Saturday's Best Bet: Royal Prince leads the way in Audubon
Saturday’s 5th race from Churchill Downs is the Audubon Stakes for three-year-olds traveling a mile and an eighth on the turf course (Post Time 2:45 p.m. ET).
#8 ROYAL PRINCE (3-1) should get a more favorable race shape this time. Last out in the American Turf (G2), he had an uncomfortable trip behind above par splits and ended up finishing 6th in that 14-horse field. He stalked and scored in back-to-back turf stakes routes before his last and figures to work out a forwardly placed trip while out in the clear under his new rider Florent Geroux. He shows two local turf bullets for this engagement.
#2 Like the King (7-2) might be the favorite after running 12th in the Kentucky Derby (G1). He won the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) before that and romped in his lone turf try vs. maidens last year. He is versatile and should work out a nice early-pressing trip.
#1 Palazzi (7-2) rallied to finish 5th from the far outside post in the American Turf May 1. He packs a decent late kick and was right there at the finish in his other four turf starts, and he might enjoy the added distance of this race.
#4 Hidden Enemy (4-1) completed the superfecta in the common American Turf, and Steve Asmussen’s late running colt is similar in ability to Palazzi.
Wagers:
#8 to win
Exacta 8/1-2-4
Exacta 1-2-4/8
Recent Best Bet Winners
May 3 - LEADER OF THE BAND ($3.60), Exacta ($23.80)
May 5 - WENTZ ($6.20), Exacta ($17.80)
May 7 - ULTIMATE HY ($4.40), Exacta ($13.60)
May 9 - BEREN ($8.60), Exacta ($28.20)
May 11 - Did I Stutter/Capital Q/Sense a Million Trifecta ($109.00)
May 15 - Chub Wagon/Casual/Club Car Trifecta ($42.20)
May 17 - Geebert/Prince of Rain Exacta ($19.80)
May 18 - CALL FITZROY ($12.00)
May 19 - MUNCEY ($9.60)
May 22 - Going Global/Golden Exacta ($15.40)
May 23 - None Above the Law/Seattle Bold Exacta ($26.80)
May 28 - Lalic/Smiling Annie Exacta ($36.80)