Expert Pick of the Week: Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes

Nov 27, 2020 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

A field of nine fine juvenile prospects will go postward in Saturday’s $200,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs. The 1 1/16-mile event offers qualifying points on the 2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby on a 10-4-2-1 basis to the top four finishers.

Albaugh Family Stables has a pair of contenders in the field, led by Iroquois (G3) winner Sittin on Go. Trained by Dale Romans, the son of young sire Brody’s Cause was a debut winner at Ellis Park prior to his impressive showing on the Churchill Downs main surface in his second lifetime assignment. The January foal went postward at odds of 9-1 in the subsequent Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), but he broke slowly and failed to fire in an off-the-board finish.

Sittin on Go uses Churchill as his home base and has trained in smart fashion this campaign. The $65,000 weanling purchase draws well near the rail to save ground early on Saturday, prior to putting in his powerful closing kick. And with the probability of a moderate early tempo, the inside draw will be especially beneficial with Corey Lanerie in the controls.

The Brad Cox-trained duo of Swill and Inspector Frost are the main dangers to the top pick, in my opinion. Swill graduated in style 7 furlongs on the course in his most recent effort, and he has speed from the rail while making his stakes debut in the Jockey Club. Florent Geroux stays in the silks.

Inspector Frost, a Godolphin homebred son of Frosted, aced his second career assignment at Keeneland and seems poised to improve with the added distance on Saturday. Gray colt is out of a dam that prospered going a route of ground, and he has trained quite well on this oval as well. John Velazquez picks up the live mount.

An exacta with Sittin on Go over Swill and Inspector Frost is the Best Bet of the Week.