Pick 4 of the Week: Churchill Downs Saturday

An especially challenging sequence of four Grade 1 races at Churchill Downs, concluding with the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1), will make up the Pick 4 of the Week.

Race 9 wager

• 50-cent Pick 4: 3,4,5 with 1,2,7,8,12,13 with 1,4 with 1,3,8,18 ($72)

Race 9 – American Turf S. (G1)

A full field of three-year-olds will run 1 1/16 miles on the lawn to commence this ambitious wager. Summer S. (G1) victor #3 New Century (3-1) had a decent tightener to kick off his sophomore season and looms large in his initial run for Brendan Walsh. The Kameko colt will have Irad Ortiz, Jr. in the controls. 

I’ll draw a line through the last run from #4 Mi Bago (10-1) and give him a big chance in the contest. Mark Casse holds the Vekoma colt in especially high regard, so that’s good enough for me. I'll also add Transylvania S. (G3) winner #5 Test Score (10-1) from the Graham Motion shedrow in the opening leg. 

Race 10 – Derby City Distaff (G1)

A full field of fillies and mares will go seven panels in an imposing handicapping challenge. The superb field boasts an abundance of class and is tricky to narrow down, but I will definitely attempt to do so. Juddmonte homebred #1 Scylla (4-1) is a sterling four-for-four beneath the Twin Spires and is the slight top pick for Brad Cox in her seasonal debut. Excellent Tapit mare will be a major player if she endures a clean trip from the rail. 

La Brea S. (G1) star #2 Kopion (8-1), defending champ and Churchill specialist #7 Vahva (6-1), Test S. (G1) queen #8 Ways and Means (3-1), Bob Baffert’s #12 Hope Road (15-1), and Mike Maker’s #13 My Mane Squeeze (12-1), will also be included in my wager. 

Race 11 – Turf Classic S. (G1)

Shug McGaughey’s #1 Integration (4-1) deserves a Grade 1 win and looks well placed to accomplish the goal in this contest. The five-year-old son of Quality Road was a decent fourth in the race last season behind a very good top pair, and I feel he is a better horse at this stage of his development. Frankie Dettori will be in the stirrups. 

Of the three Chad Brown pupils in the field, I prefer the lightly raced #4 Redistricting (10-1) to the others. The Klaravich color bearer is not overly consistent, but the Kingman gelding can be very good on his best day and will improve a good deal second time off the layoff in this one. Irad will be in the silks and the price will be generous. 

Race 12 – Kentucky Derby (G1)

The marquee race of the day will see 20 sophomores go postward in the centerpiece of the spring meeting and I’ll use four runners to close out the play. Champion #1 Citizen Bull (20-1), Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) romper #3 Final Gambit (30-1), morning-line choice #8 Journalism (3-1), and Florida Derby (G1) runner-up #18 Sovereignty (5-1), are the quartet that will make my ticket.

RELATED: Tipsheet: 2025 Kentucky Derby

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