A field of nine line up in Thursday’s $200,000 Falls City Handicap (G2) at Churchill Downs (Photo credit: © Alexey Stiop | Dreamstime.com).
A field of nine will line up on the traditional Thanksgiving stake at Churchill Downs, the $200,000 Falls City Handicap (G2) at 1 1/8 miles.
The Fall City ‘Cap is the first of 15 graded stakes over the next four days at Churchill Downs, Aqueduct and Del Mar.
Friday’s highlights include the $500,000 Clark (G1) at Churchill Downs and the $100,000 Comely at Aqueduct.
On Saturday the two-year-olds take center stage at Churchill Downs in the $200,000 Golden Rod (G2) and the $200,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (G2), the latter a Road to the Kentucky Derby points race.
There are four stakes on the Saturday card at Aqueduct including the $100,000 Discovery (G3) and the $100,000 Long Island (G3).
Del Mar hosts the $300,000 Hollywood Derby (G1) on Saturday along with the $200,000 Seabiscuit Handicap (G2) and the $100,000 Jimmy Durante (G3).
The $300,000 Matriarch (G1) is the Sunday feature at Del Mar. There are three stakes on Sunday’s card at Aqueduct including the $100,000 Fall Highweight Handicap (G3).
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Let’s head out to Churchill Downs for Thursday’s featured race of the day:
Churchill Downs Race 10 The Falls City Handicap G2 (3:53 ET)
1 Envoutante 5-2
3 Bonny South 8-5
5 Our Super Freak 9-2
4 Smooth With a Kick 5-1
Envoutante
The McPeek trainee is coming off her best looking effort of her career, winning the Remington Park Oaks (G3) by 3 ¼ lengths as the chalk. She was no match for Bonny South two back when fourth in the Alabama (G1) at Saratoga at 1 ¼ miles. This is her first trip at nine furlongs and she draws the rail in a race without much early speed signed up. Our Super Freak figures to set a moderate pace and our top pick should be able to work out a good trip sitting just off the pace. If she can get a jump on the favorite in here turning for home she can get the job done.
Bonny South
This filly came up a neck short last out in the Black Eyed Susan (G2) at Pimlico on Preakness Day. She was away last and came with a good late rally to just miss at 4-5. Two back she ran second in the Alabama behind Swiss Skydiver, who came back to run second in the Kentucky Oaks (G1), win the Preakness (G1) and then was disappointing seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1). Her last pair of speed figs are tops in here but her price is going to be on the light side and actually this race does not exactly set up for her. Cox has been on a roll in stakes this year and won this race last year with Mylady Curlin.
Our Super Freak
This gal was a disappointing sixth in the Spinster (G1) at Keeneland where she as next to last early and tired to finish a well beaten sixth and last. She was up on the pace in her two previous starts, a third in the Shuvee (G3) and a second in the Molly Pitcher (G3). She earned competitive numbers in those two outings and picks up yet another new jock in Saez who figures to send her early. If she gets loose early she can be a threat in this spot.
