Check out my Thursday (6-20-24) Churchill Downs Race 4 analysis below.
CD 4 (Alw-1x, 3&up, 8.5T) – Post Time 6:27pm EDT
Primary – #10 WEST HOLLYWOOD, #5 Mr McGregor
Secondary – #9 Zverev, #7 Degree of Risk
Horse Comments:
#10 West Hollywood (3-1) was an okay 4th of 10 in his all-weather bowl at one mile in Great Britain on Jan. 10. He moved to the Brad Cox barn and easily graduated by 4 lengths after prompting the pace from an outer post in a local turf route on May 10. This race is lacking early runners and he should make his presence felt from the outset.
#5 Mr McGregor (7-2) switched to turf and graduated in prominent throughout fashion in a flat mile special weight affair at Kentucky Downs last September. He was the chalk that day and was favored again in a turf route at Keeneland last fall, and he stalked from the inside post and could not get out of second gear in an even 5th of 12 that day. Bill Mott’s returnee should be part of the pace under his new rider Jareth Loveberry.
#9 Zverev (4-1) added blinkers and showed improved positional speed in a show finish in a turf route on Jan. 21, and stalked the pace and graduated in an all-weather route at Turfway on March 23. He returned to turf and got stuck in traffic when splitting a 10-horse field on May 11. His winning rider Jose Ortiz stays put and he can compete with these if able to work out a decent stalking trip.
#7 Degree of Risk (8-1) is hard to take seriously as a win contender but can be used underneath. He is 1-for-16 with seven minor awards and exits a neck defeat in a turf route at Horseshoe Indy. He used to be a consistent type but has not run two alike since 2021.
Wagers:
#10 to win
Exacta box 5-10
Trifecta 5-10/5-7-9-10/5-7-9-10
June 2024 Bettor Bet$ Free Pick Winners
June 2 – Chismosa ($8.60)
June 4 – Gun Collector/Bazinga D/Picture This Trifecta ($137.40)
June 8 – Measured Time ($8.20), Trifecta ($148.48)
June 11 – Rock N Reward ($8.00), Trifecta ($61.20)
June 12 – Midnight Rising ($6.86)
June 19 – Pure Force/Discreet Mischief/Edified Trifecta ($58.04)
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