Saturday Pick 3 Play for Kentucky Downs

A total of six lucrative stakes races will be contested on the Kentucky Downs turf on Saturday. I found a three-race sequence that appeals to me a good deal and will take a shot at cashing in on the challenging trio of races. 

Race 6 Wager

• $1 Pick 3: 1,2,4,6,7 with 3,4,12 with 2,10 ($30)

Race 6 – Ladies Marathon S. (G3)

Nine fillies and mares will run 1 5/16 miles on the lawn in the first leg. I feel like I’m playing it ultra-safe by using five in the affair to advance to the next leg. Euro import #1 Three Priests (8-1), morning-line choice #2 Chop Chop (5-2), Aidan O’Brien’s well-bred #4 Greenfinch (3-1), defending champ #6 Vergara (7-2), and the talented #7 Neecie Marie (4-1) will be on the ticket. 

Race 7 – Music City S. (G2)

Sophomore fillies will go 6 1/2 panels on the undulating green in a tough affair. An overflow field of 16 is entered, but I feel good getting out of the race using just a trio of three-year-olds. #12 Vive Veuve (5-1) is my slight top pick for Jack Sisterson. The chestnut Collected filly cuts back in distance following a pair of very good graded tries in the Empire State as of late, and she might be moving best of all in the lane with Tyler Gaffalione in the silks. 

I’ll give #4 Pipsy (6-1) a pass for her subpar showing in her second assignment in the U.S. and tab her for a big performance in her local debut. The expensive William Walden trainee comes in fresh for this one, and I expect the Grade 3 heroine to thrive on this unique course with Joel Rosario in the stirrups. 

I’m not sure what happened with #3 Time to Dazzle (6-1) in the Ontario Colleen S. at Woodbine last time when she annihilated a solid cast, but I won’t take that performance lightly. Trained by Mark Casse, the gray daughter of Not This Time is not super consistent, but if she repeats her latest effort, then she will be a tough beat under Ricardo Santana Jr. 

Race 8 – Mint Millions S. (G3)

The $2 million race at one mile is not for the faint of heart from a handicapping perspective with numerous frontrunning types in the group. I’ll try to simplify things and side with the two European-based contenders in the field, including defending champ #10 Ancient Rome (5-2). The Charlie Hills charge has an obvious affinity for the course, and he had a nice prep when third in the Arlington Million (G1) at Colonial Downs in his most recent appearance. The War Front five-year-old does his best work in North America, and Jamie Spencer comes in to ride. 

#2 Mountain Bear (10-1) was runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) last fall in his first try in the U.S. and will make a second stateside attempt on this day. The No Nay Never colt faces a tall task while facing his elders, but he has obvious ability and also gets Frankie Dettori to ride, who is in a good groove at this venue.