Scully: Pick 3 play for Churchill Downs May 24

Saturday’s 10-race program at Churchill Downs features the $250,000 Keertana, a 1 1/2-mile turf stakes for fillies and mares. My best bet on the program comes a couple of races earlier, and I will build a Pick 3 ticket incorporating both races.

$10 Pick 3 (races 7-9)

• 5 with 7,10 with 1,4 = ($40)

#5 Stable Currency (5-1) will make her second start of the meet, recording a rallying third in a deep 6 1/2-furlong allowance on the Kentucky Oaks (G1) undercard behind a pair of probable stakes performers this season. Chris Block cuts Stable Currency back to six furlongs (2-for-2 at distance), and her recent Brisnet Speed ratings are strong (95-92).

The expected prohibitive favorite, Unwavering Trust, remains a dangerous rival, breaking her maiden by nearly three lengths at odds-on last out, and her Speed numbers (89-87) are eligible to keep rising. But she hasn’t run as fast and lacks the seasoning of Stable Currency, who reeled off consecutive wins at Fair Grounds before the last start.

There’s plenty of speed signed on for the stalker, and Stable Currency will be singled to start the Pick 3.

Here are my thoughts on the other two legs.

Race 8

#7 Tripolina (4-1) exits a pair of respectable stakes efforts, finishing a close second most recently in the Roxelana S. to Mink’s Palace, who is entered in Monday’s Winning Colors (G3). Trainer Chris Hartman returns Tripolina to a conditioned allowance, and the four-year-old filly looks set for a good showing from off the pace.

#10 Ervadean (10-1) runs well with time between starts and has been freshened off a fine performance at Fair Grounds, where she grudgingly gave way to be a close third after setting the pace. I liked her frontrunning second at Churchill last fall, and the Dallas Stewart-trained mare’s speed could play well from the outside.

Race 9 – Keertana S.

#4 Strikingly Spun (7-2) looks set for her best following a respectable third in a Fair Grounds stakes. I like the Brisnet numbers the Joe Sharp-trained mare has registered in a pair of turf starts this season, and Strikingly Spun figures to close stoutly in the latter stages with Jose Ortiz.

#1 Dreaming of Mo (8-1) also will be included. A nice allowance winner on Churchill Downs turf last summer, the five-year-old mare came back to run a good race in the Cardinal (G3) last fall. She’s faced deep competition in recent starts on the main track and synthetic, but Dreaming of Mo is more effective on turf and has shown an affinity for the local course.

Join us on June 7 for a rematch that will shake the stands. Many top Kentucky Derby contenders return for the Belmont S. (G1) to fight for the finish, including probable contender Journalism, winner of Preakness 150, and Sovereignty, winner of Derby 151. Who will stand in the winner's circle for Belmont?

Stay with us throughout Belmont Day during stakes races as we bring you the latest horse racing news, live odds, expert picks, and more. It is sure to be an exciting day of racing!