Spot plays for opening day at Kentucky Downs

With only five days of racing at Kentucky Downs over the next two weeks, starting slow and revving up play after picking up on some trends might not be to everyone's taste. There simply isn't enough time. Each bettor has their own comfort level, though, and I generally like to see how things are shaking out in the early stages of a meet to determine which factors to emphasize in my handicapping going forward.

While not representing the entirety of my play on Wednesday's opening card, the following two horses generated the most interest on paper.

Race 4 -- #3 DOUGLAS ROAD (8-1) hasn't run a bad one in two starts for Arnaud Delacour, beating two next-out winners in graduating at Delaware Park and then missing in a photo over the same course against allowance company after stalking the early pace. Faces a better quality of horse here, yet still has loads of room for improvement. Jockey Fergal Lynch and Delacour have been a highly potent combo.

Race 10 -- #7 RUN TIME (9-2) perhaps was intended to run here in 2016 but was sidelined. That's my theory considering his profile looks very similar to what it was at this time a year ago. Last summer, a narrow loss at Churchill was followed by a dull performance at Saratoga and then a spell. Heading into this race, the Gio Ponti colt missed in another photo at Gulfstream two back and then showed nothing against tougher at Saratoga. It's always tough to back a 10-loss maiden, but this might finally be the spot where he succeeds for the Maker barn.