Churchill Downs: Betting multi-race wagers on Stephen Foster Day

Get ready! An exciting afternoon of racing is on tap at Churchill Downs on Saturday, with four graded stakes events slated to close out the 11-race card.

Since the featured events are arranged consecutively, fans of multi-race wagers will have a variety of all-stakes options to choose from. Three doubles, two Pick 3s, a Pick 4 — let’s tackle them all on a $100 budget.

Race 8: Bashford Manor (G3, 4:43 p.m. ET)

#6 Cazadero (8-5) is the favorite, after he dominated his debut at Churchill by 8 3/4 lengths to earn a field-high 91 Brisnet Speed rating.

But watch out for #3 Gatsby (4-1), who overcame a troubled trip to beat a deep field sprinting 4 1/2 furlongs April 17 at Gulfstream. Runner-up Golden Pal returned to finish second by a neck in the Norfolk (G2) at Royal Asoct, and third-place runner Just Right Mike came back to comfortably win his second start.

We’ll use Cazadero and Gatsby to kick off our multi-race wagers:

$10 double: 3,6 with 5 ($20)
$5 Pick 3: 3,6 with 5 with 5,6 ($20)
$2 Pick 4: 3,6 with 5 with 5,6 with 5 ($8)
$1 Pick 4: 3,6 with 5 with 5,6 with 1,10,12 ($12)

Race 9: Fleur de Lis H. (G2, 5:15 p.m. ET)

Champion #5 Midnight Bisou (3-5) went 7-for-8 last season and kicked off 2020 with a strong, runner-up effort in the $20 million Saudi Cup against males. Dropping in class for the Fleur de Lis will make Midnight Bisou tough to beat, so we’ll single the heavy favorite on all our tickets.

$10 double: 5 with 5,6 ($20)
$5 Pick 3: 5 with 5,6 with 5 ($10)

Race 10: Stephen Foster (G2, 5:47 p.m. ET)

#5 Tom’s d’Etat (1-1) won the Clark H. (G1) over this track and 1 1/8-mile distance last fall and showed no signs of rust when he rallied to victory over next-out Grade 1 winner Improbable in the April 11 Oaklawn Mile.

With seven straight triple-digit Brisnet Speed ratings, Tom’s d’Etat is the runner to beat, though #6 By My Standards (5-2) is 3-for-3 at 1 1/8 miles and posted a competitive 105 Brisnet Speed rating when he cruised to victory in the May 2 Oaklawn H. (G2).

Tom’s d’Etat is the stronger closer, but By My Standards has more tactical speed. Covering both should carry us through the Stephen Foster.

$5 double: 5,6 with 5 ($10)

Race 11: Regret (G3, 6:20 p.m. ET)

#5 Crystal Cliffs (3-1) showed promise in France and relished 1 1/8 miles in a Churchill Downs allowance May 31, when he rallied from mid-pack to win by 1 3/4 lengths, with a final furlong in :11.76.

The daughter of talented miler Canford Cliffs is the filly to beat in her second stateside start for trainer Graham Motion, but this is a competitive field. We’ll single Crystal Cliffs on smaller tickets, but for Pick 4 purposes, we’ll add the proven turf stakes performers #1 Dominga (5-1) and #12 Pass the Plate (6-1), plus runaway Busanda S. winner #10 Harvey’s Lil Goil (5-1), who is bred to enjoy grass.

Good luck!