King's preview: Three allowances highlight card

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Near-perfect September weather is on tap for racing Sunday at Churchill Downs, with mostly sunny skies forecasted and a high temperature of 72 degrees. The racing is respectable, too, with three allowances on the 10 race card.

Here’s a look at the three allowances, two spots plays, and the early scratches.

Race 2: 2-year-old first-level allowance

Although PAIGE (#1, 2-1) and PRETTY U (#2, 3-1) seemingly are the most likely winners of this allowance, the presence of several speed horses in the race may set the stage for a stalker to be successful. SILVER ALLURE (#6, 7-2) could prove to be that filly. She won a maiden race at Indiana Downs with an outside stalking trip, just the kind of journey she ought to get in this race from the outside post.

Race 8: Second-level allowance

ERIUGENA (#5, 3-1) was a flashy winner the last time she raced at Churchill, an effort that encouraged his connections to try him in three straight stakes races. He never ran back to his Churchill performance, and now his connections regroup with a class drop and a return to a surface over which he has shown an affinity.

DONOHARM (#2, 5-2) and LOOKING COOL (#6, 7-2) are his main adversaries, with both dropping in class and capable of running quickly when at their best. Donoharm is the preferred of the two give that Looking Cool is 0 for 6 on the Churchill dirt.

Race 9: Third-level allowance

STOPTALKINGMARIA (#2, 6-1), coming off seconds on Poly and in the slop, moves back to the turf, seemingly her best surface, where she has recorded three of her four victories. And being a former claimer starting for a low-profile stable should keep her price respectable.

Others of note include the class LEFT A MESSAGE (#10, 4-1), who exits four straight graded stakes but appears to want more distance than the 1 1/16 miles of this race, and STORMING ELLE (#5, 4-1), who has won 4 of 9, though two of those came against Illinois-breds.

Spot plays

Race 4: GALLOPING DOMINO (#2, 5-2) just missed at Indiana Downs in a starter against the favored Clear The Clover and fits nicely against $10,000 stock at Churchill, where she is 4 for 13. This one is owned by Maggi Moss, whose stable is winning at a 35 percent clip on the year.

Race 5: MYCHRISTINI (#5, 5-2) couldn't keep up with second-level allowance runners in two starts, though one loss was excusable, as it came in the slop; good sprint form, including here at Churchill.

Early scratches

Race 6
Scratch – #8 Stonecrusher

Race 9
Scratch – AE #11 Miss Squeal (entered for main track only)

Race 10
Scratch – #3 Nanette's Spirit