Picks and bets for Sunday tournaments at Churchill Downs

Sunday’s 10-race card at Churchill Downs is the focus of two appealing tournaments on TwinSpires.com.

Both the $70 Churchill Downs Challenge and the $200 Churchill Downs Feeder to 11/17 Churchill Downs CBC Qualifier require players to bet their entire bankroll across at least five races at Churchill Downs. The Feeder tournament also requires betting a minimum of $10 in a race for it to count toward the five-race minimum.

Here are some bets we recommend playing:

Race 8 wager

• $20 to win on #5 Excite

One of the likeliest winners on the card appears to be #5 Excite (2-1) in Race 8, an $80,000 allowance optional claimer taking place over one mile on dirt. The three-year-old son of Speightstown out of multiple Grade 1 winner Elate has been steadily improving for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

During the spring, Excite dominated a Churchill Downs maiden special weight by 5 1/4 lengths. Two starts back, he finished third to budding star Disco Time in the St. Louis Derby. Most recently, he wired a Keeneland allowance by 2 1/2 lengths with a career-best 99 Brisnet Speed rating.

None of the other Race 8 entrants have earned a Brisnet Speed rating higher than 99, so if Excite continues his forward progression, he can snatch a second straight win. We suggest a $20 win bet on Excite, but feel free to vary the amount depending upon how your bankroll is holding up.

Race 10 wagers

• $14 to win on #8 Wall Street
• $6 Exacta: 8 with 6
  Total: $20

#8 Wall Street (5-2) looks like a threat to win on debut for hot trainer Brad Cox, a 25% winner at Churchill Downs this meet and a 24% winner with horses debuting in maiden special weights.

A son of perennial leading sire Into Mischief (who sires an excellent 15% winners from first-time starters), Wall Street is a full brother to the multiple Grade 1-winning sprinter Patch Adams, who broke his maiden at Churchill Downs as a juvenile.

Wall Street has put together a promising work tab highlighted by a fast half-mile in :47 1/5 at Churchill Downs. He’s slated to be ridden by five-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. and is a logical choice to conquer second-time starter #6 Mumdoggie (4-1), who exits a third-place debut in a quick six-furlong maiden special weight at Churchill.

Good luck!