The first Saturday of the September meet at Churchill Downs features five stake races, a pair of competitive MSW events over the main track, and the first points race on the Kentucky Derby 152 leaderboard. The 11-race card kicks off at 12:45 pm ET and as always features a plethora of horizontal wagering opportunities for those interested. Here are a few horses I plan to build my wagering around on in Louisville on Saturday the 13th.


Race 5:

2-1-ML favorite #2 Lit Ship is almost certain to scratch having run at Kentucky Downs on Wednesday, but this MSW event for 2YO gals still looks loaded with several big-name barns debuting well-bred fillies. I am hopeful #5 Bonne Sante gets a bit lost in the shuffle in the wagering. The OXO Equine homebred is the first foal out of a Jimmy Creed mare that is a half-sister to 2019 Alcibiades (G1) winner British Idiom. The Instilled Regard filly comes in off a strong series of local drills for trainer Will Walden. Walden has continued to win races in bunches in 2025 and has proven capable with 2YO first-timers sprinting over the main track evidenced by his 3 for 14-record with a $2.82 ROI over the last 5 years. The fact Luis Saez sees fit to ride only adds to her case.

Play: #5 Bonne Sante (12-1 ML)


Race 7: Locust Grove (G2)

#3 Royal Spa and #2 Alpine Princess are listed as the top two choices respectively in this Grade 2 affair for fillies and mares at 8.5-furlongs, but neither two excite me from a wagering perspective. Royal Spa was very good in the Shawnee (G3) in late May over this surface and distance, but has regressed since then. The Violence mare underwhelmed in a trip to Southern California and could be going the wrong way as the 8-5-ML choice. Alpine Princess took advantage of a big inside speed favoring racetrack at Horseshoe Indianapolis two-back, but otherwise has been more of a money burner than anything else throughout her 15-race career.

I prefer the filly that finished second to Alpine on that early July afternoon in Indiana #6 Our Pretty Woman. The Courtlandt Farms runner has only raced three times this year after a strong 3YO campaign for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, but it was good to see her bounce back last out after two poor runs to kick off her 2025 campaign. Asmussen is as good as it gets at knowing when to give his horses time and this filly comes in fresh after a career best effort when chasing Alpine Princess over the wrong part of the racetrack. I like her chances to get the job done as the likely third choice in this year’s Locust Grove.

Play: #6 Our Pretty Woman (4-1 ML)


Race 10: Louisville Thoroughbred Society

The most competitive stakes race on the card is probably this 6-furlong dash over the main track. The $300k event marks the return of 2024 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) runner-up #3 Bentornato. The Jose D’Angelo trainee had been training at Saratoga, but did not race in upstate New York. If he runs back to his performance at Del Mar 10.5 months ago, he will be tough to beat, but that is a big if. One would expect him to use this race off nearly a year break as a tightener. I will try to beat him with Churchill Downs specialist #5 Nash. The Godolphin colt rattled off a pair of big efforts against slightly lesser company in Louisville before being pinched back at the start costing him any real shot against a serious group in the Vanderbilt (G2). The son of Medaglia d’Oro should get an honest pace to run at with Luan Machado back aboard after not being in the saddle at the Spa in mid-July. Hopefully we get close to the ML offering.

Play: #5 Nash (6-1 ML) *pictured*