Battaglia's picks for Sunday at Churchill – The Courier-Journal
Sunday at Churchill Downs marks the first “Family Adventure Day” of the Sprint Meet. It could also wind up plenty of fun at the betting window with 10 races, four of them offering purse money at or above $50,000. Featured is a 1 3/8-mile allowance optional claimer on the turf that runs as Race 7. First post is 12:45 p.m.
See full entries and odds for the card courtesy of Equibase (bit.ly/228YZEK) and find handicapper Mike Battaglia’s picks below.
1st ($36,000 starter allowance, 1m, 12:45 p.m.)
C ISLANDSURPRISE was dead last in her 4-year-old debut at Keeneland, but she faced much tougher company and had to need that race. Both of her career wins have come here at Churchill, and she gets the nod with Jon Court aboard for Paul McGee. DEL CIELO has been off for two months but moves to the barn of Phil D’Amato and has been training well for her return. BON HEIR comes off a solid win against $40,000 claimers and fits with these.
2nd ($21,000 claiming, 1 1/16m, 1:14 p.m.)
EMMETT PARK should be running late in a race loaded with early speed. He should get a good trip with Julien Leparoux up and rates the edge today. GIANTSTEPSBDANCING drops in class and will be tough to catch if he can avoid a pace duel. KUTUZOV rates a chance.
3rd ($35,000 claiming, 7f, 1:43 p.m.)
ASTOUNDING broke his maiden in his first race back after a long layoff and faded after setting the pace last out against a tough field. Not crazy about the class drop, but his best would make him a winner in here. ALLIDOISDREAMOFYOU ran poorly last out at Fair Grounds but has run well over this track in the past and is the one to beat. BLUE WINGS is a 3-year-old taking on the older runners, but he drops in class for the first time and has to be respected.
4th ($52,000 allowance, 7f, 2:13 p.m.)
PORTANDO was an impressive winner in his debut. He ran second behind a repeat winner despite running erratically through the stretch last out and looks like a winner with Asmussen adding blinkers today. URBAN BOURBON has run his best on the turf but posted a bullet work here last Saturday and will be running late with Corey Lanerie aboard. HOLLYWOOD CRITIC is a contender.
5th ($34,000 maiden claiming, 1m, 2:43 p.m.)
I don’t usually go for 3-year-olds against older rivals, but I’m not crazy about any of the favorites in this one. SETTING SAIL is lightly raced and drops in for a tag for the first time. He posted a solid work on Monday and could wake up at nice odds. PASCHAL has been off since September but has been training steadily for Dale Romans and can run well despite the layoff. BUD’S MISTER B has been in the money in 4 of his 5 races and is a contender.
6th ($17,000 claiming, 6f, 3:15 p.m.)
SPRING FORMAL pressed the pace before fading a bit in her Churchill debut and drops to the bottom for this one. A similar performance should be good enough to win here. SWEET BAGG O JO has the speed to make the lead and is the one to catch. SQUATTY rates a chance with Lanerie picking up the mount
7th ($54,000 allowance optional claiming, 1 3/8m on turf, 3:47 p.m.)
I am one of several owners of O’PRADO OLE, who just missed last out in a very game performance. He made the lead in that one but is capable of sitting just off of the pace if necessary, and if the turf is firm he can win this one with Gary Stevens picking up the mount. GENEROUS KITTEN has been away since January but has been training well for Mike Maker and figures to be running well at the end. MOTIVATIONAL finished right behind the top pick last out and is definitely improving.
8th ($50,000 maiden special weight, 5 1/2f, 4:19 p.m.)
EL VENUE just missed in his debut, and the winner of that one came back to win here last week. He figures to be a short price but it would be tough to pick against him in this spot. CONDOMINIUM has been in the money in four of his eight races for D. Wayne Lukas and looks like the main competition. OPEN ORDER debuts for Bret Calhoun, who is good with debuting runners.
9th ($52,000 allowance, 1 1/8m on turf, 4:51 p.m.)
CITE had a rough trip last out and ran well to finish fourth in that one. He broke his maiden at this same mile and an eighth distance and appears to be in a good spot to get his second career win for Bill Mott with Florent Geroux aboard. FREE ROSE looked like a medium-priced claimer on the dirt but was a completely different horse when stretched out and moved to the grass. A repeat of that performance will make him very tough to catch. CRESCENT DRIVE was over-matched in the Blue Grass but is a solid contender today.
10th ($21,000 maiden claiming, 6f, 5:23 p.m.)
LADY RELAUNCH faded after setting a fast pace against better last out. She drops in class and will be tough to beat at this level. TIZTHEDREAM has shown improvement with every start figures to be the main competition. FLYING JIVE fits in here.
