Pick 4 of the Week: Churchill Downs Saturday, May 9

The Pick 4 of the Week will come from Churchill Downs on Saturday, with the late sequence being my main focus. 

Race 8 Wager

• 50-cent Pick 4: 3,8,11 with 1,5 with 1,2,8 with 2,6,11,12 ($36)

Race 8 – Allowance

An overflow cast has been entered for the one-mile turf test for the boys. #8 Sumood (7-2) missed by a nose at the level at Keeneland last time in a big run for Brendan Walsh and will be tough to knock off with even slight improvement in the opening leg. The well-bred son of Kitten’s Joy has never run a bad one and rates a huge shot with Gaffalione in the pipes. 

#3 Love’m Or Liam (4-1) was a bit unlucky not to have won at Keeneland last time out and is a must-use in my opinion for Bill Mott. Cutler Bay S. fifth #11 Sheriff Bart (6-1), also from the Mott shedrow, will have blinkers on for the initial time and fits well despite facing his elders. 

Race 9 – Optional Claiming

The second leg is a nine-furlong tilt for older males, and #1 Admiral Dennis (7-5) is the one to beat for conditioner Brad Cox. The Constitution colt has faced stakes foes in four straight and will appreciate the class relief in this heat. Grade 2 winner #5 Tiztastic (5-1) gets back on the main surface following four runs on the turf in advance of this one, and he will improve second time off the layoff today. The Asmussen trainee has placed in two of three local runs and will have the red-hot Jose Ortiz in the silks. 

Race 10 – William Walker S. 

Sophomores will dash 5 1/2 panels on the green in the feature. #8 Outfielder (8-5) ran off to a facile win in the Animal Kingdom S. at Turfway Park in his seasonal bow and rates a big chance second time back for Wesley Ward. The fleet son of Speightstown gets a perfect post on the outside and will have John Velazquez in the irons, who is three-for-three on the colt. 

Palisades S. winner #1 Reb Five (4-1) and #2 Throckmorton (3-1), who was second in the Palisades S., will also be included in the third leg. 

Race 11 – Maiden Claiming

A dozen fillies and mares will run seven panels on the main oval in the finale. #2 Ships Inn (6-1) ran an even one in a six-furlong tilt in her dirt debut last time, and the daughter of Midshipman will also race with blinkers on for the second time. The Donamire homebred exits a tough heat and will appreciate the class drop under Beschizza. 

#12 Rockin Robin (4-1) was dealt a tough draw on the outside of the field, but has missed by a head and a neck in her last two and is the one to beat. The Mark Casse trainee will be tracking the pace throughout with Tyler Gaffalione in the silks. #6 Daring Madison (6-1) and #11 Quick to Charm (5-1), the pair of four-year-old fillies in the field, will also make the ticket.