Super Screener weekend preview: Value in Elkhorn

All eyes will be on the most prestigious dirt races in the world over the next seven weeks, but a turf marathon this weekend caught Mike Shutty's eye for Super Screener purposes.

Super Screener is available each weekend, and you can get every edition now through the Belmont Stakes for just $97. That is eight editions of Horse Racing Nation's top analysis product and includes the Kentucky Oaks and Derby as well as the Preakness and Belmont stakes.

This week zigs and zags betwixt Keeneland, Oaklawn and Santa Anita with a pair of stakes from each, including the Elkhorn for older males going 1 1/2 miles on turf with 10 turf veterans entered.

"The keys to this race are landing on horses that have succeeded at 12 furlongs and have done so against equal or better competition," Shutty said. "Four-year-olds that have yet to go this far are required to show balance, very stout route breeding and an ascending form pattern.

"The Super Screener top win pick, no. 3 Rising Empire, checks all three of those boxes. He has improved while facing tougher and going longer. He jumped out to an open lead in that last race when no other horse wanted it, and then really put it into overdrive around the second call before reluctantly relinquishing the lead to Spooky Channel, who goes next in the Grade 1 Old Forrester Turf Classic on Kentucky Derby day.

"Keep an eye on no. 9 Verstappen," Shutty said. "His recent move forward may have been attributed to the switch to the synthetic surface at Turfway Park or was he just moving forward in his form cycle as a 4-year-old? What is clear is that this horse will more than handle 12 furlongs and as a lightly raced four-year-old, he has another move forward in him. The risk/reward value proposition is highly favorable."

Make sure you subscribe to our YouTube page, as there will be plenty of video content related to the Kentucky Derby, Oaks and Triple Crown series over the next two months, including a long shots video by Shutty next week.