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Scott Shapiro: Churchill Downs After Dark Spot Plays - Saturday, June 21, 2025

by Scott Shapiro

June 20, 2025

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.



Play: #2 Amor Patriae (6-1 ML)

Best of luck on the Downs After Dark card!