How to Play Sunday’s All-Turf Pick 3 at Churchill Downs

A diverse trio of races on the lawn will comprise the all-turf Pick 3 at Churchill Downs on closing Sunday. 

Race 5 Wager

$3 Pick 3: 2,5,9,11 with 2,7,8 with 11 ($36)

Race 5 – Optional Claiming

A total of 11 fillies and mares will jaunt five-eighths on the green in a tough first leg of the sequence. Stakes winner #2 Nikki Nine Doors (7-2) has burned money in three of her last four outings, but the talented filly is surely good enough to take down this field with her best. The Cairo Prince miss could get a good pace set up in a heat with substantial early speed. 

The lightly raced #11 Foxxy Cleopatra (9-2) is two-for-two on the grass in her lifetime, and I feel that she will benefit from drawing widest of all for Larry Rivelli. Jareth Loveberry retains the ride. #9 Satin Blue (5-1) is a one-run closer in a field full of speed and comes off a daylight win over a nice one on this surface last time out. If #5 Moonlit Lady (8-1) catches a flier out of the gate, then the Maker trainee could be dangerous in the stretch at a solid price. 

Race 9 – Anchorage S. 

I will go three-deep in the middle portion of the play. Mint Julep S. (G3) victress #7 Pin Up Betty (8-5) has run two big ones on the course to kick off 2025 and will be formidable if she improves third time off the shelf for Mike Maker.

Mint Julep second #8 Charlene’s Dream (3-1) blitzed her foes in the Gallorette S. (G3) at Pimlico two back and will be the one to catch turning for home in this spot. Rafael Bejarano will guide the Bill Morey pupil. 

Graham Motion’s #2 Sparkle Blue (6-1) was very good in the early portion of 2024 but has yet to regain that form in advance of Sunday. The Grade 2 heroine gets a pass for her latest showing at Pimlico, and it’s worth noting she has performed well on this oval in the past. Picking up Irad is a big deal, too. 

Race 11 – Maiden Special Weight

An oversubscribed field of 15 is entered for the finale, a nine-furlong heat for fillies and mares. My top pick and aggressive single is #11 Miss Pharaoh (6-1) for trainer Phil Sims. The bay filly has run into a pair of excellent winners in both lifetime runs on the sod to date and lands in a very winnable spot. The American Pharoah filly is out of a nice stakes-winning turf mare and will be flying home late under Dettori.