There are just two Saturdays left at the Churchill Downs Spring Meet with next week’s final one being Stephen Foster (G1) Day. Tonight’s slate will be a “Downs After Dark” card meaning first post is not until 6PM eastern. The 10-race slate is headlined by the Chicago (G3) at 7-furlongs over the main track. Here are the horses I like most on the evening, including my top choice in the feature.


Race 4:
The pace should be honest to fast in this $30k non-winners of two lifetime event at one-mile over the sod. This should benefit Florida-bred #3 The Town. The $150k OBS March ’25 purchase debuted in dirt races for trainer Brad Cox, but eventually moved to two-turn turf races where he has a win and a second in four starts. The last two have been off the board efforts, but have come against stronger competition than he encounters today. Cox has given the 3YO colt time since an arduous winter and early spring in Florida and legs up Irad Ortiz Jr. The Town’s lack of gate speed has always left him with a lot to do late, but the probable race shape really should set things up for his strong late run.

Play: #3 The Town (4-1 ML)
Picks: 3-2-11


Race 8:
My next “Downs After Dark” play comes in another one-mile excursion over the turf, but this one for $80,000 claimers that have never won two races. #1 Mesa Magic stretches out to a true route of ground for the first in over a year for Al Stall Jr. and finds a favorable spot to do so. The Good Magic gelding drops in class and draws the rail after breaking from the far outside in a turf sprint on May 17. Stall takes the blinkers off and attracts Luis Saez for the first time this year. Given the overall lack of early zip signed on, I am hopeful it is the aggressive Saez who uses his post and his runner’s tactical speed to find a favorable forward position in the early stages. If he is able to do so and avoid getting caught up in a tussle on the backstretch, he has a strong chance of finishing off a somewhat underwhelming group to kick off the late Pick 3.

Play: #1 Mega Magic (7-2 ML)
Picks: 1-2-6


Race 9: Chicago (G3)
The Saturday night feature looks like a bit of a two-filly race between #2 Eclatant and #5 Usha (pictured). Eclatant really has turned a corner in 2026 after disappointing as a 4YO for Stonestreet Stables and Brad Cox. The daughter of Into Mischief ran huge in her return race at Gulfstream Park in February before putting in a monster effort besting Grand Job by a nose in the Madison (G1). Cox has given Eclatant extra time after the career best run, but I am still concerned about how much the race took out of her. Therefore, swallowing her 6-5-ML price does not seem wise, so I will go to second choice Usha. The $600,000 NY-bred makes her third start of the form cycle after a gutsy head win over #4 Zeitlos in the Winning Colors (G3) in late May. She has run well in both starts over this surface and should get a cleaner trip than the favorite breaking from the 5-hole. She will not be a big price, but she is solid value at her 3-1-morning line offering.

Play: #5 Usha (3-1 ML)
Picks: 5-2-6