Churchill has a nice program for Saturday. The Twin Spires horse racing track runs some decent, competitive, events. We studied 3 of the races and made horse racing picks. Check out top plays and Horse Racing Odds from Churchill Downs for Saturday, May 23. You can also visit our Online Racebook to place your bets on active racetracks.
Churchill Downs Horse Racing Picks
- When: Saturday, May 23 at 1:00 pm ET
- Where: Louisville, KY
- Weather: Chance of Rain Showers
- Temperature: High 69 – Low 54
Churchill Downs Picks for Saturday, May 23
Race 2 – 1:30 pm ET – 6 Furlongs Dirt – $20,000 Optional Claiming
Trainer Brittany Vanden Berg has saddled just 9 runners this year. She’s won with 4 of them. That’s why 5/2 on the morning line Slick Silver is the top pick. Silver last raced in the $150,000 Oaklawn Mile. The Kantharos sired 5-year-old roan made no impact in that race. Before that run, Slick Silver had won 6 straight.
Tez goes first time for trainer Brad Cox. Brad wins 30% with his first after the claim runners. Tez took his last race. Cox wins 28% with horses that won their last race. It also helps that Javier Castellano rides. But don’t expect great odds if you’re thinking of backing this one to win.
12/1 on the morning line runner I Will Stand can fill out the trifecta. John Ortiz drops the Awesome Patriot sired colt from straight allowance races. Expect jockey Jose Ortiz to save ground before trying to get the win up the rail. That could happen. So, consider on top if the odds stick.
- Win: Slick Silver
- Place: Tez
- Show: I Will Stand
Race 9 – 5:12 pm ET – 1 Mile Dirt – $100,000 Blame Stakes
We wrote about Global Campaign on our Saturday, April 25 article. Campaign did not disappoint. The Curlin sired runner showed a new dimension, holding back 4 ¾ lengths at the second-call, and coming on for the win. Jockey Jose Ortiz can provide those same tactics. If nobody wants the lead in this stakes race, Jose can take it.
There’s a ton of speed in this race. That could set things up nicely for closer Everfast. In the 4-year-old colt’s first for trainer Jack Sisterson, he easily handled $61,000 allowance level runners. Joel Rosario takes the call while Everfast breaks from post-5. The 30/1 morning line runner has a shot to fill out the exacta.
Owendale is the 3/1 morning line chalk. The stone cold closer should get the right pace-setup. But, it’s hard to endorse any runner to win at less than 9/2 odds. We’re using Owendale in all slots on our trifecta and super.
- Win: Global Campaign
- Place: Everfast
- Show: Owendale
Race 10 – 5:44 pm ET – 1 1/16 Miles Dirt – $150,000 Grade 3 Matt Winn Stakes
Sure Mystic Guide is 15/1. But that’s because most overplay Maxfield and Pneumatic. Guide broke his maiden in his last race. Trainer Michael Stidham wins 21% with last-out maiden winners while this son of Ghostzapper can save all the ground after breaking from post-position 1. Guide dominated in the maiden score. We’re taking a shot.Pneumatic is undefeated. Trainer Steve Asmussen will saddle the Uncle Mo sired 3-year-old. This year’s Matt Winn didn’t come up as deep as it did in previous years. That gives this runner a shot at the victory.
Maxfield is a Godolphin owned and Street Sense sired colt. Maxfield won the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity in his last. He’s worked like a monster leading up to this, but jockey Jose Ortiz will have to take back and try and get the win from closing off the pace. That’s tough because Pneumatic and Mystic Guide are both talented.
- Win: Mystic Guide
- Place: Pneumatic
- Show: Maxfield
