Wednesday wagers: Key Song of Norway at Kentucky Downs
Wednesday is the seventh and final day of the lucrative all-turf meeting at Kentucky Downs, and juveniles are in the spotlight. There are five races for 2-year-olds on the slate, including the Juvenile Sprint and the Untapable Stakes. I’ll provide picks for both stakes below, as well as a trio of other races on the program.
Best bet: Song of Norway (race 9)
Best value bet: Voodoo Zip (race 3)
Race 3
No. 12 Voodoo Zip (12-1) may have lost a step at age 6 but is still running speed figures good enough to win a race like this. He drops into an appropriate spot for Christophe Clement, who names first-call rider Joel Rosario. No. 1 Outadore (9-5, morning-line favorite) boasts a 5: 3-0-2 record on turf and tries a new low. But his last-out effort was far from encouraging, and Wesley Ward has been ice cold at the meet (11: 0-2-1). No. 2 Tilted Towers (7-2) could be heard from late if he runs back to his last-out victory but is far from the most consistent runner in the group.
How I’d bet it (based on a $100 budget): $10 win 12, $3 exacta box 1/12
Race 4
No. 9 Judge Davis (8-1) appeared best in his turf debut at Monmouth but was shut off at the rail and finished off the board. That worse-than-it-looks effort could result in this runner becoming an overlay. No. 10 Western Command (6-1) set a blistering pace in his turf bow and held for second at boxcar odds. He could have company up front but may outrun his odds once more. No. 2 Mendel’s Secret (12-1) intrigues off the bench for Mike Maker (18 percent with layoffs of 180+ days) and might just need a clean start under new pilot Irad Ortiz Jr. to relish the cutback to the fullest.
How I’d bet it: $3 exacta box 2/9/10, $6 win 9, $2 win 2
Race 5
No. 4 Floribunda (8-1) flashes solid turf works ahead of her debut for Todd Pletcher, who’s sent some live runners to Franklin, Ky., despite the lack of wins (15: 1-3-3). The daughter of Mendelssohn cost $310,000 at auction and lures Jose Ortiz. No. 6 Sistina Chapel (5-2, morning-line favorite) rallied smartly to just miss graduating by a nose at first asking at Ellis Park – logical alternative. No. 9 Tonalite (8-1) was comfortably behind Sistina Chapel in fourth in that same heat at Ellis but has trained forwardly since and could show major improvement.
How I’d bet it: $3 exacta box 4/6/9, $4 win 4
Race 8
No. 5 Good Lord Lorrie (2-1, morning-line favorite) earned a sharp speed figure in his debut despite stumbling at the start – the one to beat. No. 7 Hedwig (5-2) won with something left in the tank on debut, hard to leave out of the win discussion. No. 1 Please Advise (15-1) enjoyed a clean trip in a well-rated score at first asking but hasn’t had much racing luck since – don’t dismiss.
How I’d bet it: $5 exacta box 5/7, $2 exacta 5,7/1, $2 win 1
Race 9
No. 7 Song of Norway (4-1) outsprinted a maiden group to the lead at Ellis and drew off impressively in her first career try – sky is the limit as John Velazquez sees fit to take the reins off some solid morning works for Ward. No. 6 Hidden Class (7-2, morning-line favorite) and No. 1 Candi Girl (6-1) were both open-length winners in their second outings, but both wheel back on short notice. The edge for place goes to the former, who won over this course on Aug. 31.
How I’d bet it: $20 win 7
Robert Criscola is a free-lance handicapper based in New York.
