Churchill Downs, Race 1 – Thursday, May 30, 2024
By The 2YO EdgeMan
CD1:053024 – 5 1/2f on the Dirt. The boys are set to get after it with eight colts and one gelding having been passed through the entry box. Five of these guys are firsters, two have started twice, one has been out on two previous occasions and the grizzled veteran has done battle three times already in this young season. Sires that I’ve highlighted include Honor Code, Tapit, Street Sense, Violence, Maclean’s Music, and West Coast. We’ve also got a First-Crop sire with one entry in this one – Game Winner. Looking at the list of trainers the following have caught my eye – Ennis, Asmussen, and Amoss. Additionally, California invader – Val Brinkerhoff – has two starters in this affair. This one has the makings of a dandy event as three of these fellas stand out to me, so let’s waste no more time and dive right in…
#2 – Predecessor (3/1) – The Morning Line favorite belongs to the King of the Babies at CD in the spring, Steve Asmussen. This dude’s dad is the powerful Tapit and mom hails from Pioneerof the Nile – she was two for 18 on the track with $45,000 in purse money and has one other foal of racing age, but she’s yet to compete. Today’s runner has never changed hands during a public auction and has done battle on one previous occasion, finishing fourth on the Churchill dirt, beaten by 7+ lengths. Steve vanned this colt to Turfway Park after his last race and put him to work three times in northern Kentucky – 4f, 4f, and 3f. Tyler gets the call to ride for the mighty Winchell owners.
#6 – I Got Game (5/1) – Freshman sire – Game Winner – is the stallion behind this colt whose Ohio-bred mama is by Flatter. She only found the Winner’s Circle on one occasion while a race mare from 11 tries ($69,000), but that one was in her second start in July of her 2YO campaign in a stakes race at JACK Thistledown. She’s thrown one other foal of racing age and that guy also won as a two-year-old – at SA in his fourth effort in December when he earned a lofty 88 EBSF. Today’s combatant was an RNA as a weanling when the tag was set at $85,000 back in 2022, but then did sell as a yearling last year for $130K (19/73). On the workout front, trainer Tom Amoss has drilled this guy seven times – the first four at Keeneland and the most recent three here at CD, for a total of 26 furlongs (including a 5/8th mile spin in his last when he went in 1:00.8 – 3/11). Edgar Morales will tickle the leather.
#7 – Politicallycorrect (5/1) – Christopher Davis will toss the saddle on this FTS Violence colt who comes to us from a winless Candy Ride mare. Mom has had three other foals of racing age, but nothing to call out. Initially, this guy was picked up for a meager $9,500 while still a yearling (51/53) – then the lucky owner pinhooked him back earlier this year in March down in Ocala as a 2YO when he sold for $195K (1/6). Turfway has been his home since at least the end of March where he’s worked nine times (36 total furlongs, including his last at 5f– 1:00.2 seconds – 2/15). Also, he earned a bullet in his penultimate drill – 4f in 47 seconds flat (1/26). Jose will be his reinsman.
Pick – #6 I Got Game – Amoss is 11 for 25 (44%) at Churchill in the spring over the previous five years in these races and has compiled a sparkling ROI of $6.95. But this pick is not just about Amoss – I like the fact that his mom won as a baby and his only half-sibling of racing age also scored while a two-year-old. Add the recent 5f work into the mix, along with 26 total furlongs of work and I land on this fella. Enjoy this race – it shapes up to be a terrific event. Also, keep checking back in at www.PastTheWire.com for my piece on Friday’s unrestricted affair for the juveys, right back here under the Twin Spires. Until then – be safe and kind, my Edgie Partners.
