Papa Dudes Free Picks for Churchill Downs 6/26/21

We have arrived on the final Saturday of racing at Churchill for the 2021 Spring-Summer meet. Time is flying by for sure. I’m going to try my hand at betting on a budget again and see if we can make a few bucks on today’s 12-race card. And, as usual we will take a shot at the NBA playoff game as well.

Race 1: Maiden

My Picks: 10,1,6 This race is wide open and I don’t want to start my day with a loss.

No Bet

Race 2: Maiden

My Picks: 1,8,9 This is race that features 12 horses with 10 of them starting for the first time. I kind of like #1 Gunite who has a 2nd and a 3rd in two starts but not enough to spend any money with so many other better options later in the card.

No Bet

Race 3: Claiming

My Picks: 5,2,11 I’m going with a long shot at 8-1 in this one selecting #5 Señor Jobim trained by Steve Asmussen. In his 3 races this year he has 2 wins including last time out here at Churchill. Not quite sure why he is 8-1 and we probably won’t get it but he is worth a small wager.

The Bet: $5 to Win on #5

Race 4: Allowance

My Picks: 7,2,4 This is another very competitive race that a lot of horses have a shot at winning. I think #7 Moliere is worth a wager if you feel like it but I’m going to hold back.

No Bet

Race 5: Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2)

My Picks: 6,4,3 This 6-horse field features one of my favorites in #6 Letruska. She is definitely one of the hottest horses in racing winning 3 of her 4 races this year and losing by a head in the other one. She has won 14 of 19 lifetime starts. So, she has all the qualities you want in a race horse. However, there is one problem. She will probably go off at 1-5 and there will be very little money to be made. You can always try to beat her, and some people will, but I’ve always thought it was kind of dumb to pick against who you think, and more importantly, want to win. It kind of takes the fun out of it. I’m not going to bet a whole bunch on her because there is always the risk she might lose but it is always good for the psyche to get one right and win.

The Bet: $20 to Win on #6

The Bet: .50 cent Pick 3: 6 / 6,3,1,2 / 7,5,1 $6 Wager

Race 6: Allowance

My Picks: 6,3,1 I’m going with #6 Kinetic Sky as my selection in this one.

The Bet: $5 to Win on #6

Race 7: War Chant Stakes

My Picks: 7,5,1 Mark Casse trains #7 Helium in this 150K race, who is trying the turf for the first time. He won the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) earlier this year, finished a respectable 8th in the Kentucky Derby (G1), and came back with a 3rd place showing in the Matt Winn Stakes (G3). He is cutting back to a mile which should suit his early speed and closing style, while we’ve see him run well on a synthetic surface, which means it’s probable that he’ll like the turf.

The Bet $10 to Win on #7

Race 8: Debutante Stakes

My Picks: 7,3,2 Again, this is a very difficult race with horses that all have accomplished pretty much the same thing. Not much to separate one from the other.

No Bet

Race 9: Bashford Manor Stakes

My Picks: 1,4,9 Pretty much the same as Race 8.

No Bet

Race 10: Wise Dan Stakes (G2)

My Picks: 1,3,6 I like #1 Set Piece and #3 Somelikeithotbrown the best in this turf race for older horses. It is a battle of early speed against a great closer. I would bet an exacta but they are the favorites so there is little money to be made.

No Bet

Race 11: Stephen Foster Stakes (G2)

My Picks: 8,9,5 Brendan Walsh trains #8 Maxfield in the Stephen Foster and he looks to be the logical choice. He has won 6 out of 7 starts and there isn’t a likely winner in the field other than him. As in Race 5, there isn’t much money to be made here but I like to pick winners.

The Bet: $20 to Win on #8

Race 12: Tepin Stakes

My Picks: 7,6,3

No Bet

Papa Dudes Sports Play of the Day

Phoenix at LA Clippers

The Suns come in as a 1-point favorite in this too-close-too-call series. The Clippers bounced back with a solid win in Game 3 as they have done throughout the playoffs and are proving their toughness time and time again. Phoenix shot poorly last time out and I don’t think they will repeat that in Game 4. Chris Paul looked a little rusty coming out of Covid protocol and he should play better and hopefully make the difference.

The Pick: Phoenix -1

So there you have it for this Saturday. I’m not sure where my next assignment will be but I’m almost ready to announce something new and exciting coming to this website and I’m thrilled to be a part of it. It’s going to be fun.

Good luck everyone and enjoy the weekend!