Hopefully, it won’t rain in Louisville on Friday. Churchill Downs has scheduled some great turf races for their June 5 card. We handicap and make free horse racing picks for the featured turf event, an $81,000 allowance at 1 1/8 miles. We also make picks for a couple of the top dirt races. Check out top plays and Horse Racing Odds from Churchill Downs for Friday, June 5. You can also visit our Online Racebook to place your bets on active racetracks.
Churchill Downs Horse Racing Picks
- When: Friday, June 5 at 1:00 pm ET
- Where: Louisville, KY
- Weather: Partly Cloudy
Churchill Downs Picks for Friday, June 5
Race 1 – 1:00 pm ET –1 1/16 Miles Dirt – $43,000 Starter Allowance
In it’s first for trainer Tom Amoss, 3-year-old gelding Katzarelli won a $50,000 claimer at 1 1/6 miles as a 20/1 shot. Amoss then put the Capo Bastone sired runner into an $80,000 optional claiming event. That didn’t work out well. On Friday, Katzarelli drops back to a level where the closer could have some success. We’re backing the 5/1 morning line equine to win the first at Churchill on June 5.
Amoss’ other runner, Adhar, is 6/1 on the morning line. Blinkers go on the Daaher sired gelding. If nobody else wants the lead, Joe Talamo could take it. If Adhar gets an easy lead, Talamo might pilot this one gate-to-wire.
Frau Mauro backers will be lucky if the Steve Asmussen trained chalk holds the 7/5 morning line. Mauro has a win, a second, and a third in its last 3 races. The Mizzen Mast sired 5-year-old horse can press the pace if required making it the one to beat. But this field is deep. We’re relegating to third.
- Win: Katzarelli
- Place: Adhar
- Show: Frau Mauro
Race 7 – 4:14 pm ET – 1 1/16 Miles Dirt – $100,000 Allowance Optional Claiming
Steve Asmussen has a couple in her. Both have a chance to win. Of the two, Alta’s Award looks best. The Tonalist sired 3-year-old filly finished fourth in the Grade 3 Fantasy in her last. She can improve off that effort since it was her first race after a two-month layoff. Expect jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. to either go for the lead or press the front runner.
Fire Coal is Asmussen’s other entrant. Curlin sired the 7/2 morning line runner. Fire Coal raced okay in the Fantasy, finishing fifth behind stablemate Alta’s Award. She should improve but she doesn’t appear to have the same early speed that Alta’s Award possesses.
William Van Meter trained Lucky Betty looks for her third straight win. She broke her maiden on April 4. On April 23, she won an $80,000 optional claiming allowance. Betty could take this. Consider for top and bottom of your exotics.
- Win: Alta’s Award
- Place: Fire Coal
- Show: Lucky Betty
Race 8 – 4:46 pm ET – 1 1/8 Miles Turf – $81,000 Allowance
Top turf jockey Julien Leparoux hops aboard 6/1 morning line Caira. The Cairo Prince sired 4-year-old filly returns to the turf after breaking her maiden over a sloppy track and failing in an allowance dirt race at a mile. As they turn for home, Julien will ensure she’s in a position to win. If she’s good enough, she’ll get her picture taken on Friday.
There’s enough speed in this race to set it up for Sengita Dreams. Although her best races appear to be on the main track, she’s in great form with 2 wins and a second in her last 4. Expect jockey Brian Hernandez to take back and go to rail right after they break from the gate.
War Front sired Eternal Piece heads into this off a maiden win at Gulfstream Park. The field is deep. But Piece looks like the classiest runner in this event. If the odds drift up from the 7/2 morning line, we must consider for the win slot.
- Win: Caira
- Place: Sengita Dreams
- Show: Eternal Piece
