Oaks / Derby Race Schedules

From the Churchill Downs 2010 Spring Meet condition book, the tentative Oaks and Derby undercard schedule.

Friday, April 30th

Saturday, May 1st:

• I like the fact that Churchill has scheduled a turf race as the final event on both the Derby and Oaks days.  A late Pick 3 or Daily Double starting with the Oaks or Derby can be a nice little way to close the day...or try and dig out of a hole.
• Informed Decision, champion filly and mare sprinter for 2009, is nominated to the Grade 1 Humana Distaff.  Don't know if that would be her best spot considering she does most of her damage over synthetic surfaces.  Prior to her loss in the Grade 1 Vinery Madison on April 8th, Informed Decision had lost on three races in her career, all of which were on dirt.  If she enters, she might make a good "bet against".
• The Grade 2 American Turf on the Oaks undercard has the potential to be a hell of a betting race.  Check out the list of current nominees to that race at Chruchill Downs home page.  There are some very nice three year olds on that list, including Interactif, Radiohead (GB), Exhi, Paddy O'Prado...essentially we've got a collection of turf and synthetic horses that couldn't make it to the Derby (with the exception of Interactif, who has enough earnings to run in the Derby).
• My favorite race on the Derby undercard is the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic, even though NBC refuses to ever show us this race during the two hours they are live on the air.  Eighty-one horses were nominated to this race, making if very likely that we'll see another big and competitive field.  This race can key a very nice Daily Double with the Derby if you can hit it.
  
  There is one way that NBC might be bothered to show this race live and that's if Nicanor, Barbaro's brother, draws into the field (he's on the the 81 nominations).  You know NBC would like nothing more than to hit up that storyline.