Padding Your Bankroll from Churchill Downs

The Kentucky Derby is history but there is plenty of good racing left at Churchill Downs, and the historic track offers up five graded stakes on Saturday’s card including the $600,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (G1).

Einstein is looking to join Lava Man as the only other horse in history that have won Grade 1 races on turf, dirt, and a synthetic surface.

The Helen Pitts runner, now a seven year old, is looking to do it in three consecutive races. The son of Spend a Buck won the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) on March 7 over the Pro Ride surface, and then took the Turf Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs on Derby Day on turf..

The seven year old has won 11 of his 25 career starts and has earned over $2.6 million.

He is looking for his seventh Grade 1 victory in his career and is the 2/1 morning line favorite in the field of eight.

All of the stakes on the card look like attractive betting opportunities, and there is an all stakes Pick 4 that starts in the eighth race, which is the $100,000 Northern Dancer Stakes (G3).

Here is a look at two of the races in the Pick 4 sequence, the $200,000 Fleur De Lis Handicap (G2), a race for fillies and mares three year olds and upward, and the Foster.

Churchill Downs Race 9 Fleur De Lis Handicap (G2) Post time 4:59 ET

#9 Kiss With a Twist 6/1

#3 Miss Isella 2/1

#4 Santa Teresita 3/1

#8 Swift Temper 8/1

#9 Kiss With a Twist is coming off a solid effort in a runner up finish in the Grade 3 Arlington Matron. The mare was squeezed back coming out of the gate and after being outrun early came with a good late rally to finish in the runner up spot. This mare has started 22 times in her career and this will be her very first start on conventional dirt. She has raced on turf 14 times in her career and the other eight starts have been on the fake stuff. She has run well on any surface so far and I see no reason why she will not fire on dirt here. Three back she won the Wintergreen on poly earning a career top. Two back the Grade 2 Jenny Wiley she was up on the pace, a change for her, and she weakened late to finish third. There is nothing wrong in getting beaten 1 ¼ lengths in that outing to the winner Forever Together, the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf last fall. This gal is worth a good look here if we see close to her 6/1 morning line.

#3 Miss Isella figures to go off as the favorite in here off her sharp win last out in the Grade 3 Louisville Distaff. She has won four of her six starts over the main track here and is sitting on a good effort here in her third start of her current form cycle. Last out Borel moved up the rail into a tight spot and got through for the win. She can handle the extra distance here as she won the Grade 2 Falls City here last fall at today’s nine furlong distance. She is giving seven pounds to our top pick and the price could be on the light side.

Wagering

WIN: #9 to win at 7/2 or better.

EX: 3,9 / 3,4,8,9

TRI: 3,9 / 3,4,8,9 / 1,3,4,8,9

Churchill Downs Race 10 Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) Post time 5:29 ET

#5 Researcher 4/1

#3 Einstein 2/1

#6 Bullsbay 10/1

#4 Arson Squad 4/1

#5 Researcher was a sharp winner using his home field advantage last out in the Charles Town Classic and he beat a strong group in that race, which included Commentator. Also in that race was Dry Martini, who came back to win the Three Coins Up Stakes at Belmont Park on May 8 as well as No Advantage, who returned to win the Grade 3 William Donald Schaeffer at Pimlico on Preakness Day. The Jeff Runco trainee has done his best running in West Virginia, but showed last fall winning the Grade 3 Queens Colony at the Big A he can win on the road. The gelding has been freshened off his career top last out and is at the top of his game. The fact that Runco ships to Louisville says this guy is ready to fire another big one, and we should catch all of the 4/1 morning line and then some.

#3 Einstein comes in off Grade 1 wins in his last two starts on turf and Pro Ride and is seeking to become only the second horses that I know of (Lava Man is the other) that has won Grade 1’s on turf, dirt, and the fake stuff. Last out on the turf over good ground the seven-year-old came with a six wide run and got up late to prevail by a head in a game effort. He ran a good second in this race last year, beaten by Curlin. Pitts has this guy ready to fire each time out. He has landed in the exacta in 9 of his last 12 outings and he will prove tough to beat in this spot. Our top pick likely is going to offer better value for the top spot but this guy will be on my exacta tickets.

Wagering

WIN: #5 to win at 7/2 or better.

EX: 3,5 / 3,4,5,6

TRI: 3,5 / 3,4,5,6 / 1,3,4,5,6

Good luck padding your bankroll today!