King's preview: Solid plays on good turf

Despite all the rain that pounded the Louisville area Saturday afternoon, the Churchill Downs main track is expected to be fast for this afternoon’s races, provided there isn’t more rain. Cloudy to party cloudy skies are forecasted for Sunday with a slight chance of showers.

Churchill officials are calling the turf “good” for today’s races, and with the races staying on the grass, solid plays loom in the fifth with Sportscaster and in the eighth with Red Strike.

Sportscaster, 9-2 on the morning line, never fired on the Polytrack last month at Keeneland but had previously run well in two starts on turf. In one of those efforts, he was a close fourth behind Gala Award, next-out winner of the Grade 3 Palm Beach Stakes.

Use him in the exotics with Mr. Chow, Florida Won, and the fast-working Afleet Moss.

Red Strike, the choice for the eighth race, won going away first off the claim for trainer Tom Amoss and owner Maggi Moss vs. $40,000 stock on the Keeneland Poly. He should maintain his sharp form with the shift to grass, where he has won three races from 15 attempts. He seems best over opposition led by Avanzare and Greengrassofyoming.

The ninth at 1 1/8 miles on dirt drew a field with a solid amount of pace, which should work to the advantage of the late-running Eriugena.

Although bred for turf, it was on the dirt last out that he turned in his best performance, blowing past rivals to win a first-level allowance March 29 at Fair Grounds.

He merits win play if he sticks anywhere close to his 9-2 morning line and should be focused in the gimmicks with Brainwash, the best of the frontrunners, and late-running For Greater Glory.

Early scratches

Race 3: #3 Praetorian Prefect
Race 5: #5 Vigorish
Race 8: #10 Brown Almighty
Race 10: #4 Chester's Park