Pick 4 of the Week: Churchill Downs Saturday, Nov. 15

A big day of racing will take place in Louisville on Saturday. Eight Claiming Crown tilts and one graded stakes contest will lead the way during the excellent 11-race card at Churchill Downs. 

Pick 4 Wager (Races 8-11)

• 50-cent Pick 4: 4,5,8 with 1,4,7,8,11,12 with 1,7,12 with 4,9 ($54)

Race 8 – Tom Metzen Memorial

An overflow group of 16 are signed on for the 5 1/2-furlong dash on the weeds. #4 Frosty View (3-1) crushed a second-level allowance field at Keeneland last time out and rates a big chance with something resembling that run for Joel Berndt. The Frosted gelding will have Abel Cedillo in the controls. 

Eddie Barker’s #5 Final Verdict (9-2) and the Michael Tomlinson-trained #8 Pinfire (7-2) look like the main dangers to the favorite. 

Race 9 – Rapid Transit 

A full field of boys will go seven-eighths on the main strip in the second leg. I’ll use nearly half of the field in the especially well-matched cast with #1 Papa Yo (15-1), #4 Soze (12-1), #7 My Noble Knight (5-1), #8 Takeschargesmiling (9-2), #11 Gilmore (4-1), and #12 Keen Cat (8-1). 

Race 10 – Jewel

The $200,000 tilt on the dirt at 1 1/8 miles is a very challenging third piece of the sequence. If #1 Gilded Craken (10-1) can clear from the rail early for Joe Sharp, then I expect him to be a danger under Jose Ortiz. The contender has had success on the surface and offers potential value, as well. 

The race could potentially have a fast and contested early tempo, which will aid the late run from Saffie Joseph’s #12 Navajo Warrior (7-2). The talented Candy Ride gelding rides in on a five-race win streak dating back to March, and he rates a solid chance if he can overcome the 12 post under Irad. #7 Double Your Money (6-1) dons an 11-4-6-1 mark this campaign and possesses a strong closing burst for trainer Benjamin Dunn. He comes off a facile tally in the Empire State last time out. 

Race 11 – Emerald

I’ll go two deep in the finale, which will be contested over 1 1/16 miles on the lawn. The Lauren Robson-conditioned #4 Nantasket Beach (8-1) and defending champ #9 Echo Lane (3-1) will be the ones to conclude the ambitious play.