King's preview: Weaker card as meet's second week kicks off

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Week two of the Churchill Downs September meet gets underway Friday with the track, as usual, starting with a late afternoon post time. The first race goes off at 2:45 p.m. Eastern, and the last of 10 races should be completed by 7:30. Track officials are calling the main track fast, as expected, and the turf course “good” – apparently the result of some rain that lingered into Thursday morning in the area.

The first two races offer little to no wagering appeal, with Sisteremos (#7, 8-5) appearing likely to get bet down to 3-5 in the opener, and the second race being a head-scratching $7,500 non-winners-of-two claiming contest.

The races get a bit more attractive as the card progresses, though the racing is a cut below what has taken place at Kentucky Downs over that track’s first two days of racing.

Spot plays

Race 3
NAGZILLA (#8, 3-1) trained well enough in July at Churchill that she was taken to Saratoga to run. Although she didn’t finish well there, chasing the pace before tiring to run sixth, beaten 21 lengths, the confidence shown by trainer Eddie Kenneally to take her to the Spa should be viewed positively. She should appreciate a cut back in distance to five furlongs, and the barn has good second-out stats.

Race 8
BELVIN (#1, 6-1) is the price play in this $40,000 non-winners-of-two claimer, dropping out of allowances. He has back class and picks up the hot-riding jockey Shaun Bridgmohan.

Early scratches

Race 4: #4 Calm Water

Race 6: #4 Drivingmitziandmax; #5 Fleet N Sweet

Race 9: #11 Sailaway Kitten; #12 Ridge City; #13 Madd Exchange; #14 Hidden Brook

Race10: #1 Skolnick

Horse to watch

NAPLES GOLD
Trainer: Ben Colebrook
Last race: Sept. 7, 9th
Finish: 5th by 3 1/4
Beyer: 71

She seemed to be travelling well in the early to middle stages of a slow-paced race, but when asked to go between horses and make a split in the stretch, she didn’t accelerate, seemingly intimidated her positioning. She galloped out well and is much better than what she shows. She just seems to be a late-closing filly that needs to rally on the outside to be at her best.