Pick 3 of the Week: Churchill Downs Friday

A very appealing three-race sequence of graded stakes tilts for the ladies on the Friday card at Churchill Downs comprises the Pick 3 of the Week. 

Race 8 wagers

• $1 Pick 3: 2,3,7 with 2,5,9,10,12 with 4,5,9 ($45)
• $2 Pick 3: 7 with 2,5,9,10,12 with 4,5,9 ($30)

Race 8 – Modesty S. (G3)

An octet of fillies and mares will run 1 1/8 miles on the grass to get things started. Multiple Grade 1 victress #7 She Feels Pretty (6-5) is a shining star for conditioner Cherie DeVaux as the sure one to beat. Karakontie filly elevated her game to a new level with the addition of blinkers two races back and will be impossible to knock off with her best showing under John Velazquez. There is a slight fear that the four-year-old dynamo might not be 100% fit for her first start of the season, however. 

Multiple Group 1 heroine #2 Gimme a Nother (7-2) suffered her first lifetime loss when a strong second in the Hillsborough S. (G2) at Tampa Bay Downs while making her stateside bow for trainer Graham Motion. The South African import will improve second off the shelf and rates a chance to upset the favorite under Jose Ortiz. Grade 2 heroine #3 Segesta (9-2) finished ahead of the morning-line choice when second in the Belmont Oaks (G1) in the summer, and if she shows improvement in her four-year-old debut, then the Juddmonte homebred will be a serious threat with Irad in the controls. 

Race 9 – Eight Belles S. (G2)

A dozen sophomore fillies will run seven-eighths on the dirt in a super competitive middle leg. Godolphin homebred #5 Verity (3-1) romped in the Beaumont S. (G2) at Keeneland last time and will be tough with a repeat of that performance. Nyquist filly will stalk the early tempo under Vincent Cheminaud. 

I’ll also include Keeneland allowance romper #2 Evanescence (20-1), unbeaten #9 Bourbon Memory (8-1), Fern Creek S. starlet #10 Impulse Buy (7-2), and Forward Gal S. (G3) queen #12 Eclatant (5-2). 

Race 10 – Unbridled Sidney S. (G3)

Nine fillies and mares will dash 5 1/2 panels on the lawn to conclude the play. Grade 2 vixen #4 Ag Bullet (8-5) is the one to beat for trainer Richard Baltas. The gray daughter of Twirling Candy closed out her 2024 campaign with third-place finishes in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) and Matriarch S. (G1), and she is training forwardly in advance of her return, as well. Umberto Rispoli has the assignment. 

Likely pacesetter #5 Epona’s Hope (6-1) has won a pair of stakes races in succession and could be a dangerous commodity if she clears early. The Jeff Mullins-trained #9 Queen Maxima (2-1) crushed her foes in the Monrovia S. (G3) most recently and is in superb form currently. She retains the services of regular rider Juan Hernandez.

Join us for our upcoming LIVE blogs!

May 1-3 | LIVE coverage of Thurby, Oaks, and Kentucky Derby Day with exclusive up-to-date all-access trackside coverage. LIVE race odds, including Kentucky Derby odds, picks, entries for all the races, and so much more!

Don't miss a minute of the fun with your backstage pass to everything Kentucky Derby!