PLAY of the DAY” by Brian Nadeau                   
   
Date:  5/2/2023 
   
Featured Track/Race:   Churchill Downs – Race 9 
   
Race overview:  A wide-open MSW routing at 1 ¼ miles on the main track for 3up. 
   
Pace:  Expect things to be a crawl early, as these maidens will be tested running the Kentucky Derby distance, which means they will be handled gently early on, in the hopes of saving something for later. 
   
Trends:  N/A 
   
Best Play:  #7 GRAGGADOCIOUS (9-2): This is a pedigree race as much as anything, and this Gun Runner gelding has it in spades, as a half to Preakness runner-up Bravazo for Rusty Arnold, who is 29% with second-out maidens, so in a race with several who have had their chances, this one looks primed off a strong 4th going to the first finish line in his Kee unveiling last month, in what was undoubtedly a prep for this. 
   
Bet Types:    Aggressive WP bet at 5-2 or better and get some built-in value by singling to end the late Pk5/Pk4 as well. 
   
Meet/POD Stats:  CD Meet: 10-4-1-2 ($1.87/$5.28 ROI through 5/1) 

CD POD: 1-0-1-0 (X ROI through 5/1)