Horse Pick of the Day - Churchill Downs Race 8

Race-time: 4:06 pm EST

Churchill Downs is beginning to get into the heart of their fall meet which is a good thing for horseplayers. And some of us thought that the best horse racing ended with the Breeders’ Cup!

The fall meets are just starting with Churchill Downs, Aqueduct and Hollywood Park all heating up. On Saturday, the pick of the day is in Race 8 at Churchill Downs.

Let’s take a look at that race.

Churchill Downs – Race 8

Optional Claiming $100,000

For Three Year Olds and Upward Which Have Not Won $21,800 Twice Other Than Maiden, Claiming, Starter or State Bred in 2009 or Claiming Price $100,000

7 furlongs on dirt

Cosmic - - 5/1 morning line odds

Calvin Borel rides for his trainer brother Cecil in this $100,000 optional claimer. That’s one of the reasons to really like Cosmic. The other is that he is 2 for 2 at Churchill Downs, 1 for 1 at this distance and hasn’t finished off the board with Calvin on his back. Cosmic is a seriously good horse that has been running competitively against very good competition. He loves Churchill and others in here will be overbet. He’s the play.

King Of The Roxy - - 5/1 morning line odds

The Todd Pletcher trained King Of The Roxy is a good horse that bounced miserably in his last a 60 cents to the dollar favorite. The winner of over $600,000 gets to strut his stuff from the outside with terrific jockey Rajiv Maragh and has enough speed to keep Timbucto and Agastache in his sights. He could be very tough to run down once Harlem Rocker and Cosmic begin their runs, but there’s no telling whether or not his last was a sign that he’s just the not same horse or that he needed to take a breather after running so well for so long.

Harlem Rocker - - 8/5 morning line odds

The other Pletcher horse in this hasn’t been seen since November of 2008 winning the Grade I Cigar Mile. The Cigar Mile is one of the top races of the year for non Breeders’ Cup contenders. So, the 8 to 5 morning line odds are perfect. The issue, of course, is whether or not Harlem Rocker can beat a very good field first time back after a year layoff. At 7 furlongs, a traditionally tough distance, I have to say no, but finishing off the board probably won’t happen because Harlem Rocker is the best horse in this race.

Wagering Strategy

Cosmic is the horse for course play and deserves a bet to win and place. There’s no way to use Cosmic as a key in the exacta as both King Of The Roxy and Harlem Rocker are classier than he is. So, I will play an exacta and trifecta box with all three horses.