RACE 6: GRADE 1 DERBY CITY DISTAFF

A seven-furlong test for older fillies and mares, the Derby City Distaff has a couple of runners familiar to Midlantic racing fans, as Alva Starr (5-2) — last-out winner of the G1 Madison who earned her first stakes win in Delaware Park’s Dashing Beauty last July — squares off with Madison runner-up Vahva (3-1), who won last August’s G3 Charles Town Oaks.

Our group consensus:

1. #10 Vahva
2. #7 Alva Starr
3. #9 Red Carpet Ready

RACE 7: GRADE 2 DISTAFF TURF MILE

The Distaff Turf Mile is a pretty wide-open affair: in fact, nine of the 12 entrants appeared at least once in our experts’ picks. Five received at least one first-place vote.

Or maybe it’s not that complicated at all; maybe it’s just the Chad Brown show. The ace trainer, who’ll seek his first Kentucky Derby win later on the card, has three runners in here, and they are our experts’ top three selections. We’re especially eager to see British import Coppice, who won four times in England albeit mostly against modest company. The consensus:

1. #11 Coppice
2. #6 Delahaye
3. #3 Chili Flag

	Eric Rubin	Ted Black	Derby Bill Watson	John Piassek	Nick Hahn	Gary Quill
1	11. Coppice	1. Ag Bullet	11. Coppice	3. Chili Flag	6. Delahaye	12. Mission of Joy
2	10. Infinite Diamond	11. Coppice	6. Delahaye	6. Delahaye	3. Chili Flag	7. Evvie Jets
3	7. Evvie Jets	8. Heavenly Sunday	3. Chili Flag	10. Infinite Diamond	12. Mission of Joy	5. Cairo Consort

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RACE 8: GRADE 2 PAY DAY MILE

The former Derby Trial ceased to be a useful Derby prep years ago but has been reborn as annually an interesting test for horses who are either a little bit distance-limited or not quite ready for the run for the roses.

A dozen runners are slated to face the starter, with Blue Grass Stakes sixth-place finisher Top Conor the 5-2 morning line favorite and Nash (3-1), who recently won the Hot Springs Stakes, the second choice. One intriguing entrant: Vlahos (8-1), who was a scintillating debut winner at Santa Anita and makes the cross-country trek for his second start. The group’s consensus:

1. #12 Nash
2. #5 Seize the Grey
3. #7 Who Dey/#2 Beeline (tie)

RACE 9: GRADE 2 AMERICAN TURF

This grass test for sophomores lookts to be another wide-open affair. The 7-2 morning line favorite is the Charlie Appleby-trained Legend of Time, who will make his first North American start after dominating rivals in Dubai. The only blemish on his five-start career is an ok fifth-place finish in last year’s Group 3 Tattersall at Newmarket.

Other runners that may offer interest include last-out G3 Transylvania winner Neat, who scored at 13-1; Cugino (10-1), beaten a nose in that spot; Triple Crown trail refugee Agate Road (5-1); and 2-for-2 Set (10-1). The group consensus:

1. #5 Legend of Time
2. #11 Cugino
3. #14 Agate Road

RACE 10: GRADE 1 CHURCHILL DOWNS

The morning line favorite in this seven-furlong test for older runners is 2022 Kentucky Derby entrant Zozos (3-1). The Brad Cox trainee owns two wins over the strip, always a plus at Churchill Downs, including a Grade 3 win in the Ack Ack. The class of the field is probably the five-year-old Hoist the Gold, a two-time Grade 2 winner who took last December’s G2 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct impressively with a 109 Beyer Speed Figure. His last two aren’t good, but it appears nine furlongs is beyond his scope.

Two others worth a mention are the Grade 3-winning veteran Tejano Twist (4-1) and the improving, lightly-raced Bo Cruz (10-1), who earned his first graded win (in just seven career starts) in the Commonwealth at this past Keeneland meet. The group consensus:

1. #3 Bo Cruz
2. #2 Tejano Twist
3. #9 Three Technique

RACE 11: GRADE 1 TURF CLASSIC

Trainer Charlie Appleby could strike again in this turf contest with morning line favorite Naval Power (7-2). The Godolphin runner arrives off a good second in the G1 Maker’s Mark Mile and should appreciate the added ground in this spot; he’s 2-for-2 at nine furlongs. Also in the field is old friend Integration (5-1), who won last summer’s G3 Virginia Derby impressively in just his second career start. Classwise, don’t sleep on Program Trading (9-2), who won two Grade 1 races last year as a sophomore. The group consensus:

1. #11 Naval Power
2. #1 Integration
3. #5 Program Trading