Thursday's Best Bet: Badgeball opens the door at Churchill Downs
Thursday’s seventh race from Churchill Downs is an optional claiming event for 3-year-olds and up dashing six furlongs on the main track. Scheduled post time is 7:54 p.m. EDT.
Click here for Churchill Downs entries and results.
No. 4 Badgeball (9-2) returned with a quality local special weight victory June 25. This is his first start as a gelding, and he projects a decent tactical trip.
No. 6 Marsalis (3-1) dueled and missed by a head in his Feb. 19 bow and clicked with a sharp maiden win second time out. Steve Asmussen’s highly regarded colt makes his first start in half a year and should make his presence felt throughout.
No. 5 Let My People Go (15-1) earned competitive speed ratings in his last three dirt sprints, and he fired in both local outings. He reconnects with his winning rider Rafael Bejarano and probably will stalk the pace at square odds.
Wagers:
No. 4 to win
Exacta 4-6/4-5-6
Trifecta 4-6/all/5
Recent Best Bet winners
Sept. 7 - Wolfie's Dynaghost ($3.20), exacta ($5.60), trifecta ($12.60)
Sept. 8 - Private Creed ($7.58), exacta ($11.42)
Sept. 9 - Giver Not a Taker ($4.60)
Sept. 13 - Adventuring ($7.80), exacta ($17.78)
Sept. 15 - Collaboration ($9.30), exacta ($27.60)
Sept. 16 - Ramblin' Wreck/Provision exacta ($39.20)
Sept. 18 - Faith in Humanity ($13.80), trifecta ($172.00)
Monday - Artie's Princess ($8.20)
Wednesday - Kavod ($10.12), exacta ($24.18), trifecta ($68.88)