Pick 4 of the Week: Churchill Downs Saturday, May 30

A huge afternoon of racing will be hosted by Churchill Downs on Saturday as part of Stephen Foster Preview Day, with seven stakes races on the slate, including six of the graded variety. I’ll shoot for the middle Pick 4 of the day, which could be lucrative. 

Race 4 Wager

• $1 Pick 4: 3,10,11,12 with 7,8 with 4 with 1,3,4,5,8 ($40)

Race 4 – Optional Claiming

An overflow field of three-year-old fillies will go the one-turn mile on the main strip in the opening leg of the play. #12 Mashallah (2-1) was all the rage following her stout maiden win at Keeneland on debut for Walsh. The $1.25 million daughter of Maxfield drew widest of all in a tough field, so I will not single the filly at the expected short odds.

#3 Betty’s Pearl (6-1) earned a huge Brisnet Late Pace rating in her first with blinkers and has steadily improved this campaign for Lynch. The Munnings filly will be the one to hold off late under Mario Gutierrez. Debut vixens #10 Passerine (6-1) and #11 La Racasse (9-2) both impressed at first asking, and either or both could evolve into really good ones. 

Race 5 – Audubon S. 

A total of 10 three-year-olds will jaunt 1 1/8 miles on the green in a challenging second piece of the play. I’ll give a pass to #8 Thousandsticks (9-2) for his unplaced run in the deep American Turf (G1) on Kentucky Derby Day last time out and tab him as a major player in this spot. The Brian Lynch pupil was quite good in Florida in the winter and has the early foot to be involved every step of the way beneath Luis Saez.

Juddmonte homebred #7 Touch of Fire (2-1) is a lightly raced colt with a bright future, and the versatile Brad Cox pupil comes in fresh with Irad signed on.

Race 6 – Shawnee (G2)

Four graded stakes heroines are among the seven entered for the 1 1/16-mile tilt on the main oval. I’ll be aggressive with a single in this spot with #4 Majestic Oops (3-1) in her first run since arriving at Phil D’Amato's barn. The Majestic Harbor six-year-old was sharp in her Azeri (G2) score at Oaklawn Park two back, and I feel that she will get an ideal trip from off the pace on Saturday. The California-bred figures to be a fair price at post time under Francisco Arrieta. 

Race 7 – Mint Julep (G3)

An especially competitive cast of nine fillies and mares will vie in the 1 1/16-mile affair on the lawn, and I will use five to conclude the play. Expected pacesetter #1 Charlene’s Dream (12-1), defending champ #3 Pin Up Betty (7-2), Jenny Wiley (G1) third #4 Medoro (5-2), strong late runner #5 Proctor Street (3-1), and the Brad Cox-trained #8 Sweet Treasure (6-1) are the ones.