Churchill Downs & Parx Racing Picks: Dogwood Stakes, Bourbon Flight, Cotillion & Pennsylvania Derby
Churchill Downs Race 9 Dogwood Stakes Grade 3
4 Ragtime was a neck away from being unbeaten in three Career starts. Filly was last seen finishing a fast closing second beaten by just a neck in the Grade 1 Test at the Spa. This lightly raced daughter of Union Rags has a tremendous late turn of foot with her late pace numbers in the triple digits in all her starts to date. I love this upcoming superstar today. Win Contender
1 Echo Sound is a multiple graded Stakes winner who disappointed last out in the G1 Test, finishing 6th as the big favorite. Maybe her connections brought this gal back too soon after running a career best when winning the G3 Victory Ride while running a career top. I do like the spacing between races this time and the strong work tab suggests we see her best effort today. Win Contender
8 Mega Mil steps up the class ladder after running a career top versus much softer competition. Filly is yet to run a bad race on her short resume, winning 2 of 3 lifetime starts. This is a huge step up in class and this Filly will have to move forward to be competitive today. I believe she just might be up to the task. Don’t Ignore
Selections 4-1-8-7
Churchill Downs Race 10 Bourbon Flight Stakes
2 Brotha Keny has outrun his odds in his last 2 Graded Stakes races, a third-place finish last out in the West Virginia Derby last out and another third in the Indiana Derby two races back. This Gelding is on the improve and has looked sharp in his morning works which have been dotted with bullets. Add the rider change to Jose’ Ortiz and we have recipe for an upset today. Win Contender
5 Chunk of Gold has a class edge versus his competition and has been working lights out. Colt usually comes from off the pace but in his West Virginia Derby victory he was sent to the lead and never looked back. With the lack of want-the-lead types signed on today look for Jockey Jareth Loveberry to send this Colt early once again. Win Contender
6 Whiskey Shot hasn’t seen race day in over 10 months but has been training up well for his return. This lightly raced Gun Runner Colt was moving in the right direction before being sidelined. Colt broke Maiden here at Churchill while raising his speed in each consecutive start. Trainer Rodolphe Brisset must like what he see’s in this 175k purchase to enter him in this talented field off an extended layoff. Live Longshot
Selections 2-5-6-7
Parx Racing Race 13 Cotillion Stakes Grade 1
7 Good Cheer is perfect 5-5 at this distance and a Grade 1 winner. Look for last year’s Juvenile Filly champ to get back to her winning ways today. Win Contender
2 La Cara is front running Filly who exits 4 straight Grade 1’s, winning two of the four in gate-to-wire fashion. If they let this gal get a comfortable lead early, it could lights out for the rest of the field. Win Contender
1 Scottish Lassie looked like an absolute freak when winning the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks by 15 lengths versus a short field of 4. Any repeat of that effort would make this gal tough to beat. I just don’t see this one running back to that effort versus this field. Use Underneath
Selections 7-2-1-3
Parx Racing Race 14 Pennsylvania Derby Grade 1
9 Gosger was seen finishing second by just a half length to the very talented Journalism in the G1 Haskell. Colt has been no worse than second in 5 lifetime starts. He’s been training exceptionally well for his return and expect another fine run from this son of Nyquist. Win Contender
8 Baeza is another in here who has been taking on the best 3-year-olds in the Country. He hasn’t been able to get by Superstar 3-year-old Sovereignty in his last 3 starts but then again nobody has. Deserving Favorite
4 David of Athens was fast early and fast late when defeating a much weaker field than this last out, but I like what I see in this son of Nyquist. Nyquist siblings tend to move forward at quick rate and after his smashing Allowance victory by over 7-lengths, I can see another move forward today. Will it be enough to beat this talented field , probably not, but I believe this Colt can cash a paycheck today. Use Underneath