Ricky’s Rockets ?: Churchill Downs Picks for May 28, 2020

Last weekend was fantastic for horse racing fans and for Ricky’s Rockets. My FREE ticket cashed on the Early Pick 5 with an $84 ticket paying $793.25! We just missed on another massive score on Memorial Day, but we remain in the black through the meet. Thursday’s card should be a lot of fun, especially with one major player toward the back-end of the ticket.

Best of luck!

Race 1: Claiming $50,000 for 3-year-olds and upward going 1 1/16 miles (8 1/2 furlongs) on the dirt. Purse $41,000 

#2 Hail to the Chief takes a major drop in class after running against allowance and non-graded stakes foes at Turfway Park. His connections felt strongly enough about his talent to make him a Triple Crown nominee, but his record finds him in his first claiming event, where he belongs. #3 Comedian has finished fifth on two straight occasions in 2020, both at Oaklawn Park. His last race came against a strong field, including Everfast, who ran second in the 2019 Preakness Stakes (G1) and in last weekend’s Blame Stakes. #6 And Seek, another class dropper is one of the few front-runners, which should give jockey Joe Talamo a great opportunity to settle going into the first turn. #8 Samaronti has not hit the board since breaking his maiden on January 25 at Fair Grounds. Trainer Brendan Walsh has had a nice start to the meet (20% win rate) and this 4-year-old Violent colt, once purchased for $725,000, drops into a winnable spot.

Race 2: Maiden Special Weight for 2-year-old fillies going 5 furlongs on the dirt. Purse $79,000

I never thought that trainer Mark Casse would still be looking for his first win this meet after seven race days. His 2-year-old filly #3 Beautiful Memories has looked incredibly sharp in the mornings, and her half-sister Beautiful Street won her career debut as a 2-year-old over this same course. The other filly that I put on the ticket is #11 Bossy Moment, who will try to win her debut just like her sire, Street Boss did in 2007 at Del Mar. Trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr., have won 20% of 936 mounts together.

Race 3: Claiming $10,000 for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and upward going 1 1/16 miles (8 1/2 furlongs) on the dirt. Purse $25,000

It took #4 Quiet Dawn 12 starts to win her first race, but she finally got the job done last time out. It says a lot about this field that she is the 5/2 second choice on the morning line. Like Quiet Dawn, #7 China Cat is coming off her first career victory, which she achieved at this distance in her first two-turn attempt. She will try to give trainer Randy Morse his first win at the meet.

Race 4: Maiden Claiming $10,000 for 4-year-olds and upward going 1 1/16 miles (8 1/2 furlongs) on the dirt. Purse $24,000

I couldn’t make strong cases for anyone in this group, so I decided to take a bunch of them. If forced to pick one out, #12 Mr. Unusual makes sense because he’s run the best race out of this group, Oaklawn Park runners have fared well at this meet so far, and jockey Joel Rosario and trainer John Sadler are 31% together. Other runners: #5 Pharoah’s Kitten, #6 Rayo de Luz, #7 Herbies Toys, #8 Gambit, #13 Unimaginable U

Race 5: Starter Optional Claiming $10,000 for fillies and mares 4-year-olds and upward going 1 mile (8 furlongs) on the dirt. Purse $26,000

#1 Heavens Whisper is the clear standout in this field. Before losing to Break Even (entered in Saturday’s Winning Colors Stakes [G3]), she won with ease at the $50,000 starter allowance level on a wet fast Oaklawn Park track. The only thing slightly concerning is the precipitous drop after beating much better, but she runs protected and should win for fun.  

THE TICKET

$.50 PICK 5 (Races 1-5) 2,3,6,8 / 3,11 / 4,7 / 5,6,7,8,12,13 / 1 – $48