Saturday’s feature at Churchill pays homage to one of the greatest race horses to ever run. Wise Dan was a 2-time Horse of the Year. The race named after him is a Grade 2 $200,000 event going 1 1/16 miles over the sod. We handicap and make picks for the Wise Dan as well as a couple of other great horse races on Churchill’s Saturday card. Check out top plays and Horse Racing Odds from Churchill Downs for Saturday, June 20. You can also visit our Online Racebook to place your bets on active racetracks.
Churchill Downs Horse Racing Picks
- When: Saturday, June 20 at 1:00 pm ET
- Where: Louisville, KY
- Weather: Partly Cloudy
- Temperature: High 91 – Low 71
Churchill Downs Picks for Saturday, June 20
Race 5 – 2:54 pm ET – 6 Furlongs Dirt – $43,000 Starter Allowance
Dallas Stewart trained Diamond Crazy looks like a standout. The 4-year-old Tale of Ekati sired filly finished third in her last race, a $50,000 claimer. She ran a faster speed rating in that race than the par for this race. Not only that, but since 2020 started, she’s won 3 times, clocked the third, and finished fourth in 5 races. If she improves, she could win this by at least 3 lengths.
22% at the meet winning trainer Jason Barkley put a couple of fast works into Readyformycloseup on June 5 and June 12. Barkley claimed Ready off top trainer Steve Asmussen. The Liam’s Map sired runner finished third in her first race against winners. She’s fast, should grab the lead, and figures to make life difficult for Diamond Crazy.
Duplicitous will go off the chalk. The Brendan Walsh trained filly won a $40,000 claiming race at this distance in her last. She won’t offer overlay odds, but we can’t discount. On paper, it looks like Duplicitous will get the jump on Diamond Crazy. So, don’t knock from the top spot on your exotic tix.
- Win: Diamond Crazy
- Place: REadyformycloseup
- Show: Duplicitous
Race 6 – 3:25 pm ET – 1 1/8 Miles Turf – $100,000 Audubon Stakes
At 8/1 on the morning line, Brad Cox trained Kinenos deserves a long look to win the Audubon Stakes. Sure, the speed ratings are light. When Kinenos broke his maiden, he was around 5 lengths behind at the second call. When he won his first against winners, he was about 4 lengths behind the pace at the second call. Jockey Florent Geroux figures to keep Kinenos about 4 to 5 lengths behind the front runners in this. Because Empire Maker sired, Kinenos should have enough left in the tank even if he has to run faster than usual to keep up.
7/2 on the morning line Pixelate should be right there. The Godolphin owned runner finished second in the $100,000 War Chant Stakes in his last. That was at a mile. The City Zip sired runner will excel at this distance while trainer Michael Stidham is due.
Natural Power could get third. Mark Casse trains. That’s the main reason to like this one’s chances. Also, Power has run good enough races to compete with these.
- Win: Kinenos
- Place: Pixelate
- Show: Natural Power
Race 9 – 5:01 pm ET – 1 1/16 Miles Turf – $200,000 G2 Wise Dan Stakes
7-year-old horse Aquaphobia could surprise at overlay odds. The 6/1 morning line runner heads into this off a second in the Sunshine Forever Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Aquaphobia can stay closer to the front runners than some of the others. Mike Maker trains.
Morning line 8/5 chalk Factor This has won a Grade 3 and a Grade 2 in his last couple of races. Because Brad Cox trains, there’s a chance Factor This goes off at 6/5, or, maybe, even 4/5. We can’t put The Factor sired runner on top at the likely odds. But, we’re not going to keep Brad’s runner from our exacta.
Parlor has a couple of wins and a couple of second place finishes from 9 races at Churchill Downs. Like the top choice trained by Mike Maker, Parlor is a good horse but seems a cut below these. It would be a surprise if this one took the top spot in the Wise Dan on Saturday. We do like Parlor for third, though.
- Win: Aquaphobia
- Place: Factor This
- Show: Parlor
