Longshot of the Day: Race 6 at Kentucky Downs

Track: Kentucky Downs

Race 6: $190K allowance going 6 ½ furlongs on turf for 3+

Post Time: 4:13 PM ET

Horse: #3 Landing Craft (8/1 morning line) use as a win bet at 6/1 or higher.

We have a 10%-win bonus at Kentucky Downs today on NYRA Bets, so make sure to OPT IN and play. Let’s get a longshot winner so that 10% goes a little further and we’re headed to an intriguing allowance race going 6 ½ furlongs over the undulating turf course in Franklin, KY. I typically like looking for horses who have experience going longer than 6 ½ since the course at Kentucky Downs can cause a horse to exert a bit more than they would in a flat one-turn race. Therefore, I look for horses that have success or foundation running a mile who are cutting back for this race, which brings me to Landing Craft for trainer Amelia Green who was a long-time assistant for Todd Pletcher. Landing Craft took the turf for the first time in his last start and ran competitively in a $100,000 optional claiming race at Saratoga that was won by Stars and Strides who came back to win the Saranac Stakes on closing day of the Saratoga meet. Additionally, two other horses, eighth-place Candytown and last-place Solo Venturi, came back to win their next starts against allowance company. What is particularly appealing about Landing Craft, aside from exiting a productive last race, is that the son of Omaha Beach has shown great early speed going two turns on the dirt, which translated into him getting the lead easily in his lone turf start. He faded late, which has been a consistent issue since facing winners, but I think the switch to the turf and the cutback to 6 ½ furlongs today is perfect. Omaha Beach got off to a slow start as a turf sire influence, but we’re starting to see his runners pop on the grass as they mature and now win on the turf at a 14% clip. Expect jockey Ricardo Sanata Jr. to be aggressive out of the gate as inside speed has been somewhat of a cheat code at Kentucky Downs this meet. Historically, early speed can be highly advantageous in sprints. Putting a horse that has plenty of foundation up on the lead over a taxing turf course is a recipe I like and think this could be the perfect spot for him to pop at a big price.