Scully’s Churchill Downs signature plays for Sept. 3

Happy Thurby! An 11-race program will be offered under the Twin Spires, and here are some takes on the racing action:

Look forward to playing: #1A Mahomes Money (6-1 morning line) in 7th race. Debuted in salty 6-furlong maiden special weight on Ellis Park’s biggest day, the Aug. 9 Ellis Park Derby card, and didn’t break well. By freshman sire Not This Time, the dark bay 2-year-old hails is eligible to appreciate the stretch out to two turns being from a stamina-infused female family, and I like the bullet work he shows over the track in preparation. Mahomes Money looks poised to improve significantly in his second start for Dale Romans, and I expect him to be prominent from the start beneath Joe Talamo.

Live longshot: #12 Mania (15-1) in the 10th race. Juvenile filly exits a commendable showing in the Aug. 9 Ellis Park Debutante S. in which she rushed forward after breaking a step slowly from the innermost post to show the way to midstretch. She determinedly held for second after being overhauled by a perfect-trip winner, and the gray daughter of Run Away and Hide posted a fine second at Churchill in her next-to-last dirt start, missing by a nose to Joy’s Rocket, who came back to win the My Dear S. at Woodbine and exits a runner-up in the Bolton Landing S. at Saratoga. Mania has been purchased privately by new connections and blinkers go back on from an outside post. A better break will help her chances, and Mania looms as a front-running threat at long odds.

Favorite against: #10 Oxide (3-1) in 6th race. Broke maiden on a slow pace and switches back to main track after dull showing against suspect company on Indiana Grand’s turf. His Brisnet Speed figures are lower than his main rivals, and I’m against the 7-2 second choice, #8 Sea of Hope, as well for the top spot. I’m giving #7 Zapper Van Winkle the edge, and also will use #1 Adhhar and #5 El Supremo in any multi-race wagers.