[Michael Taylor]

RACE 1
1, Home Base: Couldn’t get up to win the Good Lord stakes and will need a break to win today. He has a chance but will need some help from a blistering early pace that tire leaders out.
2, Seven Trumpets: Im just not seeing the 2-1 ML on this one in this race. Stalked solid fractions in the Good Lord at Ellis Park but didn’t look sharp as they neared the wire. He can win but I dont think he can win on his own. Will need help.
3, Bourbon Resolution: Won’t have the speed to win today. He’ll need the pace to fall absolutely apart. I’ll pass.
4, Midnight Sands: Comes in from UAE and thats usually enough to dissuade most bettors. I like him here. He’s never look stressed during his races and If he gets a clean break and trip I think it’s his race to lose despite the layoff. New rider Gaffalione should take notes from old jock for handling.
5, Hog Creek Hustle: This distance plays into his hands, but he will need every ounce of speed he has to notch the win. I’ll toss the last two starts, and he’s training well and could win in this short field.

$2.00 WPS $4
1.00 exacta box 4-5
1.00 trifecta 4-5/ 2-4-5 / 1-2-4-5

RACE 2
1, Thrill Ride: In his only start versus weaker gained some ground on thw winner. Has been training decently but nothing to shout about. A repeat of his last puts him in contention and hopefully is can knock off any rust.
2, Kennedy’s Beau: First time starter hails from a barn that has them relatively ready. He may not be quite ready to win and wouldnt be a big shock to me if he did but I’ll try to use him in my gimmick plays.
3, Quaility Warrior: He’s faced tougher then most of these have nd with mainly unimpressive results. He’s going to have to ruin my wagers.
4, Proud Veteran: Switches back to turf, stretches out but should move forward even with the class jump. However I am just not excited about this guy. Trifecta runner all day.
5, Idol: I like his top side breeding and his workouts. It doesnt mean hes the winner but I think he competes here. I also think I can use him as a possible price runner. I want to use him to win but not really sold on it.
6, Full Authority: I will toss that last turf start. He runs well at this distanceand after the barn change has found some early speed. I dont tink it will take a lot of speed to win tis race and if handled well by Mena can be among leaders at the near the wire.
7. Kadri: He finished 2.5 lengths in front of the 3rd place winner in his last at Churchill. He’s workingout nicely and I think he steps up today and looks to out pace this group of mostly plodders

$2.00 WPS 1-7
$1.00 exacta 1-7- / 1-5-6-7
$1.00 exacta 1-5-7
.50 cent trifecta 1-7 / 1-7 / 4-5-6
.10 cent superfecta 1-7 / 1-5-7 / 1-4-5-6-7 / ALL cost $4.80

RACE 3
1, Storm King: Not much to say about him as he gave way late in his first start. May improve but I dont see a win for him today.
2, Fastly: Led early in the slop after gettng knocked around. Slowly gave way in deep stretch. Could move forward in 2nd life time start to figure in superfecta again.
Marsac: Not the best start in his last and raced evenly for minor rewards. Barn is ho hum in second starts and this level should prove too tough.
4, One Nation: Barn strectches him out today but he shouldnt be more then a superfecta runner with the bump in class.
5, Abaan: A couple of decent workouts but with the low percentager rider and barn I’ll look to others.
6, Pit Boss: Lost to winners in his last and just cant seem to get this distance Im not sure it will take much to win today and he has a shot but I expect a bounce. He’s a contender but can be beat if let loose on the lead and tires in deep stretch.
7, Dynacharge: Has the back class to be a contender but hasnt raced since July I think he can put enough together to loom but is dependant on pace. A rated ride can see him as a threat.
8, Too Hot: Veteran turf runner doesnt appear to have enough to win on the dirt. He cuts back after pushing the pac in his last start. I dont think he wins but I will use him in gimmicks.
9, Speightstown Again: He goes two extra furlongs then he ever has but doesnt have the speed to be a late contender but a well rated ride from Hernandez should see him run well enough to crack the board with his steadliy improvng speed figures.

$2.00 WPS 6-7
$1.00 exacta & trifecta 6-7 / 6-7
$1.00 superecta 6-7 / 6-7 / 6-7 / 1-2-4-6-7

RACE 4
1, Big Lake: Aside from his sire theres not much I like about him. He’ll have to beat me.
2, Copa: The one decent work out he had isnt enough to make me side with him today.
3, Lock Up: Took the field to task in his last but paid for it in the shadow of the wire. Tacks on another furlong but if he shows speed again he should fade out of contention. Superfecta ??
4, Santa Cruiser: The Graham barns sends this one out and like most of this field theres not a lot to get excited about him but his barn is hitting at an 18% clip for first time starters.
5, Essential Quality: I guess you gotta like his breeding and his work outs are nice. The Cox barn should have him ready to compete. Why not him ?
6, Xietelehaus: Everything about this one says pass. if he beats me, he beats me.
7, Devil’s Tower: Set the pace in his debut and almost pulled it off. He’ll need to find a way to go an extra panel to win. Amy improvment could see him earn minor purse monies. Underneath for me.
8, T Money: Moves up in class and I’d like to see him off the pace just a bit. The long shot was touched up a bit at the start of his last but it didnt seem to affect him terribly. Big price underneath ?
9. Me We: Just decent work outs for this two year old son of Fusaichi Pegagsus who foals appear to take longer to get ready. I find it tough to use him in the superfecta for a thrill but I may.
10. Copley: Canadian invader looks to take this fields candy. He switches to dirt and loses the hood. Ward should draw a lot of dollars and he might get my $2.00 in this sub spectacular field.
11, Rye Sense of Humor: He didnt appear to know what to do in the stretch of his last as he tracked the pace and then move steadily forward. Only a big effort by the winner kept him from getting his photo taken. I’ll use him and hope he improves enough to win at a price.
12, King’s Mischief: Stalked a solid pace but the overland route he uses into the stretch ended his day. Could move forward in his second start and his work outs indicate this may happen. Could be a price today.
ae13. Cool Quest: If he pulls in he will start for a trainer thats on a slight roll. Other then that I have a tough time using him in the top three today.
$2.00 WPS 10-11
$1.00 exacta box 5-10-11-12
5-10-11-12 / 5-10-11-12 / 5-10-11-12 / 5-7-8-10-11-12

RACE 5
1, Majestic Ro: Laparoux let him loose on the lead, and he couldn’t maintain it late despite the pedestrian fractions to hold off the cavalry. Went into hiding after that and his return should be too tough.
2, Handy: Not for me today.
3, El Ahijado: This group should prove too tough.
4, Trident Hit: Moves over to turf and dons the blinkers. He’s run well without them and with the class drop could hang around for minor rewards at this length.
5, Spanish Kingdom: Appeared to just chase the fractions in his last. It wasn’t a bad run for a graded race level and two back he stalked solid early splits and then the race slowed down and seem to lull others to sleep. This let him spring out to earn the win. I can only use him in the gimmicks but wouldn’t be surprised if he won.
6, Job Security: You may be able to toss his last, and he seems to compete at this level on dirt at Churchill. He’s training well and could be used as a price in the susuperfecta if you can toss enough rivals out.
7, Attorney Tim: He shows good late speed and your’e going to have to guess which runner shows up today. He’s developing a good race/bad race pattern and this is bad race time, if you buy into that. Interesting runner.
8, On A Spree: He’s tough not to like but the class alone makes it tough. I like his speed and hopefully Gaffalione uses it wisely. Runs on this surface and distance nicely. I dont think he’s likely to win but may be well rested off the break to run a big one and stun.
9, Stage Ready: He’s seems to finally figure out what to do. He’s not the winner but I like his late speed, and he seems to run well versus tougher. Im chanting “Bet the horse and not the rider, bet the horse and not the rider” and will use him in the bottom of the gimmicks.
10, Parkland: Earned his first win and returns to a tougher level. Will his speed figures stop improving ? Everything seems to point to a big run with an honest effort but will his lack of speed keep him from winning. That’s the big question. I think he can at least finish in the money.
11, Cavalry Charge: Didn’t like the softer going in his last and finished well off the leaders. He’ll need to bounce back today but I dont think he gets the pace setup he needs to win.
12. Lastchanceatglory: I dont think he runs big enough here to be a threat. I can’t see him winning two in a row. He may be a possible susuperfecta runner with a big effort.
Ae13, Groom Lake: Maybe next time but today only if more then half the field drops out.
Ae14, Ransack: See above
mto15, Admire: No bets if off the turf.

$1.00 exacta box 5-7-8-10
.10 cent superfecta 5-10 / 5-7-8-10 / 5-7-8-10 / 3-4-5-8-9-10
.50 cent pick three 5-7-8-10 / 6-11 / 4-5

RACE 6
1, Hersh: Even paced runner only has remote bottom of the gimmick chances today.
2, Sir Alfred James: Stretches out and moves up in class. Shows good running ability over this surface but the extra distance could loom a threat. His barn does well when switching runners off the turf. Gelding could finish in the money.
3, Coastal Defense: Bumps up to face tougher and doesn’t seem to have the speed to win but with the shorter distance could battle for smaller purse money under Alamo who seems to handle him well.
4, Wayne O: Just didn’t seem to like the mud in his last. I think I can toss that one. He’s facing winners now and seems to have enough to hang around minor rewards but the rust of 9 months off will probably keep him from hitting the board.
5, Wild Popit: These should go a little faster than him, and he should struggle in the stretch. He can run at this level but will need others to spit bits or decide to not show up to enhance his chances today. Tough spot.
6, Cool Bobby: California runner seems to have adjusted to the Midwest and although beaten in his last, a repeat of that effort can make him a tough foe. I don’t think you’ll need top-notch speed to win this race, and he might just have enough to get the job done.
7, Street Class: Another Cal shipper who shows good late foot in three of his last four start. He will need all of it to try and come from off the pace to secure the win. Im not sure he can do this off the layoff.
8, Verb: Always seems to be hanging around picking up checks. Doesn’t seem to mind being a guest at Churchill. He should be well rested and will help set the pace. I dont think he will finish sharply but can stick around for the exotics.
9, Peruvian Boy: He will need to do more as they hit the stretch. His career speed figures says he won’t. The big drop in form in his last prove the bettors correct, and he should finish well off the board today.
10, Stilts: He always works out nicely but at this level he doesn’t have enough speed to be a threat.
11, Cowboy Diplomacy: He seems to need a fast track to run his best. Post position 11 can help Bridgman see the group and decide early how to use what speed he has. I like the efforts at Oak lawn Park and hopefully these come over to Churchill Down.
12, Alex Joon: He hasn’t raced since last December but his work outs says to not worry. I think he can fit here but will Rasmussen have him ready.

$2.00 WPS 6
$1.00 exacta 6-11 / 5-6-11
.10 cent superfecta 6-11/ 5-6-11 / 2-5-6-7-11 / 2-3-5-6-7-11-12
.50 cent pick three 6-11 / 5-10-12 / 4-5

RACE 7
1, Award Winner: Stays at this level and switches from turf to dirt. His speed has slipped a bit recently and I’ll toss him here as I only see susuperfecta possibilities with the move to face tougher runners.
2, All West: He’s seems to locate trouble lately and it usually costs him. Versus these tougher runners he should finish off the board. Bejarano did get him his last win two back at a easier level but that fact and a $1.00 gets you a cup of coffee….maybe.
3, Casino Star: He actually fits at this level but the year off makes me uneasy about using him. Solid workouts but he’s going to have to beat me.
4, Signalman: Former Kentucky Derby contender with a lot of promise that didn’t materialize returns to a surface he is actually good over. He’s never missed the board at Churchill and today should be no different. The class relief he should enjoy today gives him every chance to factor.
5, Tank Commander: Lightly raced horse who likes this track I think should loom large in the stretch Despite the move up in class and layoff I think I his tracking running style I have to use him.
6, Sagaponack: No explosive speed that can see him run by enough runners to be a clear gimmick horse. I do think he has just enough to threaten the susuperfecta if there are some key scratches.
7, Chess Chief: Declining speed figures makes him a hard decision to use. I can’t see him as a clear winner, but he’s seems able to be in a position to earn a decent check. He’s a compelling runner I’ll use in the gimmicks.
8, Mr. Quality: I can’t endorse this one at this level. If he destroys my wagers then it was destined to be.
9, Aurelius Maximus: Somehow he just kept running in his last race to notch the win. The somewhat impressive win was nice but fatigue was setting as he neared the wire so the reduced distance help. I doubt he can repeat that effort off a long layoff.
10, Bodexpress: Cuts back, and he is the class of the field. He likes to be on the bit but longer distances trip him up. This speed runner must be rated too last. I can’t not use him to win, but he always seems to tire before deep stretch. Money burner can’t be fully ignored.
11, Savvy: Shows just average speed and in this group that may be enough. However I think he’s in over his head and is seeking smaller purse money only.
12, Locally Owned: This race could actually set up for him with knucklehead 10, Bode express setting the early pace then tiring. He may have peaked in his last but anything like his last two starts puts him in with a chance despite post position 12

$2.00 WPS 5
$1.00 exacta 5-10-12 / 4-5-7-10-12
.10 cent superfecta 5-10-12 / 4-5-7-10-12 / 4-5-7-10-12 / 4-6-7-9-10-12
.50 cent pick three 5-10-12 / 4-5 / 2

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