Churchill Downs: How to bet the $5,995 Super High 5 carryover

There was supposed to be a $5,995 Super High 5 carryover in the final race on Friday at Churchill Downs. But when scratches reduced the field down to six horses, Super High 5 betting was canceled and the carryover was pushed to Saturday’s finale.

If you want to take a shot at the $5,995 prize pool, you’ll have to decipher Race 11 (post time 5:58 p.m. ET), a 5 1/2-furlong allowance. A field of 10 has been entered, and separating the contenders isn’t easy, but #4 Stayed in for Half (3-1) might hold a slim advantage.

Conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, Stayed in for Half has been running well against quality competition. In his debut sprinting six furlongs at Fair Grounds, he employed pace-tracking tactics to finish second, beaten only half a length by future Kentucky Derby (G1) starter Zozos. Stayed in for Half subsequently wired a six-furlong maiden special weight at Oaklawn Park by four lengths before coming home second in a 5 1/2-furlong allowance over the same track.

Stayed in for Half didn’t fire his strongest shot in an $80,000 allowance optional claimer sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs at Churchill Downs last month, fading to finish fifth after carving out the pace. But Stayed in for Half didn’t get the best trip early on, rushing up to set the pace after getting bumped at the start. If he breaks cleanly on Saturday and gets away with a more relaxed journey, Stayed in for Half can visit the winner’s circle.

For the minor awards, we have to respect #9 Miniconjou (7-2). The three-year-old gelding has been in hot form sprinting six furlongs at Oaklawn, dominating a $50,000 maiden claimer before nabbing a $50,000 starter allowance with a rally from off the pace. These efforts produced respectable Brisnet Speed ratings of 87 and 88, similar to the ratings Stayed in for Half has been posting.

#10 Mr Sippi (4-1), who placed in a pair of recent $50,000 claimers at Churchill, brings tactical speed to the table and owns recent Brisnet Speed ratings of 86 and 87. Meanwhile, #7 Ready to Answer (5-1) threw down an 89 in his most recent dirt start, finishing fourth in a six-furlong allowance at Churchill last fall. If Ready to Answer steps forward in his second start of the year for hot trainer Rusty Arnold, a top-five finish is well within reach.

Here’s how we’ll bet the Super High 5:

• $1 Super High 5: 4 with 7,9,10 with 7,9,10 with 7,9,10 with 2,3,5,6 ($24)
• $1 Super High 5: 4 with 7,9,10 with 7,9,10 with 2,3,5,6 with 7,9,10 ($24)
  Total: $48

Good luck!