King's preview: Regally Ready ready

Thursday, May 1 preview

Dry conditions today have the Churchill Downs main track fast and the turf firm.

Yesterday’s races saw horses with a variety of running styles prove successful, though the winning jockeys largely avoided being right on top of the fence with the mounts. The one exception was Robby Albarado on the classy Departing, who won the ninth race yesterday on top of the rail when no other hole was open to him in traffic.

Three allowances highlight today’s 11-race card, all coming late in the day. The first of them, and also the richest, goes as the eighth, with older turf horses racing 1 1/16 miles on turf in a money allowance.

With my original selection, Star Channel scratched, that leaves Regally Ready as the default choice. Winner of the 2011 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs, he went through a long dull period before finding new life as a turf miler. Dropping out of stakes, he tries to carry his speed a bit farther in the eighth.

Also worthy of attention is Burn the Mortgage, who finished third in the Grade 2 Mervin Muniz last out at Fair Grounds.

A race later in the ninth, Back Off Buddy rates a narrow edge over Caballo Del Cielo and Relentless Spirit in a first-level allowance. Back Off Buddy is sharp, having twice run well this winter and spring at Oaklawn.

Then in the 10th, graded winner Jack Milton returns in a second-level allowance on turf, marking his first start at 4. He challenged at times in Grade 1 company last year on the grass, and unless he returns at less than his best, he ought to run down this group.

Early scratches

RACE 3

#5 Common Law

RACE 6

#4 Calmer Than You

RACE 7

#3 Haldor

RACE 8

#6 Star Channel

RACE 11

#8 All Star Bell