How to bet the Bourbon Flight Stakes

A field of eight sophomores will travel 1 3/16 miles on the main surface at Churchill Downs in Saturday’s $300,000 Bourbon Flight S. Recent West Virginia Derby (G3) winner #5 Chunk of Gold (8-5) is the one to beat for conditioner Ethan West, and it’s hard for me to dismiss the talented son of Preservationist. 

Bourbon Flight Wagers

• $5 exacta key box 5 with 2,3,7 ($30)
• $2 trifecta key 5 with 2,3,7 ($12)
• $1 trifecta 2,3,7 with 5 with 2,3,7 ($6)

The colt finished second in both the Risen Star S. (G2) and Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds earlier this season, and following an unplaced try in the Run for the Roses in May, he has returned with a pair of big runs in succession. The bargain $2,500 yearling purchase was equipped with blinkers for the initial time at Mountaineer most recently and led throughout in a fairly dominant performance. 

Chunk of Gold comes in fresh and zipped a pair of bullet morning moves in preparation for his second run beneath the Twin Spires. I feel that he will handle the distance with relative ease with Jareth Loveberry in the irons. 

I will use a trio of runners with the favorite, including Bill Mott’s #3 Excite (5-1). The Speightstown colt couldn’t break through in three runs on the lawn to begin his career, but the sophomore has improved with the move to the dirt and comes off a pair of nice local runs as of late. The homebred was runner-up behind a nice prospect last time out and gives the impression of a three-year-old who will thrive with the added distance beneath Junior Alvarado. 

West Virginia Derby third #2 Brotha Keny (6-1) has been in good form since April, since getting back on the main strip, and wouldn’t be a surprise to me. Trained by Bill Morey, the Mo Town gelding gets a good draw to save ground to the top of the lane with Jose Ortiz in the irons. 

Second choice #7 Admiral Dennis (2-1) scored in the Delaware Derby two back, which preceded a third-place result in the Ellis Park Derby last time out. The Constitution colt is capable of a big run on his best day and will be in the thick of it late under the guidance of Luan Machado.