The racing in Maryland certainly takes center stage this weekend, but there is also very strong action throughout the country on Preakness Day. One of the better betting cards outside of Laurel Park is at Churchill Downs where they have a special “Downs After Dark” event. The racing begins at 6PM eastern and is headlined by the Louisville (G3), which goes as Race 8 and goes to post at 9:39 PM. Here are a few horses I like most on Saturday night in the Blue Grass.


Race 2:
My first play of the evening comes in this MSW event for the ladies where I will try second-time starter #4 Teatonic. Trainer Michael McCarthy debuted this Keeneland September 2024 purchase late last June in the first 6-furlong MSW affair of the year for 2YO fillies in Kentucky. The daughter of Yaupon chased a hot pace that day, finished a disappointing sixth, and has been on the sidelines since. McCarthy opts to bring her back in an easier spot than she encountered at first asking nearly 11 months ago. If she is ready to fire off the layoff, I am hopeful she gets the jump on and has enough left late to beat 9-5-ML favorite #11 Movie Night. Gerardo Corrales will take the call.

Play: #4 Teatonic (9-2 ML)


Race 4:
This first-level allowance at 1 1/16-miles over the Churchill Downs lawn is one of the better betting races on the card. I will key around #7 Chambersville. The Shortleaf Stable homebred was part of the string that Kenny McPeek took to Saratoga last summer and has made two starts as a 3YO. Both resulted in third-place efforts, including last out when he returned to the grass and put in a better than looks performance from off-the-pace. Jockey Jose Ortiz had the Twirling Candy colt last early off a two-month break before opting to make a four-wide middle move. This strategy was obviously not plan A from Ortiz, but the fact Chambersville was able to try to the wire still earning third at odds of 16-1 says a lot about his stamina. This should serve him well in this spot, especially if veteran Manny Esquivel can save ground early before coming with this guy’s run in the lane. If so, he has a big chance to earn career win number two.

Play: #7 Chambersville (5-1 ML)


Race 6:
My final spot play of the Downs After Dark card comes in this $141,000 allowance at two-turns over the sod where I like #4 In the Stars. The well-bred daughter of Into Mischief moves up in class after winning by a nose off the layoff at Keeneland on April 10. The arrow is pointing up on this Rusty Arnold trainee that ran better than looks in the Miss Revere (G2) in November and has proven twice she can finish well over this surface. Edgar Morales gets the leg up with Luis Saez in Maryland for the Preakness.

Play: #4 In the Stars (4-1 ML)