Churchill Downs Single 6 Jackpot: Chaps a value single Friday

The Single 6 Jackpot at Churchill Downs survived through another evening of racing Thursday, so the carryover pool has climbed to $309,368 for Friday’s card.

The Single 6 is a specialty Pick 6 wager with the potential for a huge payoff. If only one winning ticket is sold on any given day, the entire jackpot pool is dispersed to that lucky bettor. If more than one winning ticket is sold, then a portion of the day’s pool carries over to the next day, allowing the jackpot to build.

With the Churchill Downs spring meet set to close on Saturday, a mandatory dispersal of the jackpot pool is on the agenda. But first there’s one last opportunity—on Friday—for a clever bettor to sneak in and snatch the whole jackpot if they can successfully assemble the lone winning ticket.

Just like Thursday, the Friday Single 6 sequence is stacked with deep, competitive fields. Every horse in the sequence is expected to feature 10 or more starters, so finding a horse to lean on is like finding a needle in a haystack (though infinitely more fun).

After considerable searching, I’ve landed on #5 Chaps in Race 8 (an allowance optional claiming race) as a nice-priced contender who could spring a mild upset and knock out a few tickets in the process.

As a son of More Than Ready, Chaps has the breeding to succeed in the 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint, and he’s been effective under these conditions. He’s cracked the trifecta in three of his four starts sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs on turf, a streak that includes a sharp, 1 3/4-length allowance win at Churchill Downs three weeks ago.

Whereas several of Chaps’ rivals are veterans with clearly established form, Chaps is a relatively lightly raced 4-year-old with just ten starts under his belt, and he might still have room for improvement. Certainly his recent efforts have been among his best, and unlike many of his rivals, he hasn’t been entered for a claiming tag on Friday.

It’s also encouraging that Chaps will race for high-percentage connections. Trainer Eddie Kenneally has compiled a 29% strike rate at the current Churchill Downs meet (well above his overall 19% rate for 2019), and jockey Corey Lanerie is prevailing 20% of the time at Churchill Downs.

The Friday Single 6 sequence is tough, so I’d be hesitant to single any horse at a short price. But since Chaps is 6-1 on the morning line and boasts improving form, he strikes me as a potential “value single” who could make the rest of my ticket more affordable while simultaneously knocking out a bunch of other tickets if he wins.

Good luck!