On Saturday, May 16, Churchill Downs starts their 2020 spring meet. Although no stakes race happens on Saturday’s card, there are a lot of excellent dirt races. Check out top plays and Horse Racing Odds from Churchill Downs for Saturday, May 16. You can also visit our Online Racebook to place your bets on active racetracks.
Churchill Downs Horse Racing Picks
- When: Saturday, May 16 at 1:00 pm ET
- Where: Louisville, KY
- Weather: Rain Showers Likely
- Temperature: High 81 – Low 65
The amazing Monomoy Girl shows up in Race 4 on Saturday. If we want to beat the BC Distaff champ, this is the race to do it. We’re taking a shot with Talk Veuve to Me. Now with Steve Asmussen, Veuve has hung with Monomoy Girl in the past. Not only that, but Asmussen is a master with fillies and mares. He trained Rachel Alexandra. So, if anyone could get Veuve to improve enough to upset the chalk, it’s Steve.
Monomoy Girl shouldn’t finish worse than second in this. Sometimes, fillies decide not to run once they turn into mares. That shouldn’t happen to Monomoy, though. Even if she’s not at her best, she’ll fill out the exacta.
Lady Kate is 7/2 on the morning line. Her odds should balloon up to around 5/1 or so. She’s a good horse but a cut below Veuve and Monomoy. Still, she figures to finish off the chalky trifecta.
- Win: Talk Veuve to Me
- Place: Monomoy Girl
- Show: Lady Kate
Trainer Robertino Diodoro saddles 12/1 morning line overlay contender Sacred Oath. The Quality Road sired runner has a win and a second from 4 lifetime races. Yes, Diodoro moves the runner up after a failed attempt at $40,000 claiming. But Robertino wins 24% after the claim and with 25% of his dirt runners. The man is a training magician.
Mark Casse trained Patrol is 8/1 on the morning line. Casse conditioned this runner to a win first out. Mark put the Liam’s Map sired colt onto the turf in his first against winners. He finished ninth by close to 8 lengths. Back on dirt, Patrol should improve. If you don’t like the looks of Sacred Oath, consider this one a solid alternative.
At 6/1, Adhar doesn’t offer the same overlay odds as Patrol and Sacred Oath. But the Tom Amoss runner has more experience. Adhar has a win, a second, and 2 thirds from 5 lifetime races. The gelding is yet another contender in one of the weekend’s deepest horse races.
- Win: Sacred Oath
- Place: Patrol
- Show: Adhar
The next time we see Miss T Too might be in a graded stakes race. The Bill Mott trained daughter of Into Mischief failed in her first race. She got a lot better in her second race, winning it by 3 lengths. Any more improvement should lead to another victory. Jockey John Velasquez adds to the appeal.
Jockey Javier Castellano jumps aboard Portrait. Brad Cox trains the Tapizar sired filly. She cuts back in distance from 1 1/16 miles. That will help the cause while Cox and Castellano will ensure she gets into the top 3.
Mo City failed in her last. That was a stakes race at one-mile at Aqueduct, though. She broke her maiden at 6 furlongs and then finished second in a 7 furlong stakes race at Tampa Bay Downs. Mo City is another with a shot to get the win.
- Win: Miss T Too
- Place: Portrait
- Show: Mo City
