Churchill Downs has their final Downs After Dark card of the spring this Saturday instead of racing in their normal afternoon slot. That means a 6PM eastern start time in Louisville for an 11-race card headlined by a strong edition of the Chicago (G2). The Chicago goes as Race 9 and starts after 10PM local time, so I will need a daytime nap, but it should be well worth it. Here are a few horses I will lean on throughout the evening.

Race 1::

The card kicks off with a competitive second-level allowance event over the Churchill Downs sod where the two morning line favorites both exit a similar spot on May 26. #2 Vive Veuve put in a solid late run to earn second while #6 Mo Fox Givin was an underwhelming fourth as my top choice. Both fit fine, but are tough to get excited about at their likely off odds.
#1 Proctor Street should offer better value. The Patricia Mosley homebred is out of a Ghostzapper mare that was the first stakes winner I ever touted on a simulcast feed, Proctor’s Ledge. Proctor’s Ledge was represented by the same connections and won 5 of 18 over her career, including a trio of graded stakes events. I doubt her daughter is as talented as her, but she has not done much wrong thus far, draws favorably along the inside, and could have a pace advantage with Ben Curtis aboard. The Street Sense filly is in with a big shot if she is ready to fire fresh. I will take my chances at her morning line offering.

Play: #1 Proctor Street (8-1 ML)

Race 9: Chicago (G2):

The Saturday evening feature is for fillies and mares at 7-furlongs over the main track and came up about as salty as one could expect. I prefer 5-2-ML favorite #1 Emery to 3-1-second choice #5 Vahva even though the pace should be contentious and Emery is down on the rail, but neither will get my money. Instead, I will hope for a fast pace and #11 Zeitlos to take advantage. The Curlin mare has quietly won 9 of 18 over her career, including 4 of 6 under the twin spires. The Steve Asmussen trainee had a perfect comeback race in the Skipat at Pimlico in mid-May and attracts the services of Flavien Prat. A career best performance is not out of the question.

Play: #11 Zeitlos (8-1 ML)

Race 10:

Guess what? I am willing to take on the morning line favorites once again in this first-level allowance for 3YOs at the tricky 6.5-furlong distance.#8 Invictus is bred to be a star, but was flat at 1-2-odds in the Sir Barton on the Preakness Day undercard. His lone win came against a soft group at Keeneland, but the Brad Cox trainee is likely to get over bet once again with Prat back aboard for these high- profile connections. Invictus beat #11 Camp Hale in that maiden score in early April. Camp Hale has always been highly regarded, but struggled to seal the deal until besting a soft group on May 18. The light bulb may have come on, but at 7-2 he will have to prove it to me.
I like #2 Amor Patriae most. The Munnings colt has been a better horse since trainer Jimmy DiVito cut him back to one-turn in early May. He had a troubled voyage over the off going on May 2 in Arkansas, but ran huge to lose by just a neck to heavy favorite Furio three weeks later. He should get a favorable ground saving voyage under jockey Edgar Morales.

Best of luck on the Downs After Dark card!