Horse of the day for 5/2
Race 10 - Churchill Downs
1 Mile
Maiden Claiming ($50,000-$45,000)
3-year-olds and upward
Purse $24,000.
CAT ON THE LINE drops into a maiden claimer for the first time, and trainer Dallas Stewart excels with that move (10-24, 42% wins, $2.02 ROI over the last two years). Stewart also adds blinkers to his charge's arsenal so expect a bit more early speed from this colt on Wednesday. Cat On the Line failed to threaten going two turns in a blizzard at Keeneland last time out, but previously ran into some tough fields at Fair Grounds. He faced the promising Deadly Dealer in his debut on Christmas Eve, then ran into three next-out winners on February 9. The March 10 maiden special weight was also a key affair. Cat on the Line owns the best last Beyer Speed Figure, and looms a threat from stalking range.
DECENDANT gave a good account of himself two back when shuffled badly on the rail on the far turn, but he failed to make a move last time out in a race that graded slower than a maiden special for fillies and mares. Like the top pick, he drops into a claimer for the first time. GOLD TO GO wasn't disgraced for this tag two back at Oaklawn, and he was in way too steep against maiden special weights at Keeneland. That race was the slower division for 3-year-old colts on April 13, however. Gold to Go has some early zip, and should be prominent in the early stages. The half-brother to Kentucky Oaks winner Summmerly shows an improved workout for this, and it's possible that he simply didn't like the Polytrack.
SMOKY MIRRORS adds blinkers, and stretches out for the important second start of the form cycle. He's kin to three route winners, and should appreciate this one-turn mile. He's another one dropping in class for the first time.
CLEVER TIP finished ahead of Gold to Go at Keeneland, and is yet another dropping for a tag for the first time. His dam was a stakes-winner, and he put up a solid Beyer two starts back so he certainly fits in the equation. MOO MAN finished second in his last three races over Polytrack at Turfway, but already has had 12 chances to break his maiden.
Selections
1. Cat On the Line
2. Decendant
3. Gold to Go
The play: Cat On the Line to win at 7-2 odds or more.
YTD record based on starts, wins, top pick in the money, and profit/loss of that day's selection: 37-5-12 +($27.40)