Stakes plays at Churchill Downs for April 29

Two competitive stakes races will highlight a strong 11-race card beneath the Twin Spires on Thursday.

Race 8 - Opening Verse S.

The one-mile turf affair attracted a well-matched field of nine, and the pace of the race will be swift and contested. #1 Gray’s Fable was a fine winner of the Appleton S. (G3) at Gulfstream Park in his 2021 debut, and I will come right back with the talented gelding.

The lightly raced six-year-old son of Gio Ponti led throughout in his sparkling tally, but the Kentucky-bred has won from off the pace in the past, and I expect him to get a fine trip tucked in behind dueling leaders early on. Roger Attfield-trained gray smoked a bullet five-eighths in his most recent breeze, and I like the addition of John Velazquez in the silks, too.

#2 Sayyaaf, #4 Logical Myth, and #5 Set Piece will be the contenders that I will use underneath my top pick.

Opening Verse Wagers

• $10 win and place #1 Gray’s Fable ($20)
• $2 trifecta key 1 with 2,4,5 ($12)

Race 10 - Unbridled Sidney S.

An overflow field of 13 fillies and mares will tussle in the 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint. The excellent wagering event features an accomplished cast of grassy dashers, and I will give the slight edge to course specialist #2 Change of Control for Michelle Lovell. The Fed Biz five-year-old is a sterling 3-for-3 on the Churchill green, and she showed her class with a late-running triumph in the Giant’s Causeway S. at Keeneland last time out.

The mare has run a pair of big ones since having the blinkers removed two prior, and her versatile running style makes her an attractive option with Colby Hernandez signed on. She should go postward at a fair price.

#1 Into Mystic is consistently very good and has been first or second in four races in succession for Walsh. Into Mischief mare will be hard to keep out of the top three in her local debut.

#4 Oleksandra might not be as reliable as she was in past seasons, but the classy Drysdale pupil is a major danger, nonetheless. Grade 1 heroine will be moving best of all late under Rosario.

For potential value, #5 Foxxy Belle has a lot of appeal to me. Maker trainee has been in fine form in 2021, and the six-year-old will be right there late with even minor improvement under Santana.

Unbridled Sidney Wager

• $6 exacta key box: 2 with 1,4,5 ($36)