Saturday picks: KDBC Qualifier, Fair Grounds $13,529 Pick 6

A valuable tournament and a five-figure Pick 6 carryover are among the betting options for horseplayers to pursue on the final day of November.

Churchill Downs: $400 Churchill Downs KDBC Qualifier

Want to earn a spot in next year’s $5,000 Kentucky Derby Betting Challenge? You’ll have a chance in Saturday’s $400 Churchill Downs KDBC Qualifier tournament on TwinSpires.com.

To climb the leaderboard, bet your entire $200 bankroll across at least five races (minimum $20 per race) at Churchill Downs. Win, place, show, exacta, trifecta, and daily double wagers count.

The Kentucky Jockey Club (G2), Race 11, is one of two graded stakes on the card. John Mucciolo of TwinSpires is backing Iroquois (G3) winner #2 Jonathan’s Way (5-2) with a win bet and an exacta; check out his tipsheet and bet recommendations.

The other graded stakes on the card is Race 9, the Golden Rod (G2). #3 Good Cheer (4-5) is unbeaten in three starts, including a 4 3/4-length romp in the Rags to Riches S. at Churchill Downs. Tournament bettors should consider playing her on top of cold exacta and trifecta tickets using the unbeaten sprinter #1 Eclatant (5-2) for second place and the multiple Grade 1-placed #4 Quietside (3-1) for third place.

Fair Grounds: $13,529 Pick 6 carryover

The weekend at Fair Grounds kicks off on a high note with a $13,529 carryover up for grabs in the $1 Pick 6.

The Pick 6 gets underway in Race 4 (post time 3:15 p.m. ET), a maiden special weight for fillies and mares racing about 1 1/16 miles on turf. Morning line favorite #5 Pisciotta (2-1) looks like a strong win contender.

Whereas many of the other entrants bring uninspiring form to the table, Pisciotta has hit the board in all three of her starts against maiden special weight competition on tougher circuits. She rallied to finish fourth in her debut at Keeneland, then shipped to Saratoga and finished third and fourth in a pair of starts.

Those three efforts yielded improving Brisnet Speed ratings of 79, 82, and 88. None of Pisciotta’s Saturday rivals have ever earned a Brisnet Speed rating higher than 77, so the favorite is easily the fastest entrant on paper.

Pisciotta also has positive jockey and trainer stats in her corner. Jockey Jose Ortiz has gone 10-for-26 (38%) to start this Fair Grounds meet, while trainer Cherie DeVaux has gone 3-for-9 (33%).

For all these reasons, Pisciotta is an enticing single to start the Pick 6.

Good luck!