How to play Churchill Downs’ 2019 opening day Pick 3, 4 & 5

We are going to start out with the Pick 3 that begins in Race 1 on Churchill Downs’ opening evening card Saturday. LADYOFDRAGONSTONE (#6) (5-2) looks like a single to kick things off in the opener. In Race 2, a $25,000 claimer going 1 1/16 miles on the dirt, a field of six is entered and I am going to press the “All” button here. There are some hard-knockers that could win this from memory and it’s hard to eliminate any of them. Race 3 is the second division of the maiden $10,000 claimer from Race 1. MOONFIELD (#6) (3-1) added blinkers for her two-turn debut last out at Oaklawn Park going this distance and was third in an eventful trip. The daughter of Haynesfield picks up Tyler Baze and should be involved early. RACE 1 Pick 3 #6 with #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6 with #6 The first Pick 4 of the night begins in Race 4. MISTRESS AT SEA (#2) (9-2) broke her maiden second time out then was outrun in a stakes race. She drops down to claiming company for the first time and picks up Miguel Mena. FIVE STAR FACTOR (#1) (7-2) drops down in class for the always dangerous Ron Moquett, whose runners excel on dirt, and FAITH HEALER (#6) (5-2) returns off a freshening while dropping down in class. Race 5 looks like a single for TRASHTALKINYANKEE (#9) (8-1). Race 6 is a wide open turf event for allowance non-winners of two other than or optional claiming $62,500. KEEP QUIET (#10) (5-2) is one of many that have shipped east from California for Peter Miller. He was a close second against these at Keeneland last out and looks like he has enough gate speed to handle post 10 with Luis Saez. DONTBLAMEROCKET (#2) (10-1) beat cheaper two starts back second start off a long layoff at Fair Grounds then was third on a muddy track last out against this allowance level. SPACE MOUNTAIN (#7) (4-1) has a big late kick and shows two wins over this course, including one two years ago against this level. ANOTHER (#8) (3-1) ran well at Keeneland last out for Bill Mott and faces the same group again. The Pick 4 concludes in Race 7, a maiden $75,000 claimer going 1 1/16 miles on the dirt. WHO’SYOURFAVORITE (#3) (3-1) did nothing in his career debut then added Lasix last out and improved markedly even though he was wide from post 11 behind a glacial pace. MAKEAMERICAGREAT (#5) (7-2) could be the lone speed in here so even though he is winless in 19 starts, he might have the perfect scenario in here. RACE 4 Pick 4 #1, #2, #6 with #9 with #2, #7, #8, #10 with #3, #5 The late Pick 5 begins in Race 6. We will take our top picks above – #2, #7, #8, #10 with #3, #5 – for Races 6 and 7. In Race 8, the $125,000 William Walker Stakes going five furlongs on the turf, BULLETIN (#1) (4-5) will try to make it four-for-four in his brief career. He won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Stakes and has more than enough gate speed to handle post 1. Just in case, we will also use Peter Miller’s HARTEL (#8) (6-1). In Race 9 we will use SIR NAVIGATOR (#6) (8-1) and in Race 10 we will use COMBUSTIBLE (#3) (3-1). RACE 6 Pick 5 #2, #7, #8, #10 with #3, #5 with #1, #8 with #6 with #3 Good luck and don’t forget to opt in to the Opening Night Bet Back, where you can get your Win bet back up to $10 if your horse runs second in every race at Churchill Downs on Opening Night, April 27! PHOTO: Churchill Downs (c) Coady Photography/Churchill Downs