Mucciolo: Kentucky Downs Stakes Selections

Kentucky Downs (c) Jamie Newell/Horsephotos.com

Five lucrative stakes races help make up half of a fine card at Kentucky Downs on Saturday.

Here are my selections:

RACE 6 – KENTUCKY DOWNS JUVENILE TURF SPRINT

The Wesley Ward duo of Moonlight Romance (#10) (3-1) and MAE NEVER NO (#11) (5-1) draw widest in the field. I like both of these fillies and will give the slight nod to the latter.

Mae Never No romped in the off-the-turf Colleen Stakes at Monmouth Park most recently. She makes her turf debut today and I think she will shine. I loved her maiden win at first asking at Belmont and fully expect the March foal to run a big one today with Albin Jimenez.

I will play Mae Never No to win with something near the morning-line price.

RACE 7 – KENTUCKY DOWNS LADIES TURF (G3)

Ten fillies and mares will go one mile in this affair, and PAS DE SOUCIS (#6) (8-1) gets top billing. The European import has been consistent since arriving in the states and has kept good company this season in New York.

The five-year-old mare has the ability to prompt the pace from a good post with pick-up pilot Flavien Prat in the controls for conditioner Jorge Abreu.

I will be tabbing Pas de Soucis to win/place.

RACE 8 – KENTUCKY DOWNS LADIES SPRINT (G3)

BRIELLE’S APPEAL (#1) (5-1) is not proven with stakes runners as of yet but should control this race from the start. The Al Stall Jr. pupil is super-quick from the gate and draws the rail with jockey Shaun Bridgmohan. It’s worth note that the English Channel filly led at every call on this lawn on debut last season.

Defending champ LULL (#6) (2-1) was awesome taking this race in 2017 and is the class of the cast. The Christophe Clement trainee is a must use coming off a big work on the Oklahoma earlier in the week.

An exacta box is the suggested play.

RACE 9 – KENTUCKY DOWNS TURF SPRINT (G3)

Twelve will go postward for the 6 1/2-furlong test, and I have two horses of interest in this deep field. WHITE FLAG (#7) (6-1) was very impressive pulling away late in a recent allowance run at Belmont Park, earning a 104 BRIS Late Pace number in the process. The Christophe Clement trainee might be ready for another forward move third time out in 2018.

DONE DEAL (#12) (8-1) has big early foot and ability. The lightly raced sort from the Ian Wilkes shedrow is two-for-two on turf and might force the pace with a dream voyage throughout. The Macho Uno gelding has been training swiftly in anticipation of today.

I will key the pair on top in vertical exotics.

RACE 10 – KENTUCKY TURF CUP (G3)

An excellent field of 12 has assembled for the finale. I don’t see a whole lot separating most in the cast. Grade 1 hero BIGGER PICTURE (#4) (9-2) was empty in the Sword Dancer (G1) at Saratoga last time, but the Badge of Silver gelding has back class and will move forward today.

The seven-year-old impressed me with big late finishes in both the United Nations (G1) and the Bowling Green (G2) this summer. I will tab the chestnut to pass them all late under Tyler Gaffalione.

Bigger Picture will be a single on a Pick-4 ticket for me.