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Friday's card features 6 graded stakes.

It may not be all smooth sailing this weekend at Churchill Downs as there are a number of unhappy locals who may protest. This is not without historical precedent as in 1967 there were protests and little change has happened since then.

The Churchill Downs people have put out a statement acknowledging the lack of change and the indisputable fact that in the early Kentucky Derbies (and Oaks) the jockeys were black and an important part of the legacy.

So should racing proceed (with less likelihood of disruption on Friday) the weekend will kick off with the Eight Belles Gr 2 over 1400m with 7 3yo fillies.  Mundaye Call 6/5 and Four Graces 7/5 are considered to be the most likely.

The Aleysheba is Gr 2 over 1700m with 8 runners headed by McKinzie who is the defendant and comes here on 8/5.  By My Standards is on 7/5 and we like Owendale on 6/1 as a potential spoiler of the party.

The Edgewood is Gr 2 over 1600m with 8 3yo fillies headed by the Speightstown filly Sharing who is on 4/6.  Hendy Woods is by Uncle Mo and is quoted at 4/1 and In Good Spirits a nicely named daughter of Ghostzapper is on 5/1.

The La Troienne is the first of the two Gr 1s and is over 1700m for the girls.  Monomy Girl won the Oaks in 2018 then had a lengthy absence due to illness but has returned and looking like she is hitting top form judging from her win in the Ruffian.  She's on 4/5.  Opposing her on 4/1 are two other winners of top races, Horologist who won the Molly Pitcher after being transferred to Bill Mott, and Vexatious who won the Personal Ensign.

There are several other good runners here so it could be a really good race.

The Oaks on the other hand has only 3 runners in single figures in the Morning Line with Baffert's very expensive filly Gamine on evens following a classy win in the Test.  Kenny McPeek's Swiss Skydiver won the Alabama and is very talented – 8/5.  Speech is considered the next best and capable of causing an upset if all goes well – she's on 5/1.  There should be good pace in the race as those three runners have drawn to the inside and will probably head the proceedings.

To finish off the card there is the Turf Sprint with 14 runners over the 1100m.  Wesley Ward's Bound For Nowhere heads the cast on 3/1 with Extravagant Kid on 7/2 and Tiger Blood 6/1.