Betting on Saturday’s All-Turf Pick 3 at Churchill Downs

A special $3 all-turf Pick 3 wager will be offered on both cards over the weekend at Churchill Downs, and the Saturday sequence is both challenging and exciting, with numerous excellent performers signed on for the grassy tilts. 

Race 8 Wager

• $3 Pick 3: 3,5,6,8 with 7,8 with 1,9 ($48)

Race 8 – Tepin S. 

An octet of three-year-old fillies will travel one mile in the opening leg. #5 Lush Lips (9-5) and #6 Vixen (2-1) were second and third, respectively, in the Edgewood S. (G2) on the course on Kentucky Oaks Day and are the ones to beat. It’s difficult for me to separate the duo. 

I’ll also include two other fillies, including #3 Love You Anyway (5-1), one of two in the field for Rusty Arnold. The Tapit lass was a dominant maiden winner at Keeneland in her latest venture and appears to have a fairly high ceiling. Luis Saez retaining the mount is also a positive. California invader #8 Favor to You (10-1) is two-for-two since having blinkers removed and stretches out after two sprint tallies on the Santa Anita green. Antonio Fresu has the call. 

Race 10 – Wise Dan S. (G2)

The 1 1/16-mile event for the boys attracted nine in an especially well-matched group. Trainer Shug McGaughey has #8 Fort Washington (6-1) going very well this season, and the six-year-old has to be on the ticket. The son of War Front will rally from off the pace under Junior Alvarado. 

#7 Brilliant Berti (3-1) loves the course with a 5-4-1-0 mark locally and has shown some improvement in each run in 2025. One of two in the field for Cherie Devaux, the colt will have Brian Hernandez, Jr. in the silks. I’ll stand pat with that duo in the middle leg. 

Race 12 – American Derby S. 

#1 Reagan’s Wit (3-1) seems like a formidable foe in the finale, a 1 1/16-mile tilt for sophomore boys. DeVaux pupil waltzed home against an overmatched field at Pimlico last time out and still has plenty of room for improvement. The Authentic colt will be tough to hold off if he receives clear sailing late under Jose Ortiz. 

#9 Giocoso (10-1) has a lot of ability and could add huge value to the play if he peaks beneath Ben Curtis. The Not This Time colt was just four lengths shy in the recent American Turf (G1) on the strip and faces a slightly easier task on Saturday for conditioner Keith Desormeaux. 

Join us for our LIVE coverage during Stephen Foster Day as we include all the major stakes races at Churchill Downs for this Horse Racing Weekend on Saturday! Our LIVE coverage will include Churchill Downs expert picks, LIVE odds, exclusive interviews, and other horse racing news. Discover the thrill of Churchill Downs starting at 3:30 p.m. ET through the Stephen Stakes at 6:03 p.m. ET.