Churchill Downs Picks – Saturday, September 26, 2020

The ten-race card at Churchill Downs for Saturday has several big-purse matches, but the richest is the Ack Ack Stakes, a Grade III stakes race with a purse of $100,000.

Incidentally, while Churchill Downs does not currently permit spectators, you’ll be happy to know the competitors will enjoy a mostly sunny fall day with temps in the low 80s and winds around nine mph.

Okay, let’s get to my predictions, picks, and tips for Saturday’s richest races at Churchill Downs.

This is an allowance optional claiming race for fillies and mares three years old and upward running a distance of one mile for a purse of $81,000.

I like the second half of the 3/1 coupled entry—Talk Veuve to Me, ridden by Ricardo Santana, Jr. This five-year-old mare finished in the money six of her nine career starts, winning four of them.

At 12/1, I think Estilo Femenino, with Joseph Talamo aboard, is a slight bargain for a show ticket. This five-year-old mare moneyed eight of her 15 career starts, winning three of them.

This is the Ack Ack Stakes, a race for three-year-olds and upward running a distance of one mile for a purse of $100,000.

I like the morning line’s big 9/5 favorite in this race, Warrior’s Charge, with Florent Geroux in the irons. This four-year-old colt finished in the money for nine of his 11 career starts, winning five of them.

Plenty of long-odds in this stakes race, but I think the 30/1 longshot Dinar, with top jockey Rafael Bejarano aboard, is the value show bet of the day. This four-year-old colt moneyed six of his nine career starts, winning two of them.

This is a maiden special weight race for fillies and mares three-years-old and upward running a distance of 1-1/8 miles on turf for a purse of $75,000.

I like the third-favored (7/2) horse in this race—Sail On Ellen, with Colby J. Hernandez aboard. This three-year-old filly has finished in the money for all five of her career starts.

There are a few long-odds entries in this race, but none that I think are worth a show bet.

I also take a look at the Saturday racing fare offered by these two tracks: