Thursday's Best Bet: Captivating Moon set to shine in Opening Verse

Thursday’s 8th race from Churchill Downs is the $130,000 Opening Verse Overnight Stakes for four-year-olds and up traveling one mile on the turf course Post Time 4:37 p.m. ET).

#8 CAPTIVATING MOON (8-1) missed by a head in this race last year as the even money favorite when it was taken off the turf. He won a graded turf route on yielding ground at Fair Grounds Feb. 13 and he is 2-for-3 on a wet track. He should get pace to chase. 

#4 Logical Myth (3-1) is a very consistent turf route performer for Joe Sharp, The Fair Grounds specialist is 3-for-3 at this distance and should get pace to chase. I am a bit concerned about his 0-for-4 local record. He handles firm or yielding ground and was placed first through disqualification in an off the turf route on a fast track at Fair Grounds last fall.  

#7 Snapper Sinclair (9-2) handles dirt or turf and is okay on a wet track as well. The main concern is his relatively quick turnaround after finishing 4th in the Godolphin Mile (G2) in Dubai March 27. He reconnects with his winning rider Ricardo Santana Jr. and will probably stalk the pace on either surface. 

#5 Set Piece (6-1) loves all-weather ground and his lone turf victory was at this course and distance last June. He should be finishing for the productive Florent Geroux/Brad Cox team.

Wagers: 

#8 to win

Exacta 8/4-5-7

Exacta 4-5-7/8

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