One of the most famous race tracks in America returns to action on the weekend. Churchill Downs is open for business and there are some Stakes races to size up on the card as well.
This is the first weekend of racing from the home of the Kentucky Derby since the shutdown for the Covid-19 pandemic.
In this USA horse racing preview we look at some of the bigger races of the day from the course for Saturday, May 22nd, 2020.
Included are racing odds and our tips of the day and the draw does matter, with the middle draw being the best.
All times listed are GMT.
Table of Contents
Churchill Downs 21:08 Race Odds & Tips
Dunbar Road 4/6
She’s A Julie 3/1
Vault 10/1
Another Broad 11/1
Awe Emma 16/1
Moonlit Garden 20/1
Chocolate Kisses 20/1
Flower Party 33/1
* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 20:32 GMT on Friday, 22nd May 2020)
Horse Racing Betting at Bet365
Race Details
The Stakes action at Churchill Downs on Saturday starts here. This is an extended 1m trip for 4 year olds plus in what is the Shawnee Stakes. There are 8 declared for the contest which has a purse of $62,999 going for the winner.
Race Favourite
Race favourite is DUNBAR ROAD at 4/6* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 20:32 GMT on Friday, 22nd May 2020). The filly is back from a 203 day break and is looking to get back to winning form after losing her last two outings to Blue Prize.
But she has won four of seven efforts so far, but is making her Churchill Downs bow in this one. Is used to Stakes company and it would be a surprise to find her outside of the top two.
Tips
SHE’S A JULIE, a 5 year old mare, is also coming back from a long break. It is a 230 day absence for her. The last run that she had in October saw her take fourth place, a spot behind Dunbar Road. She’s a very consistent horse and the last time that she returned from a break she won the Grade 1 La Troienne Stakes.
The other we will look at for this contest is outsider ANOTHER BROAD at 16/1* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 20:32 GMT on Friday, 22nd May 2020). It’s a 125 day break that she comes back from. She is going to have to find a little extra from what she has delivered before, but is used to the high Stakes company and has strong place claims.
USA Racing Betting Tip
- 21:08 Shawnee Stakes – Dunbar Road
- 21:40 Tepin Stakes – Sharing
- 22:12 Blame Stakes – Global Campaign
Churchill Downs 17:15 Race Odds & Tips
Sharing 11/4
Alms 11/4
Outburst 9/2
Abscond 15/2
Walk In Marrakesh 8/1
Eve Of War 12/1
Dominga 11/1
In Good Spirits 12/1
Hendy Woods 16/1
Pass The Plate 18/1
Moral Reasoning 20/1
Jezebel’s Kitten 28/1
Queen Of God 40/1
Heir Of Light 40/1
Oxum Power 66/1
* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 20:32 GMT on Friday, 22nd May 2020)
Horse Racing Betting at Bet365
Race Details
This is the Tepin Stakes which is open to 3 year olds only. It is a big field with 15 declared to take on the challenge of a shot at the $62,999 winner’s prize. It is a 1m trip for fillies and mares.
Race Favourite
We have SHARING and ALMS as the 11/4 joint favourites at the time of writing* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 20:32 GMT on Friday, 22nd May 2020). These are naturally two very good horses.
SHARING is a 3 year old filly who returns from a 204 day break. She has won her last two races, the biggest of those in Landing the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in November from a 16/1 SP. Lines up in stall 9, which isn’t the best, but if she comes back into form immediately, she should be in the frame.
ALMS has actually bettered Sharing in that she has won all three of her racecourse appearances. Her last run was in the Jimmy Durante Stakes (Grade 2) at the end of November last year and returns therefore from a 175 day break. These two are evenly matched.
Tips
British horse OUTBURST looks to have some claims in this one. She scored a big Stakes success as favourite by winning the Grade 3 Florida Oaks in early March.
That completed a hat trick of wins in just four races. The form is there and she had Walk In Marrakesh behind her in that Florida Oaks success.
We will go a little longer for EVE OF WAR who has shown some promise, albeit at lower grades. It has been two wins in three runs from her, the most recent being in an Allowance Optional Claimer at Gulfstream in April. One to watch on the step up.
Churchill Downs 22:12 Race Odds & Tips
Owendale 3/1
Global Campaign 4/1
Mr Money 5/1
Backyard Heaven 7/1
Silver Dust 10/1
Diamond King 10/1
Snapper Sinclair 9/1
American Anthem 12/1
Extrordinary Jerry 14/1
Alwaysmining 16/1
Long Range Toddy 25/1
Bourbon Resolution 33/1
Everfast 33/1
Discreet Lover
* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 20:32 GMT on Friday, 22nd May 2020)
Horse Racing Betting at Bet365
Race Details
This is the Blame Stakes which is open to 4 year olds plus. It is a 1m trip and it is another of those exciting big fields, with 14 declared to run. The winner takes $62,999.
Race Favourite
OWENDALE is the outright favourite for this trip at 3/1* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 20:32 GMT on Friday, 22nd May 2020). The 4 year old colt is coming back from a 203 day break. He scored big in a $240k Stakes action at Remington Park in late September, the third win of six races that he’s had. He’ll be in contention.
Tips
Another who looks to be a good fit for this contest is GLOBAL CAMPAIGN who scored on his last effort. That was under Allowance terms at Gulfstream in April and will have been a good workout ahead of this. His big win came in a $189 Stakes effort at Belmont in May last year. He could make a seasonal splash.
DIAMOND KING at 10/1 may have some claims in this one. He scored on an 8F trip at Aqueduct in early March and had American Anthem behind him in that one. That was the big notable success of the 4 year old colt’s career and after a 77 day break it will be interesting to see what he has in him as an e/w contender.
