Churchill: How to bet the $2,827 Super High 5 carryover

Feel like chasing a non-jackpot Super High 5 carryover this Saturday? Churchill Downs is ready to oblige with a $2,827 prize pool.

The carryover is up for grabs in Race 1 (post time 1:00 p.m. ET), a $20,000 maiden claimer taking place over one mile on dirt. An overflow field of 14 horses (including two also-eligibles) has been entered, so there are many possible outcomes to analyze.

Where do we begin in sorting out the contenders? Perhaps by keying #8 Absolute Courage (7-5) on top. Some bettors might hesitate to rely on a five-year-old maiden with a 0-for-14 lifetime record, but Absolute Courage has cracked the trifecta four times against $50,000 and $30,000 maiden claiming competition at Churchill Downs, Oaklawn Park, and Ellis Park. Tackling the $20,000 level might be all Absolute Courage needs to visit the winner’s circle.

It helps that Absolute Courage has run well in three of his last four starts. Back in June he set the pace in a $30,000 maiden claimer racing one mile at Ellis Park before succumbing in a long homestretch battle to finish second by a head. And most recently, he finished a troubled third in a $16,000 maiden claimer racing 1 1/16 miles over the Ellis Park turf course, which marked only his second try on grass.

Absolute Courage has been freshened (and gelded) since August, which further opens the door for a winning run. Throw in the fact he’ll be ridden by hot jockey Tyler Gaffalione (a 21% winner at Churchill since the current meet began on Oct. 29), and Absolute Courage is a compelling choice to play on top in the Super High 5.

Who should we use underneath? Definitely #10 Go Cats (4-1), who has hit the board in his last two starts against $30,000 maiden claiming competition. The three-year-old gelding has every chance to record a top-three finish while dropping down to the $20,000 maiden claiming level, and we’ll construct our tickets accordingly.

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

• $1 Super High 5: 8 with 10 with 4,5,9,11 with 4,5,9,11 with 4,5,9,11 ($24)
• $1 Super High 5: 8 with 3,4,5,9,11 with 10 with 4,5,9,11 with 4,5,9,11 ($36)
  Total: $60

Good luck!