King's preview: Three spot plays for Thursday

Card gets started with three-horse field

Three scratches in the opener – #2 Why Pretend, #3 D’Wildcard, and #6 Hey Cuz – have reduced an originally scheduled six-horse field to three.

This has become a recurring theme at this meet, particularly in low-end claimers like the first, a $7,500 claiming race, where vet scratches are more common. A similar race earlier in the meet was scratched down to two runners, making it an unplanned match race.

Given the absence of value in the first, such a time warrants a trip to the concession stand or to look for something to play via simulcast.

The first race isn’t alone in having a number of scratches, though the presence of a couple of overdrawn fields on grass makes the list appear longer than it might otherwise. The early scratches reported by 10 a.m. follow at the end of this column.

Turf bailing Churchill out

Were it not for the turf – and the lack of available turf options for horsemen in this region other than Churchill Downs – the fields here would be really short.

Three grass races are on the nine-race card, with the fourth race now having a field of seven, following one scratch among those entered for turf, and the seventh and ninth races are set to go with 10 runners apiece. With the turf rail out, that is the maximum field size on the grass.

The fourth is intriguing in that it marks the return of Magical Moon, a multiple graded stakes-placed filly who excelled over the second half of last year in turf sprints. She hasn’t raced since October but returns for trainer Al Stall, whose record with comebackers is superb.

SPOT PLAYS

Race 2
COUNTY CORRECTIONS (#5, 2-1) raced more professionally with blinkers May 18, winning in fast time against maiden $40,000 runners with an outside pressing trip. He is well drawn and returns at the same seven-furlong distance; should repeat.

Race 5
STEEL CUT (#1, 5-2), the day's best, joins winning connections and simply looks too good for these bttom-level maiden $10,000 runners. She is dropping off the claim after a poor race April 26 against maiden $30,000 stock and gets a barn upgrade.

Race 6
TAPITSPHERE (#1, 3-1) is a Ron Winchell homebred by Tapit, one of the elite sires in North America. He debuts for trainer Steve Asmussen, who often tips his hand when naming Rosie Napravnik on his babies. Per Daily Racing Form’s Formulator database, Asmussen’s first-out 2-year-olds at Churchill are 7 for 10 with Napravnik up in 2013-14.

Early Scratches

RACE 1
#2 Why Pretend
#3 D'Wildcard
#6 Hey Cuz

RACE 3
#1 Charismatic Pulpit
#4 Lord Unbridled

RACE 4
#1 Happy Everafter
AE MTO #9 Jamaican Smoke

RACE 7
AE #1A Kowboy Boots (part of entry; #1 Honor the Kitten runs)
AE MTO #11 Mio d'Oro
AE MTO #12 Mosquillo
AE #13 Northern Lion
AE #14 Lurego
AE #15 Trace Creek
AE #16 Upkeep

RACE 8
#1 Hot and Dangerous (part of entry; #1A R Next Escapade runs)
#3 Little Norwegian

RACE 9
#8 Wanstead Gardens
AE #14 Archway to Heaven