Grade 3 Kelly’s Landing Stakes | Churchill Downs | Race 9 | June 28


1. Dr. Venkman (5-2) Jockey: Antonio Fresu Trainer: Mark Glatt


Dr. Venkman won the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar in July 2024. He pressed the early pace and pulled ahead to secure a victory by a length in the 1?-mile race. His most recent appearance was in the Grade 3 Triple Bend Stakes at Santa Anita on May 31, where he finished a second to the high-class horse Nysos, finishing 5½ lengths behind in the seven-furlong race. Antonio Fresu has been on the board for the last four races, which coincides with Dr. Venkman's spike in speed figures. The Ghostzapper-bred gelding has finished in the money in six of seven career starts and won his only race at today's distance. This is a dangerous horse at a decent price, especially with Mark Glatt's 60% win rate when his horses run in the second race after a 6-month or longer break.


2. Three Technique (10-1) Jockey: Rafael Bejarano Trainer: Jason Cook


He was last seen in last year's Breeders Cup Dirt Mile, where he finished 12th at odds of 43-1. The 8-year-old Three Technique brings veteran experience to this sprint field. As the oldest horse in the race, he represents a connection looking to capitalize on his experience over the Churchill Downs surface. Rafael Bejarano provides steady handling with 61 wins in 2025 and a 17% strike rate. He has just six works leading up to his comeback race. It's hard to make a case for this horse.


3. Booth (2-1) Jockey: Erik Asmussen Trainer: Steve Asmussen


This 4-year-old Mitole colt has compiled a record of 7 wins from 11 starts, with notable victories in the Grade 3 Whitmore Stakes, Count Fleet Sprint Handicap, and most recently, the Grade 3 Maryland Sprint at Pimlico on May 17. Booth enters this race as arguably the most in-form horse, having won four consecutive races, including three graded stakes victories with four straight gate-to-wire victories. He could be alone on the lead from the jump. Top Choice.


4. Roll On Big Joe (3-1) Jockey: Julien Leparoux Trainer: Robert B. Hess Jr.


Roll On Big Joe was second in the 2024 Santa Anita Sprint Championship to the 2024 Eclipse Award sprint champion Straight No Chaser. This 5-year-old Florida-bred gelding captured his first graded stakes victory in the Grade 3 Palos Verdes Stakes at Santa Anita on February 15, winning by four lengths in 1:08.60 for six furlongs. Roll On Big Joe won an allowance race on May 16 at Churchill Downs, posting a career-high 121-speed Figure. He has finished in the money in 13 of 17 starts, including six wins and six second-place finishes. A bounce is likely off that new career top figure.


5. Otto the Conqueror (15-1) Jockey: Flavien Prat Trainer: Steve Asmussen


Otto the Conqueror finished fifth in that May 16 allowance race at Churchill Downs, a good six lengths behind Roll On Big Joe. Despite finishing fifth, Otto the Conqueror posted a new career high-speed figure of 108. He captured the $300,000 Remington Springboard Mile as a 2-year-old on a muddy track. Two of his four wins have come on a wet track. He hasn’t flashed the same type of speed since turning 3 years old. Flavien Prat rides for the first time, making him the fifth different jockey on this horse. You will rarely see these connections at 15-1 on the morning line.


6. Happy Is a Choice (10-1) Jockey: Rey Gutierrez Trainer: John Ortiz


He is cross-entered in a stakes race at Laurel Park on Saturday. This 5-year-old Runhappy gelding brings consistent form to this field, having been in the money in 12 of 16 races. He finished in a dead heat for third in the recent Grade 3 Aristides Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 31, demonstrating his ability to compete at this level over the Churchill surface. Two starts back, Happy Is a Choice finished third in St. Matthews Overnight stakes. The speed figures have declined in his last five races, and he has never won a graded stakes event.


7. Red Flag (15-1) Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr. Trainer: Robert B. Hess Jr.


Red Flag has won 7 out of 20 races, earning under $484,000. His most recent victory was in March, where he triumphed in an optional allowance, claiming race for $80,000, winning by a neck on a muddy surface. Since then, he hasn't performed as well, especially after winning three consecutive races at Del Mar last fall. However, his recent workouts have been strong leading up to this race. He'll have Irad Ortiz Jr. riding, with a 23% win rate over the past 30 days.


8. Durante (8-1) Jockey: Jose Ortiz Trainer: David Jacobson


Durante achieved one of the most surprising upsets of the year by winning the Grade 3 Aristides Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 31, with odds of 33-1. However, his speed figure was relatively low, measuring 19 points below his previous figure of 115 when he finished third in an allowance race at the exact location on May 16. This upcoming race will be his fourth since May 2, and his morning workouts have not been impressive.


Selections


#2 Booth (2-1) Win-Place