It is not quite Kentucky Derby week in Louisville, but it is Opening Night under the twin spires at Churchill Downs. The 10-race card has a special 5PM eastern start time and to celebrate 1/ST BET and Xpressbet have a new promotion for the evening. The name is the “$2500 Triple Tri Split” and the goal is to connect on at least three ($1 base minimum) trifectas over the course of the night. Those who register on the promotional landing page and do so, will split the $2500 prize.

Here are a couple of races I will definitely be including as part of my attempt to earn a share of the pool.


Race 6:

The sixth is a $50k maiden claimer for 3YOs+ going 6.5-furlongs over the main track. I will build my wagers around the most experienced runner in the field #3 Holster. The $550k FTK October 2022 purchase did not pan out as planned for the high-profile team of Steve Asmussen and Winchell Thoroughbreds. The son of Gun Runner raced three times for those connections before being claimed by trainer Lane Johnston. Johnston tried him over the all-weather at Turfway Park over the winter, but he appears to be rounding into his best form since moving back to the dirt over his last couple of races. Holster battled along the inside on a day where the outside was the place to be two-back at Oaklawn Park before trying hard to the wire at a big price at Keeneland last out. Expect him to find his way to the front in this winnable spot and have enough left late to be right there at the wire.

I am definitely using #2 Shadow Coast with my key horse. The Dallas Stewart trainee cuts back to one-turn, drops in for a tag for the first time, and attracts Luis Saez. #4 Tapakena has disappointed thus far for Brian Lynch, but cuts back to a sprint, tries claimers for the first time, and moves from turf-to-dirt. Lynch has made this move 5 times dating back to the start of 2023. 2 of them have won making the son of Tapit definitely worth including with Holster against this group. #11 Classsy War is tough to omit dropping and attracting Jose Ortiz after 4 starts in Florida for Mark Casse while 12-1 morning line shot #5 Lemon Sohn hopefully is the one to beef up the payout. Trainer Lindsay Schultz is 11 for 50-lifetime at Churchill Downs and this colt put forth his first in the money performance last out in his initial start over the main track. Hopefully, he can grind away another minor share.

Plays:
$1 Trifecta Key
3 with 2+4+5+11

$1 Trifecta Wheel
2+4+11 with 3 with 2+4+5+11


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Race 9: Roxelana

The Opening Night feature in Louisville drew a field of 8 where oddsmaker Mike Battaglia made #2 Sandy Bottom the morning line favorite, but I prefer second choice #6 Harbor Springs. The Greg Foley runner took advantage of racing on the favorable part of the Churchill Downs main track in her win over this surface last November, but still did it nicely. Then, off a 3-month break put in a very solid return race in New Orleans. She is the up and comer in this group and very likely to run her race.

In terms of value, I like #5 Miuccia. The Gustavo Delgado trainee has been given nearly 3 months since chasing the fast pace of Dazzling Blue in a stake at Tampa Bay Downs in early February. The Mitole filly has a few races that probably beat this field and attracts Brian Hernandez Jr. for the first time. She should sit a favorable stalking voyage in a race that is likely to have an honest, but not overly fast pace. Hopefully she can be in the mix with Harbor Springs at the wire.


Plays:

$1 Trifecta Wheel
5+6 with 5+6 with 2+3+4+7

$1 Trifecta Wheel
5+6 with 2+3+4+7 with 5+6