Pick 4 of the Week: Churchill Downs Saturday, September 26

I will take aim at the late-closing Pick 4 at Churchill Downs on Saturday, which features a trio of black-type tilts. 

Race 8 Wager

• 50-cent Pick 4: 1,5,6 with 3,4,6,7,8 with all with 2 ($37.50)

Race 8 – Bourbon Flight S. 

Sophomores will run 1 1/16 miles on the dirt in the opening leg of the play. I feel as though I can advance to the next piece using the three most fancied runners on the morning line – #1 Plutarch (5-2), #5 Stimulate (9-5), and #6 Local Knowledge (3-1).

Race 9 – Ack Ack (G3)

I really like #3 Owen Almighty (3-1) in this spot for trainer Brian Lynch. The four-year-old son of Speightstown has run two of the best races of his lifetime in succession lately, and his versatility in run style will come in handy in the competitive cast. 

He won’t be a single, however, as multiple graded stakes heroes #4 Bishops Bay (9-5), #6 Coal Battle (8-1), #7 East Avenue (4-1), and #8 Nu What’s New (3-1) are also quite viable in the deep field. 

Race 10 – Lukas Classic (G2)

A pair of expected scratches will bring this field down to five, and since I can’t make a firm case for or against any contender in the cast, I’ll use them all to advance to the closing portion of the wager. 

Race 11 – Optional Claiming

This turf test is for fillies and mares running 1 3/8 miles on the sod to close things out, and this is where I will take my stand. The Rusty Arnold-trained #2 Daisy Flyer (9-2) is a Grade 3 winner with a one-paced running style that I feel is perfectly suited for marathon distances on the green. The Calumet homebred has put in a trio of even races this campaign to commence 2026, and I expect her to thrive with more ground at a nice price. Christian Torres will take the reins and have the filly saving ground every step of the way in the finale.