Chalk Talks at Keeneland Opening Day And Looks To Continue on Saturday

The favorite won 6 of 10 races and hit the board in two others on opening day at Keeneland to trigger shorter-than-typical multi-race payoffs, but there were some nice vertical exotics. At the spring meet, the average double paid more than the average exacta, but that was not in play on Friday and could continue on Saturday, as the favorites look strong in the day's stakes.

But they can't win them all, and today's all-stakes and late Pick 4 wagering involve a longshot (or two) crashing the party while other favorites oblige as John G. Dooley would say.

Stonetastic (TCA), Tepin (First Lady), Classic Empire (Breeders Futurity), Mondialiste (Shadwell Turf Mile), and Souper Catch (nightcap maiden) would be involved in a couple Pick 4s that might pay $50 for $0.50, so the hope is to be right on a few (especially Classic Empire) and really wrong on the others.

In the early Pick 4, we'll definitely caveman it and try to get live to the Turf Sprint to some big prices. Our best bet of the day is Classic Empire. The most likely winner is Souper Catch.