Thursday's Best Bet: First Premio can finish first in Opening Verse

Thursday’s eighth race from Churchill Downs is the $115,000 Opening Verse Overnight Stakes for 3-year-olds and up traveling one mile on the turf course (Post Time - 4:37 p.m. ET).

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#4 FIRST PREMIO (4-1) drew well and owns fine tactical speed. He exits a nice allowance win at Keeneland and captured the Bradley Handicap at Fair Grounds in January. In two local turf starts, he finished 2nd in this event last year, and added blinkers and easily won an optional claimer 3+ weeks later.    

#2 Hot Springs (9-2) stalked slow fractions and was outkicked in his needed Muniz (G2) return March 23. He is 4-for-4 at Churchill and should be fitter today.

#7 Ballagh Rocks (4-1) makes his first start in more than ten months for Bill Mott. The lightly raced 6-year-old gelding runs well fresh and faced graded foes in his last eight starts. Irad Ortiz Jr. takes the call.  

#8 Kencumin (8-1) won the restricted Lure Stakes in his last start but that was more than six months ago. He runs well fresh and drilled a Santa Anita training track bullet for this April 27. Peter Eurton shows a +ROI with this type of layoff runner and Florent Geroux hops aboard. 

#9 Om (9-2) makes his first start in more than ten months and Peter Miller trains him now. The 7-year-old horse removes blinkers and used to be good enough to beat a field like this. 

The Plays:

#4 to win

Exacta Box 2-4

Trifecta 2-4/2-4-7-8-9/2-4-7-8-9

May 2019 Best Bet Winners

May 1 - FLUMINESE ($6.60)