Churchill: $251,779 Pick 5 carryover, $200 Feeder tournament

The 50-cent Late Pick 5 went unsolved at Churchill Downs on Saturday, triggering a massive $251,779 carryover into Sunday’s card.

The Sunday card is also the focus of a $200 Churchill Downs Feeder tournament on TwinSpires.com. Bet your entire $125 bankroll across at least five races at Churchill (minimum $15 per race) to compete for an entry into the Nov. 23 $1,000 Churchill Downs KDBC/NHC Qualifier tournament.

The Late Pick 5 gets underway at 2:57 p.m. ET and spans Race 5 through Race 9. Two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox has been hot at Churchill this meet, going 9-for-42 (21%), and he appears poised to snag a couple of wins in the Late Pick 5 sequence.

Cox’s first winning chance is #6 Uncle Jim (8-5) in Race 6, a $100,000 allowance optional claimer for two-year-olds racing 1 1/16 miles on dirt. Uncle Jim delivered a sharp performance in his debut racing about seven furlongs on Oct. 17 at Keeneland. Favored to beat 10 rivals in a maiden special weight, Uncle Jim rallied from eighth place to dominate his foes by three lengths.

As a son of City of Light out of a mare by Tiznow, Uncle Jim has the pedigree to shine while stretching out over 1 1/16 miles. A fast half-mile workout in :47 4/5 at Churchill last week cements Uncle Jim as a serious win threat under hot jockey Florent Geroux, a 32% winner teaming up with Cox over the last two months.

Pick 5 bettors should consider singling Uncle Jim. Tournament players may wish to bet him over Iroquois (G3) alumnus #7 Magnitude (3-1) in an exacta, or simply load up with a win bet.

Cox can win again in Race 7, a maiden special weight for two-year-old fillies dashing six furlongs on dirt. The 11-horse field is packed with first-time starters, and #3 Catana (2-1) looks like a particularly promising one. A Juddmonte homebred, Catana has put together a sharp work tab at Churchill Downs, including five furlongs from the starting gate in 1:00 2/5, five furlongs in 1:00 3/5, and half a mile in :48 3/5.

Cox wins at a 22% rate with first-time starters, and Geroux is named to ride, so there’s plenty to like about Catana. Pick 5 bettors may wish to use Catana as a second single, while tournament players can consider a win bet or perhaps an exacta using the experienced #9 Tickin Time Blonde (5-2) for second  place.

Good luck!