to rid of him, and even the drop in for $7,500 last out was no tonic. Draws poorly into the encumbered rail post today; might be good enough for part of the verticals today, but seems very much a throwout for the top slot. – Marty McGee

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Race 7

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Race 8

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Race 9

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Race 10

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Race 11

Clark Handicap Analysis

With his blinding record, Game On Dude is an impressive specimen indeed, even with those two awful BC Classic efforts on his past performances. He’s clearly the main variable in anyone’s approach in how to successfully wager on this 139th running of the Grade 1 Clark.

Assuming Game On Dude (#1) is capable of bouncing back, the main question is: Can he get away on an easy pace, or is there enough challenging speed to compromise him? On paper, it looks like the race is his to dominate from the start, with only Our Double Play and Jaguar Paw likely to run with him early.

Knowing that, and knowing how sharp Will Take Charge (#7) has remained since his sensational BC Classic runner-up effort, it seems extremely likely that one of them will prevail and the other will be no worse than third. So now the challenge is, which of the other seven can crash the tri – and maybe even split them in the exacta?

Considering Prayer for Relief (#5) has spent the whole year dodging heavy-heads, let’s try to fill the tricks with the other three logical players – Bourbon Courage (#3), Golden Ticket (#4), and Easter Gift (#6).

The bet: In supers, key the two faves and fill in with the other three, i.e., 1/7 w 1/7 w 3/4/6 w 3/4/6; AND 1/7 w 3/4/6 w 1/7 w 3/4/6. Also, use those same plays in the tri.- Marty McGee

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Race 12

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