Churchill Downs Trip Notes and Horses to Watch (November 6-10)

The following are trip notes for horses who had sharp efforts or tough trips at Churchill Downs during the second full week of the fall meet from Wednesday, November 6 through Sunday, November 10, and who figure to improve or run big in their next starts.

Add these runners to your horses to watch list, and bet them back next time if they land in a reasonable spot at Churchill Downs, or elsewhere.

All of these horses have good chances to perform well, outrun their odds, and/or win their subsequent starts.

Best of luck.

BALLARD HIGH: Finished second behind only a runaway winning favorite despite a tough trip in return race off a four-month layoff. Ready to win with a clean trip in second off the layoff.

CEDAR CREEK: Fought for the lead, got checked back hard near the far turn, and then regrouped and came again for third in a good z-pattern effort. Just needs clear sailing.

FAIRLY HONEST: Overcame a slow start to close continually for second in good return from a nine-month layoff. Ready in next.

FARAWAY KITTEN: Always seems to be in the thick of things late in the race for Maker, but settled for an unfortunate sixth-place finish, just a length out of third, with the toughest trip when carried extremely wide when bothered into the stretch.

HOBOKEN: Out-battled others for the lead and finished best of the front-runners for second in return from a year+ layoff in a race that set-up for a closing 6-5 favorite.

IM THE BEST I KNOW: Live invader from Chicago was favored but got blocked in the stretch as the top two finishers made their moves and had to settle for third. Can make amends in next off the claim.

IRISH ROAR: Battled for the lead in blazing splits and outlasted the other speeds to run on for a clear second. Ready to graduate in return from three-month layoff.

JEWELED PRINCESS: First starter from Ken McPeek, who usually doesn't crank up his first starters, ran well to close from far back to get up for third, just a length out of second behind a runaway winning 3-5 chalk. Prepped and ready to graduate.

KANSAS CITY ZIP: Ran big but was unlucky to finish fifth, beaten about a length after emerging from an extended five-length-gap speed duel. Should shake loose vs. maiden claimers.

KENTUCKY ALLSTAR: Winner from Belterra got ignored locally but nearly lived up to his name when almost catching a wire-to-wire speed to finish a solid second. Don't overlook.

LASTBEATOFTHEBAND: Got left at the break to begin far back in last when not handling the rail post draw, but then managed to outrun 50-1 odds to close for third and shouldn't be ignored based on that effort.

MAKE NOISE: Finished third in comeback race off a five-month layoff, which was actually a solid result behind only a wire-to-wire runaway winner and the 7-5 favorite. Looks good in return from the sidelines.

MR. TIP: Athletic Jack Sisterson maiden breaker for Calumet nearly made it a 2-for-2 start to his career but settled for second by a half-length in dirt track debut in a solid off-the-pace effort. Finished ahead of some good horses and is ready to pass his first allowance level.

PROFESSIONAL: Settled for an unlucky second by a head, but was probably best that day after getting blocked through the stretch and getting clear a tad too late.

RICKHOUSE: Broke last when wanting to show speed, then was used to rush up to the lead until emptying out late and settling for third in a race he could have won at 47-1 with a better start.