Expert Pick of the Week: 2024 Blame Stakes

May 29, 2024 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

A strong field of 11 will go postward in Saturday’s $275,000 Blame S. (G3) at Churchill Downs. The local prep for the upcoming Stephen Foster (G1) will be run at nine panels on the main oval and attracted an especially competitive cast for the contest.

Conditioner Todd Pletcher has a pair of contenders in the race, and I expect the Grade 1-placed #6 Dreamlike to evolve into major horse in 2024. The four-year-old son of Gun Runner nearly broke his maiden in his third lifetime run when missing by a neck in the 2023 Wood Memorial S. (G2) at Aqueduct, but he did break through with a powerful win at Saratoga in July. The $975,000 yearling purchase was a clear second in a huge runner-up performance in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1), prior to concluding his season with an even run in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).

#3 Dreamlike stays clear of trouble and romps in R2 at Saratoga for trainer Todd Pletcher, owners @RepoleStable and St Elias Stable and jockey @iradortiz! 🌟

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/QhQNdkl3ZD

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) July 14, 2023

Dreamlike made his season debut at Keeneland and finished second by a neck in what looks like an excellent prep for this event. The chestnut has posted a trio of morning drills on the surface in preparation for his local bow and will improve on the move to 1 1/8 miles. Regular pilot Irad Ortiz Jr. will guide the top pick and have coming from off of an expected quick pace on Saturday.

The Brad Cox-trained #2 Highland Falls has given a fine account of himself in a pair of tough graded races in succession and could peak in his third run since January. The Godolphin homebred was a strong allowance winner beneath the Twin Spires in November, and the well-bred colt has improved with each outing this season. Curlin four-year-old will never be far back at any point of the race with Florent Geroux taking the reins.

#3 War Campaign could be the value of the race for conditioner Phil Sims. The five-year-old son of Declaration of War comes off runner-up showings in both the Ben Ali (G3) and Essex (G3) behind powerful winners, and he is a three-time winner on the Churchill main surface, too. Kentucky-bred has been getting himself into his races sooner in recent performances, which will leave pilot Tyler Gaffalione with less to do in the final furlong.

Expert Pick

An exacta with #6 Dreamlike on top of #2 Highland Falls and #3 War Campaign in the 2024 Blame Stakes is the Best Bet of the Week.