Quills Picks Winners – Friday 6/19 – Churchill Downs Race 6

We head back to Churchill on this Friday for our race of the day. We are looking at race six on a nine-race card. Our race is an optional claiming race going a mile and a sixteenth on the turf course here with nine horses entered.

Churchill Downs Race 6 – Allowance Optional Claiming

Favored in our featured race today is the 8 West Hollywood (2/1 morning line). He drops in class after finishing third three weeks ago in the Grade 3 Arlington Stakes here at Churchill. He closed well and had to go wide in the stretch in that race. Look for him to make a late move here this afternoon.

The 1 Lambeth (9/2 ML) only has a few races on the turf in his career, but he has shown the ability to run on the green stuff. Last time out he raced in an optional claimer in his first race in seven months and closed well to finish third. There is a grass pedigree on the dam site which may substantiate the good races on the turf so far despite running mostly on the main track.

The 4 Irish Aces (7/2 ML) races for the first time in over a year after winning an allowance race at Keeneland in April 2025. He was on the lead that day, but he had been closing from the rear in his races. He has run well fresh in the past and has trained well on the Tapeta at Turfway Park, but would he need a race?

The 7 Herchee (8/1 ML) faded last time out at Churchill Downs in his first race in almost a year. He likes to stalk and all his wins have come from the stalking position. He needed that race last time out but will be bounce back today?

Joe’s Pick

There is a ton of speed in this race and we should see the closers swallow up the speed by the time they reach the stretch. Herchee might get the first opportunity to take over the lead, but West Hollywood would get by and hold off Lambeth at the end.

I’m calling this race 8-1-7-4 and my play is $20 to win on the 8. Best of luck and I’ll see you in the winner’s circle!