Picks and plays for Saturday tournaments at Churchill Downs

If you’re on a roll betting Preakness Day and want to keep the action going in the evening, be sure to check out the Saturday evening card at Churchill Downs.

The 10-race card gets underway at 6:00 p.m. ET, about an hour before the Preakness. But seven of the races are taking place after the Preakness.

Churchill’s Saturday card is the focus of a quartet of TwinSpires tournaments:

• The $54 Churchill Downs Bet and Set Feeder to 5/24 Churchill Downs SFBC Qualifier requires placing $2 win/place wagers in all 10 races.
• The $40 Churchill Downs Challenge requires betting a $25 bankroll across at least five races.
• The $100 Churchill Downs Challenge calls for betting a $60 bankroll across at least five races.
• The $240 Churchill Downs Bonus Feeder to 5/17 Churchill Downs SFBC Qualifier requires betting a $120 bankroll across at least five races, with a minimum of $12 in a given race for it to count as one of the five races.

The four tournaments offer a variety of rewards for the top finishers, such as cash prizes and entries into future TwinSpires tournaments.

Here are a few plays to consider across the card:

Race 4: $125,000 Allowance Optional Claiming (1 1/16 miles on turf, 7:26 p.m. ET)

#3 Dr. Agne (7-2) competed well against stakes competition last year, running fourth in the With Anticipation (G3), Bourbon (G2), and Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance S. He’s adding Lasix (a 23% winning move for trainer Cherie DeVaux) and dropping in class for his three-year-old debut, setting the stage for a strong showing.

We recommend placing a win bet on Dr. Agne

Race 8: Louisville (G3, 1 1/2 miles on turf, 9:39 p.m. ET)

Last year’s Blue Grass (G1) winner #3 Burnham Square (2-5) ran out of his skin when trying 1 1/2 miles for the first time in the April 18 Elkhorn (G2) at Keeneland, sweeping from off the pace to dominate by 9 3/4 lengths. Any sort of similar performance in the Louisville should send Burnham Square right back to the winner’s circle.

We suggest betting Burnham Square over #2 Echo Lane (4-1) in an exacta. The latter exits top-three finishes in the Mac Diarmida (G2) and Pan American (G3), the latter over 1 1/2 miles.

Race 10: $50,000 Starter Allowance (1 1/16 miles on dirt, 10:42 p.m. ET)

#9 McAfee (7-5) showed ability against graded stakes competition last year, recording third-place finishes in the Peter Pan (G3), Ohio Derby (G3), and West Virginia Derby (G3). Now under the care of trainer George Weaver (who wins at a 22% rate with horses returning from layoffs of 90 days or more), McAffee is a strong threat to win his four-year-old debut.

We recommend betting McAffe over #8 Big Gain (3-1) in an exacta. Big Gain has put together a strong series of Brisnet Speed ratings since being claimed by trainer Norm Casse, including a career-best 98 when second in a $12,500 starter allowance at Keeneland last month. His form is trending in the right direction, and he looks like a good fit for this spot.

Good luck!