The first week of the compact September meeting at Churchill Downs concludes with a 10-race card that kicks off at the normal 12:45 eastern start time. Here are a few horses I will build my Sunday Funday around in Louisville. Hopefully deuces are wild under the twin spires this afternoon!

Race 4:

My best bet of the day comes in this two-turn MSW for 2YOs over the main track where #2 Instant Impact makes his third lifetime start for trainer Kenny McPeek. The Upstart colt debuted in a race washed off the grass at Saratoga going 7-furlongs in July where he tired late to finish fourth, but bounced back with a big effort in start #2. The $200,000 FTS August 2024 purchase was no match for the winner at Ellis Park that day in late August over their unique one-mile configuration at the Pea Patch, but finished very nicely over a dead inside that afternoon to earn second. The added ground and the racing experience should lead to a career best effort for the second choice on the morning line in a race that kicks off the middle Pick 4.

Play: #2 Instant Impact (7-2 ML)


Race 7:

I do not trust the favorites in this MSW event for fillies and mares at 6-furlongs, so I will take a swing with #2 Mo Complex. The Choctaw Racing Stable filly got off to a solid start to her career last August at Monmouth Park with a third-place finish for a barn that rarely has their runners fully cranked at first asking. Unfortunately, we did not see the daughter of Complexity again until nearly a year later at Ellis Park when she got out of the gate slow and never got into the race from there. She will certainly have to run a lot better than she did that day in Henderson last month, but trainer Lindsay Schultz sports a positive ROI over her career with runners making their second start off the bench. An improved effort is definitely expected. Hopefully it is good enough to earn the victory.

Play: #2 Mo Complex (12-1 ML)


Race 8:

The pace is unlikely to be chaotic in this second-level allowance over the main track, but it should be honest given the presence of #4 Big Boat and #5 Guns Loaded. #1 Gettinby could even be a pace player. I am hoping this sets things up for #2 Perfect Force. The Gun Runner colt moved into the Steve Asmussen barn after the passing of the great D. Wayne Lukas. Asmussen spotted him more realistically last out in an allowance at Ellis Park after a trio of stakes tries this spring under the handling of the Coach. Perfect Force finished a modest third of six in his return race at the Pea Patch losing to a David Jacobson runner that earned a 96 Beyer and has won 4 of his last 7 tries. Hopefully, North America’s all-time leading trainer can get this colt back to his best efforts this winter in Arkansas. If so, he stands a big shot to spring the upset.

Play: #2 Perfect Force (8-1 ML)