Just three days left at the Churchill Downs spring meeting with two huge ones to follow this weekend. Before we get to Stephen Foster Day and an extremely strong closing day slate on Sunday, there is a solid 11-race card today that kicks off at 12:45 PM eastern. I have started cold early this week, but hopefully am about to heat up with the spot plays I have this afternoon.


Race 8:
#5 Fast Gun is the understandable 5-2-ML favorite in this two-turn MSW event for fillies and mares. The Peter Blum homebred tries a route of ground for the first time after a third-place run in her first start over an off track on May 22. Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen turns to Jose Ortiz, which is hard to fault, but she has taken very little public support thus far. Plus, she has never really be a contender at the wire making her tough to endorse at her likely off odds. I prefer second-time starter #1 Curlin’s Charm. The $400k Keeneland September ’24 purchase broke a half step slow in her first start 20 days ago for veteran conditioner Rusty Arnold. The pedigree is there to love more ground and the inside draw should benefit her chances of making significant improvement off of her solid debut performance. Axel Concepcion returns to ride the daughter of Curlin, who can hopefully fix the gate issues that put her behind the 8-ball on June 6.

Play: #1 Curlin’s Charm (6-1 ML)
Picks: 1-5-2


Race 9:
I am going to hope it is a good day for Rusty Arnold since I will take a swing with his entry in this first-level allowance event at one-mile over the grass as well. #1 High South makes her first start since a pair of races over the Gulfstream Park lawn this winter. The first one came off the layoff in late January when the Calumet Farm homebred put in a decent run to earn fourth. She followed it up with a mid-pack sixth in a race where she was caught three-wide throughout under jockey Mario Gutierrez. Arnold has given High South time since those two runs and has her well spotted with a favorable inside draw to take advantage of a contentious early pace. Jockey Christian Torres was onboard for her maiden braker over this surface last June and will be back in the saddle for the first time since. Hopefully, he is able to save ground early and come with a strong run late. The price should be right in this wide-open start to the late Pick 3.

Play: #1 High South (12-1 ML)
Picks: 1-5-6


Race 10:
My final play on the day comes in this second-level allowance event at 1 1/8-miles over the main track where #1 Master Controller intrigues. Trainer Brittany Vanden Berg added the blinkers for the first time on this son of Tapiture before his first-level allowance race off of three-months rest on May 14. It resulted in a career best run where the 4YO colt showed good early speed, but was forced to back off the aggressive pacesetter before re-engaging him and taking control under regular rider Chris Emigh. Master Controller had enough left late to hold off next out winner Render Judgment and should find himself in a prominent position once again in the early stages. If he can take a step forward off of his victory six weeks ago, he fits extremely well with this bunch. The ML price makes him worth a play, especially considering both of his victories have come in Louisville.

Play: #1 Master Controller
Picks: 1-4-5