Pick 4 of the Week: Turfway Park Saturday, March 21

The signature day of the Turfway Park meeting is Saturday, highlighted by the $777,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3). 

Race 9 Wager

• 50-cent Pick 4: 2,3,7 with 1,6,8,9 with 1,2,5,9 with 2,11 ($48)

Race 9 – Animal Kingdom S. 

Eight three-year-olds will speed six panels in the opening leg of the wager. #2 Ganaas (8-1) will try the synthetic in his 2026 debut, and I think that he is of great value in the tilt. War Front colt displayed good ability as a juvenile and is cut out to like the surface change with regular pilot Edgar Morales in the irons. 

Wesley Ward will saddle a pair of contenders in the heat, and both are worthy of being included. Grade 3 runner-up #3 Longshoreman (5-2) is training well off the layoff and will bring a lot of pace to the dash with Joel Rosario on board. The talented #7 Outfielder (2-1) cuts back to a sprint following a Breeders’ Cup run on the grass going long in the fall, and the $850,000 son of Speightstown will be in the mix from the break with John Velazquez on board. 

Race 10 – Kentucky Cup Classic (G3)

An accomplished field of nine will go 1 1/8 miles in the difficult second piece of the play. Defending champ #9 Mercante (7-2) got a well-deserved rest after a busy 2025 campaign and will be ready to fire in his seasonal bow. The multiple Grade 3 winner is three-for-four on the course and will be forwardly placed with Walter Rodriguez in the irons. 

Recent Dust Commander S. winner #1 Honor Marie (5-1), Ed Moger's #6 Tapit Shoes (8-1), and two-time stakes hero #8 Wadsworth (3-1) will also make the ticket. 

Race 11 – Bourbonette Oaks

A full field of sophomore fillies will run 1 1/16 miles in the $300,000 contest. #1 Resplendence (5-1) is two-for-two on the course this season, led by a Cincinnati Trophy S. triumph last time out. The Paulo Lobo pupil has speed from the rail and will be tough, even with slight improvement under Burgos. 

#5 Scratch It (7-2) put in a trio of solid runs on the lawn at two and will make her sophomore debut in the affair. The Brad Cox pupil is an obvious inclusion with Irad inheriting the mount. #9 Lovely Grey (6-1) and #2 Resist (12-1) finished second and third, respectively, in the Cincinnati Trophy last time, and both could be dangerous at a price with improvement. 

Race 12 – Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3)

The feature of the day attracted a fine and well-matched group of Derby hopefuls, although I do feel that the pair of morning-line choices will be formidable in the tilt. I’ll close out the pay with top local hope #2 Fulleffort (7-2) and California import #11 Stark Contrast (5-2).