Kentucky Downs: Gun Runner Stakes CoFeatured Wednesday

Gunrunner did his best running on dirt. On Wednesday the stake sharing his namesake will be run on the Kentucky Downs turf.

Handicapping Challenge

Kentucky Downs continues to be one of the greatest puzzles in horse racing. The racing is all turf over a non traditional configuration. Making things even more difficult is the undulation of the course. The uniqueness of the track can make for some head scratching results.

Players are wise not to be scared off by prices, but rather to embrace them.

Kentucky Downs- Race 1

Post: 12:25 PM CT; $150k Maiden Special Weight going 1 mile on turf; Entries: 16

• #4 WHAT'S TO DO (12-1) seems to fit well enough here. This one has races good enough to beat this group.
• #5 SHADY ROAD (3-1) is well bred for this spot. This one projects to sit mid pack and come with one run.
• #11 PORONUI (10-1) runs evenly and looks to get a very fair pace scenario here.
• #14 SUNROOF (6-1) has races that fit with these runners.

Selections: 4 – 5 – 11- 14

Kentucky Downs- Race 2

Post: 12:58 PM CT; $150k Maiden Special Weight going 1 mile on turf; Entries: 15

• #2 DECANTED (2-1) should improve off the first start and goes out for the combination of Maker and Ortiz.
• #10 MABUHAY (12-1) goes out for the Eric Reed barn and gets Bejarano in the irons.
• #6 OSCAR AWARD (6-1) is likely to have gained fitness from the debut.
• #11 BALLESTEROS (20-1) has a solid foundation underneath him. The runs have left something to be desired, but he should have the fitness.

Selections: 2 – 10- 6 – 11

Kentucky Downs- Race 3

Post: 1:31 PM CT; $170k Allowance Optional Claiming going 7 furlongs on turf; Entries: 15

• #14 KEPT WAITING (6-1) has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #12 CHAMPAGNE IVY (10-1) comes into the race in really good form.
• #6 LASHARA (2-1) has to be respected going out for the combination of Maker and Ortiz.
• #3 SARA MIA (9-2) will be rolling late and has a good closing kick that could get the job done here.

Selections: 14- 12- 6 – 3

Kentucky Downs- Race 4

Post: 2:05 PM CT; $150k Maiden Special Weight going 6 1/2 furlongs on turf; Entries: 16

• #3 LA CREMA (12-1) is a price horse and appears to be a major player in this race. She has races good enough to beat this group.
• #11 AMERICAN APPLE (12-1) has the pedigree to be a major player in this spot and has run against solid company.
• #1 JUST SAY SO (9-2) should take a step forward off a good debut.
• #4 FAME STREET (4-1) could be rolling late and has a good closing kick that could get the job done here.

Selections: 3 – 11- 1 – 4

Kentucky Downs- Race 5

Post: 2:39 PM CT; $180k Handicap going 1 mile on turf; Entries: 13

• #1 KING CAUSE (6-1) should be sitting in the second tier of runners and looking to make one well timed run at the leaders.
• #8 DUKE OF HAZZARD (10-1) seems to fit well enough here and could get the right setup in this race.
• #9 FIELD PASS (5-2) makes sense on speed figures for the combination of Maker and Ortiz.
• #6 ACCREDIT (8-1) has the top overall power rating in the group.

Selections: 1 – 8 – 9 – 6

Kentucky Downs- Race 6

Post: 3:13 PM CT; $160k Allowance going 6 1/2 furlongs on turf; Entries: 16

• #16 POLICY OPTION (5-1) has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #1 SOSUA SUMMER (7-2) comes into the race in really good form. This one has races good enough to beat this group.
• #4 TOO MANY TWIZZLERS (4-1) goes out for the Delacour barn and gets Ortiz in the irons.
• #15 AXTHELM (5-1) is trained by Saffie Joseph barn and gets Edgar Zayas in the irons.

Selections: 16- 1 – 4 – 15

Kentucky Downs- Race 7

Post: 3:48 PM CT; $150k Maiden Special Weight going 6 1/2 furlongs on turf; Entries: 14

• #12 POINT WELL TAKEN (7-5) gets the top selection. She has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #2 CAUSE CELEBRE (12-1) will likely have a lot to do in the lane, but could get up with a competitive run.
• #4 ROSALITA (6-1) projects to sit mid pack and come with one run.
• #6 AMARYLLIS KISS (7-2) could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.

Selections: 12- 2 – 4 – 6

Kentucky Downs- Race 8

Post: 4:23 PM CT; $170k Allowance Optional Claiming going 6 1/2 furlongs on turf; Entries: 16

• #8 SHADOW SPHINX (6-1) will be rolling late and has a good closing kick that could get the job done here.
• #14 MAX K. O. (4-1) has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #3 TURN OF EVENTS (10-1) has run against some really good fields.
• #7 LYRICAL POET (6-1) has really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race.

Selections: 8 – 14- 3 – 7

Kentucky Downs- Race 9

Post: 4:57 PM CT; $500k Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile S. going 1 mile on turf; Entries: 10

• #2 REALLY GOOD (5-2) should improve off the first start and looks best here.
• #8 RECKONING FORCE (5-1) shouldn't have trouble with the 1 mile distance.
• #5 CASTLEKNOCK (9-2) has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #1 MAYFIELD STRONG (4-1) has run well at the mile before.

Selections: 2 – 8 – 5 – 1

Kentucky Downs- Race 10

Post: 5:31 PM CT; $400k Pepsi Gun Runner S. going 1 mile on turf; Entries: 14

• #6 FUERTEVENTURA (9-2) gets the top selection. He could get the right setup in this race.
• #11 WICKED FAST (15-1) is a price horse and has kept some good company of late.
• #8 ST ANTHONY (12-1) will be rolling late and has a good closing kick that could get the job done here.
• #2 DOWAGIAC CHIEF (20-1)should be part of the early pace in this spot.

Selections: 6 – 11- 8 – 2

Kentucky Downs- Race 11

Post: 6:05 PM CT; $400k Pepsi One Dreamer S. going 1 mile 70 yards on turf; Entries: 13

• #6 CURLY RUTH (12-1) will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late.
• #7 ALMS (7-2) has races good enough to beat this group.
• #2 BURNING AMBITION (6-1) makes sense on speed figures.
• #8 NAVRATILOVA (5-1) should be part of the early pace in this spot.

Selections: 6 – 7 – 2 – 8

Kentucky Downs- Race 12

Post: 6:39 PM CT; $150k Maiden Special Weight going 1 mile on turf; Entries: 16

• #4 LETTER OF GOLD (9-5) should improve off the first start and looks best here. She has races good enough to beat this group.
• #9 NAVY GOAT (6-1) has the pedigree to be a major player in this spot. This one could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.
• #10 REVENUE TRAIN (5-1) has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #7 MARMO MOON (12-1) is a price horse and is likely to outrun the odds.

Selections: 4 – 9 – 10- 7

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