Churchill Downs: How to bet the Sept. 17 late Pick 5

Following a brief hiatus, racing returns to Churchill Downs on Thursday, with a competitive, nine-race card.

The second half of the card is particularly deep, with 57 horses entered across five races in the late Pick 5.

Let’s play the sequence on a $30 budget and attempt to turn a small outlay into a big payday.

Race 5: Maiden special weight (2:45 p.m. ET)

Trainer Chad Brown has been hot in Kentucky this month. He went 2-for-7 during Kentucky Derby (G1) week at Churchill Downs and 3-for-7 during the Kentucky Downs meet. He can keep his momentum going with #1 Great Island (7-5), a clear favorite to win this 1 1/16-mile turf test.

A 4-year-old daughter of Scat Daddy, Great Island rallied to finish second in her debut at Keeneland last fall, when she was beaten only by future three-time graded stakes winner Mean Mary.

Great Island has been training forwardly for her return and will pick up hot jockey Tyler Gaffalione, so let’s single her to kick off the Pick 5.

Race 6: Maiden special weight (3:16 p.m. ET)

There are a bevy of promising first-time starters in this 6 1/2-furlong dash for juvenile fillies, so let’s spread deep with #3 Divine Comedy (7-2), #5 Midnight Ballerina (4-1), #6 Malloy (12-1), #7 Bel Fiore (6-1), and #9 On the Rise (10-1).

We’ll also toss in #1 Littlestitious (4-1), who cracked the trifecta in her first two starts for high-percentage trainer Tom Amoss.

Race 7: $50,000 claiming (3:48 p.m. ET)

#5 Jessup (2-1) was an impressive debut winner at Indiana Grand last month, when he wired a 6-furlong maiden special weight by five lengths. The 95 Brisnet Speed rating he received tops this field, and he’ll stick to the same distance with the drop in for a claiming tag.

Jessup looms as a logical single for the high-profile jockey/trainer combo of Ricardo Santana and Steve Asmussen.

Race 8: $50,000 starter allowance (4:21 p.m. ET)

After losing his first five starts on dirt, #5 Major Attraction (3-1) relished a switch to turf at Arlington Park, where he wired a 1-mile maiden special weight by 3 1/2 lengths.

A $425,000 yearling purchase, Major Attraction has been training forwardly and should have every chance to keep his momentum rolling in Thursday’s 1-mile heat.

He will also pick up Gaffalione, so we’ll take a stand and make Major Attraction our third single of the afternoon.

Race 9: Maiden special weight (4:53 p.m. ET)

The second division of Race 6 is similarly competitive, with plenty of unraced prospects to choose from.

We’ll conclude our ticket by spreading deep, with #1 Suite Madam Blue (8-1), #5 Seeking Seca (10-1), #6 Making Progress (12-1), #8 Super Sport (6-1), #9 Ryan’s Rocket (10-1), #10 Targeted Return (7-2), #12 Montgomery Park, and #13 Decade (3-1).

The Tickets

Race 5: 50-cent Pick 5: 1 with 1,3,5,6,7,9 with 5 with 5 with 1,5,6,8,9,10,12,13 ($24)
Race 5: 50-cent Pick 5: 1 with 1,3,5 with 5 with 5 with 10,13 ($6)
Total: $30

Good luck!