Kentucky Downs: Stakes spot plays for Sept. 13

The lucrative all-turf race meet at Kentucky Downs continues on Sunday with three more rich stakes worth a combined $1.3 million.

Fans of multi-race wagers will appreciate how the feature events have been arranged in consecutive fashion, perfect for playing Pick 3 and double wagers. With this in mind, let’s tackle the stakes action with spot plays on a $75 budget:

Race 9: TVG S. (5:32 p.m. ET)

#3 Mrs. Sippy (1-1) has held her own against tough company over distances ranging from 1 1/4 miles to 1 1/2 miles, most notably finishing second in the 2019 Flower Bowl (G1), so the 1 5/16-mile distance of the TVG should be right up her alley. But considering Mrs. Sippy is just 1-for-4 in North America and 3-for-13 lifetime, even-money seems like a short price to accept.

There isn’t much speed in this small field, so #2 Theodora B. (5-2) could be a threat to steal the TVG. The daughter of Ghostzapper wired the 1 1/4-mile Dance Smartly (G2) at Woodbine last month, sprinting the final quarter in :22.87 to win comfortably, and she’ll be tough to catch if she shakes loose on an uncontested lead.

We’ll use both Mrs. Sippy and Theodora B. to kick off separate Pick 3 tickets.

$10 Pick 3: 3 with 3 with 8,10 ($20)
$5 Pick 3: 2 with 3 with 8,10 ($10)
Total: $30

Race 10: Untapable S. (6:04 p.m. ET)

#3 Red Ghost (3-1) flashed serious speed during morning workouts and did the same in her Aug. 30 debut sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga. Favored at 6-5 in an off-the-turf maiden race, Red Ghost seized the lead through a :21.70 opening quarter-mile, then widened strongly down the stretch to score by 8 1/2 lengths.

Conditioned by hot trainer Wesley Ward (5-for-17 to start the Kentucky Downs meet), Red Ghost is a daughter of Ghostzapper out of a Dynaformer mare, so switching to grass shouldn’t be an issue. She’s trained over the turf course at Saratoga and is a half-sister to three turf winners, so let’s bet Red Ghost to win and single her in multi-race wagers.

$20 to win on #3 Red Ghost
$10 double: 3 with 10
$5 double: 3 with 8
Total: $35

Race 11: Music City S. (6:36 p.m. ET)

#10 Kimari (3-1) figures to start as a clear favorite in this 6 1/2-furlong dash for 3-year-old fillies. A three-time stakes winner conditioned by Wesley Ward, the daughter of Munnings enters off a gutsy runner-up effort in the 6-furlong Commonwealth Cup (G1) at Royal Ascot. A versatile filly capable of winning with multiple running styles, Kimari’s fine form in Europe hints she’ll handle the tricky course at Kentucky Downs just fine.

But Kimari is returning from a layoff, and if you want to play a longshot, #8 Finite (8-1) is an intriguing alternative. Though best known for winning four stakes races running long on dirt, including the Golden Rod (G2) and Rachel Alexandra (G2), Finite actually broke her maiden sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs at Kentucky Downs.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, Finite hasn’t started since finishing fourth in the Mar. 21 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), and she’s returning from surgery to remove a bone chip in her ankle. But she’s been training like clockwork since early July, and her proven affinity for Kentucky Downs is a positive.

Let’s play Kimari and Finite together in small exactas and use them both to conclude our multi-race wagers.

$7 exacta: 10 with 8
$3 exacta: 8 with 10
Total: $10

Good luck!