Pick 5 Preview: Churchill Downs - June 29, 2013

Two stake races on Saturday night under the twin spires and both are part of the 50-cent pick-5. First up is the Grade 3 Bashford Manor for two-year-olds. The Steve Asmussen-trained D'cajun Cat was very professional in his debut drawing off to win by five and one-quarter lengths and enters the Bashford Manor as the horse to beat. The $300,000 purchase drew post six of seven and can stalk the early pace, which is likely to be set by Hollywood Talent. By Talent Search, Hollywood Talent broke his maiden in April at Keeneland and has been working well since. My Corinthian is the upsetter while Gun Roar is the "other" Asmussen. Race eight opens up a little more with five horses between 7-2 and 6-1 on the morning line. Two more are at 10-1 making this a spread race in the pick-5. The eighth also starts the late pick-4. Everyone is going to single Wise Dan in the next race, the Grade 2 Firecracker Handicap for turf milers. Wise Dan may have to carry 128 pounds, but he's the best horse in the field and will be tough to beat. Lea looks best of the rest and gets 11 pounds from the favorite. Surf Cast and Sir Jock just finished one-two in a similar $5,000 claiming race two weeks ago and look best in race 10. Charlie's Phantasy scratched out of a race at Churchill on Friday to run here and is a must use back in nine days. Cold Feet ran a clunker in his last, but had win three of his previous four. Roy L. And Smarten Destiny deserve a look for bigger tickets. The finale is a maiden special weight race on the turf and contention runs deep. Allegheny Angel is the 4-1 morning like favorite making her fourth career start. Her debut second would be good enough to win this, but jockey Alan Garcia can't have the daughter of Medaglia d'Oro too far back early. Core Destination is worth a long look on the stretch out and her breeding suggest the surface switch will not be a problem. Fanfare, Rare Penny and Special Guest are the others in the single digits on the morning line while Moonlight Caper, Go Baby Go Go or Cindy Says could surprise at big odds. Tough way to end the card, but with a couple of "easy" races in the pick-5, it affords one to spread in the other races. If Wise Dan and either D'cajun Cat or Hollywood Talent win, some long shots in the other three legs will be needed to spice up the pot. First post on Saturday is 6:00 pm ET with the Bashford Manor scheduled to go off at 9:05. Be sure to check the weather as some showers are expected in the Louisville area.