2019 Kentucky Downs Opening Day Picks and Analysis

Kentucky Downs is back! The RUNHAPPY Meet at Kentucky Downs begins today, August 31, 2019, and continues September 5th, 7th, 8th and 12th with 10 turf races each day. First post is 12:15 PM CST. This is one of our favorite meets of the entire year and are ready to CRUSH!

There will be $11.5 million offered for the five days, exceeding $2.3 million in daily average that is the highest in the world outside of Japan. Fourteen stakes ranging from $250,000 to $1 million and including five graded stakes. Four starter-allowance races carrying $100,000 pots whose winners get an automatic berth in the Claiming Crown. Purse money does not include the $750 paid to every starter who finishes sixth through last in non-stakes races.

Take a look at today’s four stakes races at Kentucky Downs with picks:

Race 7: $250,000 One Dreamer Stakes – Fillies & mares that haven’t won a stakes in 2019,  1 mile and 70 yards

The Brad Cox-trained Limari won four straight races before finishing a good third in stakes in her last two starts, including narrowly losing Churchill Downs’ Grade 3 Mint Julep. Half of the 10-horse field comes out of the $100,000 KentuckyDowns Preview Ladies Turf, headed by runner-up Classy Act, third-place Smart Emma and Stave, who went off the tepid favorite in a fifth-place finish.

TOP PICK: #9 Limari (5/2)

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Race 8: $750,000 Tourist Mile Stakes – 3-year-olds & up, one mile

Next Shares, winner of last year’s restricted Old Friends Stakes at Kentucky Downs, returns to the track that propelled him to victory in his next start in Keeneland’s Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile. Trainer Richard Baltas won two stakes last year in his first appearance at Kentucky Downs. It’s Next Shares’ first start since finishing off the board in Churchill Downs’ Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic on Kentucky Derby Day.

TOP PICK: #9 Mr Cub (8/1)

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Race 9: $500,000 Exacta Systems Juvenile Fillies Stakes – 2-year-old fillies, one mile

Monedas de Oro comes back two weeks after finishing second at 60-1 odds in the TwinSpires Ellis Park Debutante. Mark Casse sends out Saratoga maiden winner Fly So Pretty and Ellis debut winner Battleofwinterfell.

TOP PICK: #7 Jezebel’s Kitten (9/2)

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Race 10: $500,000 Gainsway Farm Juvenile Stakes – 2 year olds, one mile

Mike Maker will try to win the Juvenile for the second straight year, saddling Saratoga debut winner Are You Kitten Me. Maker won last year with Henley’s Joy, who this summer captured New York’s Grade 1 Belmont Derby. 

TOP PICK: #12 Peace Achieved (6/1)

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