Pick 3 of the Week: Churchill Downs Sunday

Churchill Downs will host an 11-race card consisting solely of juvenile runners on the opening day of the meeting on Sunday.

Race 2 – Optional Claiming

A field of seven will travel a one-turn mile in the first leg, and I am going to kick things off with a single. The Steve Asmussen-trained #6 Soldier N Diplomat brought $950,000 at OBS in March and made good at first asking when hanging on in a dash at Saratoga on July 26. The Army Mule colt led to the turn for home in the subsequent Hopeful S. (G1) before being dusted by the imposing Ted Noffey, but he faces a much more reasonable task on this occasion. Kentucky-bred shows five solid morning drills in advance of this and will love the one-turn mile beneath Tyler Gaffalione. 

Race 3 – Maiden Special Weight

The boys will travel one mile on the turf in a race that attracted an overflow cast of 16. I often lean towards first-time starters from strong barns on days like this, as I feel that they like to unveil their talented runners on opening day, and I will do so again in this tilt. #1 Hamunaptra, #4 Ryu, #8 Prepped, #9 Go For Rocket, #10 Moluccan, and #11 Mucafaa will be the ones that will be on the ticket. 

Race 4 – Maiden Special Weight

The closing piece of the sequence will see two-year-old fillies dash six panels on the dirt. I will employ basically the same theory I utilized in the prior leg, with the one exception being second timer, #4 My Glenda Faye, for Dallas Stewart. The Gun Runner chestnut exits a race that I feel might be a key one down the road, and she showed promise in the dash. 

I’ll also include Wesley Ward’s #1 Kilby Girl, Juddmonte homebred #2 Intangible, the Larry Rivelli-trained #7 Quick Kiss, and Godolphin homebred #12 Masala, as I expect one or more of these youngsters to come running out of the gate in the heat. 

Race 2 Wager

$1 Pick 3: 6 with 1,4,8,9,10,11 with 1,2,4,7,12 ($30)