Handicapping the Derby City 6 mandatory payout on Stephen Foster Day

The spring meet at Churchill Downs wraps up with an excellent 12-race program on Saturday. The $600,000 Stephen Foster S. (G2) highlights seven stakes, and a mandatory payout in the Derby City 6 awaits horseplayers.

With a $157,020 carryover entering Friday, the Derby City 6 pool is expected to exceed $2 million if there isn’t a single winner on Friday. It’s a 20-cent minimum denomination, and the all-stakes sequence begins in Race 7.

Here is how I will craft my Derby City 6 ticket.

War Chant S. – Race 7 (3:50 p.m. ET)

#7 Helium will be tough to deny if he handles turf. His strong synthetic form and turf pedigree suggest the surface switch will be no issue, and Helium has the tactical speed to receive a favorable trip before offering his best.

#5 Royal Prince is a logical alternative if the top choice falters. A two-time stakes victor, the gray colt had a troubled trip when unplaced in the American Turf S. (G2) two back, and the Brad Cox-trained colt exits a solid third in the May 29 Audubon S. #6 El Kabong faces a class check after a maiden win, but the progressing colt doesn’t appear to be facing the stiffest competition. The intriguing stakes newcomer will be included following a nice win over the course.

Debutante S. – Race 8 (4:22 p.m.)

#8 Ontheonesandtwos is a candidate to fire right back after a sharp win at first asking. Both fillies from the Steve Asmussen barn -- #1 Wicked Halo and #3 Tizplenty – are viable win contenders, as well.

With plenty of speed signed on, #5 Catchusifyoucan merits a look at 10-1 on the morning line. The Practical Joke filly launched an eye-catching rally from well off the pace to win her debut over 4 1/2 furlongs, and Bret Calhoun is skilled with young horses and shippers (20% win).

Bashford Manor S. (G3) – Race 9 (4:55 p.m.)

#4 Glacial will take some beating after an impressive debut outing, quickly overcoming a tardy start to win going away by 2 1/2 lengths. The Frosted colt shows a couple of quick works in the 28-day interim, and Norm Casse has enjoyed a terrific meet (7-for-22). With little separating his main rivals, Glacial will be my single in the sequence.

Wise Dan S. (G2) – Race 10 (5:26 p.m.)

A middle-distance specialist, Maker’s Mark Mile (G1) runner-up #7 Ride a Comet found the 1 1/8-mile distance and competition too tough in the Old Forester Turf Classic (G1), but the six-year-old should relish the cutback and class relief on Saturday. The midpack stalker has shown a winning attitude, capturing eight of 16 starts including a trio of graded stakes, and Ride a Comet should be in position to strike turning for home with Tyler Gaffalione.

Given the lack of speed entered, #3 Somelikeithotbrown may receive a plum trip on the front end. The Mike Maker trainee enters in sharp form, posting a one-length score in the May 15 Dinner Party S. (G2) at Pimlico, and should be dictating terms on a slow pace with Jose Ortiz.

Stephen Foster S. (G2) – Race 11 (5:59 p.m.)

#4 Sprawl was my wire-to-wire pick in the May 29 Blame S., but he was cut off and severely compromised at the break. He recovered from the bad start to miss by only a neck, and with a favorable pace scenario projected in the Foster, the four-year-old looks like the one to catch with Brian Hernandez.

His form has improved this season since switching to Tommy Drury, and I will tab Sprawl for a frontrunning upset.

#8 Maxfield raced close to the pace before drawing away to a 3 1/4-length victory in the April 30 Alysheba S. (G2), improving to 3-for-3 at Churchill, but did so at a 1 1/16-mile distance. The odds-on late runner stretches to 1 1/8 miles today, and while Maxfield may still prove too good for this competition, he did sustain his lone defeat in only start beyond 8 1/2 furlongs, checking in third in the Santa Anita H. (G1).

Tepin S. – Race 12 (6:27 p.m.)

The finale, a mile turf affair for three-year-old fillies, is arguably the most contentious race in the sequence. #13 Arm Candy will need to work out a trip from her outside post, but she’s run well in her last two efforts and rates a slight edge for Asmussen at 12-1 on the morning line.

#1 Invincible Gal, #5 Navratilova, #7 Adventuring, #8 Tobys Heart, and #9 Malloy will be added to the ticket.

20-cent Derby City 6 Ticket

• 5,6,7 with 1,3,5,8 with 4 with 3,7 with 4,8 with 1,5,7,8,9,13 = $57.60

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