Kentucky Oaks and Churchill Downs Horse Racing Picks and Predictions for Friday, May 1

Kentucky Oaks and Churchill Downs Picks for Friday, May 1:

HORSING AROUND ON KENTUCKY OAKS DAY: Long ago and far away, Mr. Ed and his horseplaying friend/handicapping guru decided to eliminate an item from their Bucket Lists and set out for Louisville, KY, to experience the Kentucky Derby. Per my friend’s “insider tip,” we arrived at the Owner//Trainer ONLY gate at Churchill Downs around dawn with a black Sharpie/cardboard sign reading, “NEED 2, DERBY & OAKS.” No sooner than we arrived, a uniformed guard approached and inquired, “You boys (Mr. Ed was at least 40 at the time) need something?” We flashed her the sign. “You boys stay right here. I’ll be back.” Sure enough, shortly she reappeared with a huge manila envelope, reached inside and said, “I’ve got two in the jockeys’ wives area today, and two rows back of there for the Derby. “How much?” I asked? “Price on ticket. Not allowed to scalp house seats,” she replied. SALE CLOSED. About 30 minutes later, we returned armed with our tickets, a pint of Maker’s Mark and our Racing Forms. You can imagine the rest of the story. Needless to say, I’ll never forget, what I can remember, about my Bucket List visit to the Oaks and Kentucky Derby.

THURBY DAY RESULTS AND OAKS DAY CARD: A lucky 13-race card will greet Churchill Downs fans on Friday starting at 12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 a.m. PT  for KY OAKS Day. As for Thurby, when all was said and run, it was the average fan’s picks (and Mr. Ed’s, too) as chalk ruled the day with the average $2 Win ticket returning $7.80. Irad Ortiz Jr. led the riding ranks with four wins, followed by brother Jose and Flavien Prat with a pair apiece. No trainer had more than a single win. Concluding with Oaks Day (Friday), 13 races, headlined by the Oaks and seven additional stakes. Here are Mr. Ed’s exclusive VSiN selections

Mr. Ed’s Churchill Downs Selections for Friday (5/01)

Race 1 —  $120K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for fillies and mares, 3YOs & Up going 1 1/16 mile
Mr. Ed starts the day with a DD with #1 PHANTOM BLUE (4-5 morning line) for excellent trainer Brendan Walsh, who retains Tyler Gaffalione for coed’s second start, and #6 SOARING HIGH (7-2), for trainer Cherie DeVaux with Irad Ortiz, Jr. up. Either one will do.
CHURCHILL DOWNS SELECTION: $5 Daily Double of 1,6/3,9. ($20)

Race 2 (1:00 p.m. ET/10:00 a.m. PT) — $134K ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING for fillies and mares, 3YOs & Up going a mile 
To capture the DD, Mr. Ed likes either #3 CHOPSTICKS (9-2 morning line) for the super team of Brad Cox & Irad Ortiz, Jr., or #9 FIVE A SIDE (3-1) for out-of-town trainer John Servis with a huge rider upgrade to Flavien Prat. Either or for a score.

Race 6 (3:12 p.m. ET/12:12 p.m. PT) — $127K ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING for 3YOs going 6½ furlongs
My pick is #6 CARMEL COAST (3-1 morning line) for ace trainer Whit Beckman with top jock Tyler Gaffalione in the saddle. Gal gets first-time Lasix as she cuts back after a dull mile in last. Coasting to finishing first.
CHURCHILL DOWNS SELECTION: $20 to Win. ($20)

Race 8 (4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. PT) — $700K EIGHT BELLES STAKES for 3YO fillies going 7 furlongs
Mr. Ed likes a trio: #3 RIVER WIND (4-1 morning line) with Tyler Gaffalione riding for Norm Casse; #8 GOODALL (3-1) for the sharp team of Flavien Prat riding for all-time winning trainer Steve Asmussen, and #9 ON TIME GIRL (5-2) for Brad Cox and leading jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr.
CHURCHILL DOWNS SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box of 3,8,9. ($30)

Race 9 (5:12 p.m. ET/2:12 p.m. PT) — $750K G2 ALYSHEBA STAKES for 4YOs going 1 1/16 mile 
#4 TAPPAN STREET (4-1 morning line) owes Mr. Ed a sizeable losing ticket from a close loss in last year’s Holy Bull Stakes. Trainer Brad Cox and Flavien Prat know what needs to be done to avenge Mr. Ed’s bad beat. 
CHURCHILL DOWNS SELECTION: $20 to Win. ($20)

Race 10 (6:01 p.m. ET/3:01 p.m. PT) — $500K G3 MODESTY STAKES for fillies and mares, 4YOs & Up going 1⅛ mile
Mr. Ed likes #6 GEZORA (4-5 morning line) for trainer Downtown Chad Brown with Flavien Prat riding the French import. European superstar crushes the field. PLAY OF THE DAY.
CHURCHILL DOWNS SELECTION: $20 to Win. $30 to Win. ($30)

Race 11 (6:56 p.m. ET/3:56 p.m. PT) — $1 MILLION G1 LA TROIENNE STAKES for fillies and mares, 4YOs & Up
Mr. Ed likes three for the money: #5 SHRED THE GNAR (3-1 morning line) Brian Lynch with Luis Saez riding; Jockey Flavien Prat and Chad Brown team up on #9 FULLY SUBSCRIBED (7-2), and longshot #11 DREXEL HILL (15-1) for trainer Whit Beckman and promising young rider Ben Curtis. Need two of three.
CHURCHILL DOWNS SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box of 5,9,11. ($30)

Race 12 (7:40 p.m. ET/4:40 p.m. PT) — $600K G2 EDGEWOOD STAKES for 3YO fillies going 1 1/16 mile on the turf
Mr. Ed’s pick is #3 IMAGINATIONTHELADY (4-1 morning line) for excellent trainer Brendan Walsh with Tyler Gaffalione in the saddle. Gal knows how to close; Mr. Ed’s counting on ‘Lady for winning stretch move.
CHURCHILL DOWNS SELECTION: $20 to Win & $10 Daily Double of 3/2. ($30)

Race 13 (8:40 p.m. ET/5:40 p.m. PT) — $1.5 MILLION G1 KENTUCKY OAKS for 3 YO fillies going 1⅛ mile
Mr. Ed’s betting on classy connections of Todd Pletcher & Irad Ortiz, Jr. with #2 ZANY (4-1 morning line) to defeat #11 PERCY’S BAR after losing to her at Keeneland (with Mr. Ed watching from the rail). Paybacks are swell!
CHURCHILL DOWNS SELECTION: $20 to Win. ($20)

TOTAL WAGERS: $200

IT’S KENTUCKY DERBY TIME! That’s 6:57 p.m. ET/3:57 p.m. PT. Looks like a quality field of 20 will enter the starting gate for the Derby (Race 12) with the card beginning more than eight hours earlier. In addition to the Derby, eight other stakes will populate the undercard. With the Derby awarding $5,000,000 in purse money, total rewards for the day will exceed  $13,000,000. Post time for Race 1 is 11:00 a.m./8:00 a.m. PT. See you on Derby Day at VSiN with approximately $200 worth of Mr. Ed’s exclusive selections.

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