Mucciolo: Potential Churchill Pick 6 Singles

Thursday’s card at Churchill Downs plays host to eight races and it will be the first day of racing following a wildly successful Kentucky Derby weekend. It also marks the initial offering of the 20-cent Pick 6 Jackpot, which features a mandatory payout of a little more than $335k (and the same amount of seed money for the jackpot). With a sizable payout possible, I will take a look at a few runners who might be worth a single in the sequence (races 3-8).

Race 3

#7 TIZNOBLE will make a first run off the claim for conditioner Norm Casse. Gray son of Tiznow ships in from the Empire State and brings both speed and form to the table. Five-year-old finished fourth in a latest offering up against $32,000 foes in the mud at Aqueduct which followed a romp in which he earned a lofty, 101 BRIS Speed number.

Tops in Prime Power, Tiznoble has shown nice improvement since adding blinkers five back and picks up Julien Leparoux. He’s got a chance to lead this field from start-to-finish at a respectable price.

Race 4

I am never a fan of singling in a turf sprint. And this field looks too tough to separate the main contenders. #9 MO DIDDLEY is my tepid top play but nowhere near a single.

Race 5

This is another tough puzzle. #5 GLITZNGLAMOUR is the horse I am most interested in following a very good debut showing at Keeneland. #3 EAST MOON and #9 PRAY FOR LESLIE are also very logical maiden heat.

Like the previous event, a single here would be an aggressive move I can’t endorse.

Race 6

#5 FRANK THE BUTCHER looks fairly obvious in an $8,000 claiming event. Son of Medaglia d’Oro put in a pair of sharp efforts at Gulfstream this campaign, with a dominant maiden score last time, and comes in fresh for Mike Maker.

Four-year-old colt shows a trio of fine morning moves at Keeneland of late and draws outside of his main rivals. I don’t see much reason to spread in leg four of the sequence.

Race 7

#7 AWESTRUCK surely looked the part in a seasonal debut when romping at Keeneland for Rusty Arnold. Daughter of Tapit lands in a tricky field with four or five legitimate contenders, but she stands out to me.

Gray has done her best running in the Bluegrass State and a one-turn mile seems ideal for her running style from just off the pace.

Race 8

If #13 SPECIAL FORCES draws into the field from the also-eligible list, I would feel fine having the colt to conclude my ticket. Son of Candy Ride has flashed potential from each of his trio of turf tries while facing sizable fields. And the chestnut lands in a most winnable spot today.

Mark Casse trainee is half to multiple Grade 2 heroine Stonetastic; as well being a three-quarters brother to the multiple stakes-placed Gift Box, who was fourth in the 2016 Travers (G1) behind the mighty Arrogate. 

Special Forces appears to be sitting on a win to me.

Visit www.brisnet.com for a wide array of handicapping reports Thursday at Churchill Downs