Bernier: Churchill Downs pick four play for Friday, May 1

While most of the attention will be focused on the later portion of Friday’s Kentucky Oaks card at Churchill Downs, the first pick four opportunity of the day presents itself in the second race and concludes with the fifth. What better way to start your Oaks/Derby weekend than by padding your bankroll? I’ll take a small stab at this four-race sequence.

RACE 2

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The second is an interesting maiden special weight affair on the grass, and all eyes will be on Wesley Ward’s first-time starter VOUCH FOR KITTEN (11). The rest of the runners in the field appear to be a bit on the suspect side, so if this daughter of Kitten’s Joy can do any running she should be able to handle these. I’ll also be using three other runners in this opening leg: PLAY THE BREAK (5)(adds Lasix in her second start, both for Ian Wilkes; GOODBYE N HER EYES (6), a Ken McPeek trainee who also will add Lasix in her second start; and LIVE FOREVER (7), who makes her 3-year-old debut here for Mark Casse after showing promise in her turf debut here at Churchill in November.
RUNNERS: 5,6,7,11

RACE 3
On paper GARDEN PRINCESS (6) is the fastest horse, and I’d anticipate that Javier Castellano will ride her accordingly. She’s been a different animal since switching from turf to dirt for her third start, and her latest effort was a very solid one when she broke her maiden. A move forward here and the rest of the girls in this race will be running for second. She’s a single for me.
RUNNERS: 6

RACE 4
The fourth is another maiden special weight affair on grass for fillies, and while it looks to be a contentious field, I’m going to be taking a stand. I find it very intriguing that trainer Ken McPeek switches THE STRIP (11) back to grass after two decent efforts on dirt at Oaklawn Park, and she adds Lasix for the first time, an indication that she’s well meant. Joel Rosario takes the mount , and I see no reason this daughter of Quality Road won’t be forwardly placed. She’ll be another single for me in this sequence.
RUNNERS: 11

RACE 5
If I’m alive headed into the payoff leg of this pick four, I’ll have four runners covered. AMBUSHER (3) has the look of a mare who needed a race off the layoff for Ian Wilkes, and a forward move should be expected. That being said, it must be acknowledged that she’s only 2 for 23 in her career and I won’t be shocked if she finds a few others that are better than her here. DUCASA (4) figures to be forwardly placed in this race, and that could put her at a major advantage. There doesn’t appear to be much speed signed on, and If Ricardo Santana can get her out in good order I think she could be dangerous. ENCHANTING LISA (7) is likely best known as the sister of Wise Dan, but she’s done some decent things on the track herself. Since switching to dirt, this Charlie Lopresti trainee has run a couple of very nice races. I wouldn’t be shocked if she needed a race off the long layoff, but she’s another who figures in here from a Beyer Speed Figure standpoint. I hate the outside post for ENGAGINGLEE (12), but I do think she brings some good qualities to the table. Her recent form doesn’t look terrific, but she does have some races four and five starts back that could be good enough to win here – most notably the race on Nov. 21 here at Churchill Downs.
RUNNERS: 3,4,7,12