King's preview: Deep field for maiden race

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Claiming or maiden-claiming races comprise eight of the 10 races Sunday at Churchill Downs, with the two exceptions being a straight maiden race for 2-year-olds in race 6 and a second-level allowance that goes as the day’s feature in the ninth.

The maiden race is the deepest on the card. It drew a field of 11, but with so many debuting horses in the field, it requires guesswork for handicappers.

Chocolate Cherries (#6, 3-1) is one of the few with experience, having run three times and finishing second twice. She is speedy and well suited to racing five furlongs and is this handicapper’s selection.

Of the first timers Magnolia Steel (#7, 5-1) and I'm a Looker (#9, 10-1) are among the most promising, with the former attracting hot-riding jockey Corey Lanerie and the latter horse consistently having the fastest works of all the debuting horses.

The ninth race attracted only six runners – a small field that has been the norm for upper-level races on dirt at this current meet.

Positively (#2, 9-2) might prove dangerous at a price in the race. He has underachieved this year but is back at Churchill after a third at Ellis Park, and over his career, nearly all of his better races have come at Churchill.

The opposition is led by Tarpy’s Goal (#6, 5-2), who ran a close fifth in a tough starter $25,000 race at Saratoga after a win for $50,000 and a fourth against similar $62,500 optional claimers here, and Ouimet (#1, 5-2), who has the speed and class to be a force if fit for his return.

Assessing the latter’s fitness is no easy task – he has no published works in his past performances following a layoff of more than two months.

Expect a late work to be announced on Ouimet – though that likely won’t help much in deciphering his health and fitness. For those on track, a look at him in the paddock likely will provide the clearest picture of his fitness level.

Spot plays

Race 3: MIESQUE AMOUR (8, 7-2) enters this race with strong dirt form and joins a skilled trainer in Jeff Barkley off the claim. This horse is 3-1-1-1 at Churchill and favorably drawn as the outside speed in this mile race.

Race 4: FROM DAY ONE (#1, 4-1) is dropped to his lowest tag by a winning owner and should fire off the bench; perhaps overlooked a bit, coming from Texas.

Race 7: DOUBLE RAH RAH (#3, 4-1) is moved in with easier by a winning owner-trainer combination and is back on a Churchill track where he is 14-3-3-2.

Early changes

Race 1
Equipment Change: #4 Dr. Smooth, blinkers on

Medication Note: #5 Calculus, no Lasix

Scratch: #7 Grand Slam Larry

Race 2
Scratch: #7 Citizen Kitten

Race 3
Jockey change: #5 Sevenhuntkids, TBA

Race 4
Scratch: #5 Corrigible

Race 5
Jockey change: #3 Blutadda, TBA

Race 7
Scratch: #9 John Galt

Race 9
Scratch: #1 Hoss Tater

Scratch: AE #11 Examen

Race 10
Scratch: #5 Prestidigitator