Pick 4 of the Week: Keeneland Saturday, October 3

I’ll take a swing at the late Pick 4 on Saturday's Keeneland card, led by a trio of Grade 1 races. 

Race 8 Wager

• 50-cent Pick 4: 2,3,9 with 1,2,6 with 3,7,9 with 3,5,10 ($40.50)

Race 8 – First Lady (G1)

A fine cast of 11 fillies and mares will travel one mile on the lawn in the opening leg. European import #3 Mandanaba (7-2) was a solid second in her U. S. debut two back in the Just A Game (G1) at Saratoga and makes her second run in the states in this spot. The lightly raced Group 3 heroine will be tough with her best under Umberto Rispoli.

#2 Lush Lips (8-1) captured the Queen Elizabeth II (G1) on the course in the fall and will make her third run of the season for Brendan Walsh. #9 Classic Q (10-1) has been good in 2026 and had a nice prep run for this when third at Kentucky Downs last time for Mark Casse. 

Race 9 – Breeders’ Futurity (G1)

Six two-year-old males will travel 1 1/16 miles on the main oval in hopes of qualifying for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). I feel that one of the three horses can win the race, and I'll use each of them to advance to the next portion of the play. 

Classy maiden winners #1 Coach Pope (4-5), #2 Q B Rocket (2-1), and #6 American History (4-1) are the ones. 

Race 10 – Coolmore Turf Mile (G1)

A strong cast of nine will vie in the eight-furlong tilt on the lawn. Group 2 hero #7 Lake Forest (4-1) was second to the superb Notable Speech at York last time out and rates a big chance for Haggas. The No Nay Never gelding will have regular pilot Cieren Fallon in for the voyage. 

Defending champ #3 Rhetorical (2-1) put in a subpar race for his standards at Saratoga last time but will relish the return to this venue for Will Walden. Multiple Grade 1 hero #9 Zulu Kingdom (3-1) has been consistently very good in his lifetime and has to be used for conditioner Chad Brown. 

Race 11 – Maiden Special Weight

Juvenile fillies will go six panels on the dirt to close out the massive day of racing. #10 Rapagna (8-1) brought $325,000 in the spring and has trained like a runner in advance of her debut. Walden pupil will flash early speed with Axel Concepcion taking the reins. 

#3 Rock Your Dreams (3-1) has been training in rapid fashion on the oval and will be super tough if she runs to her morning activity for a trainer who has been sharp with his youngsters this campaign. #5 Stars In My Eyes (12-1) has a two-year-old winning sibling from one to have raced and could be live on debut for trainer Bret Calhoun.