King: Keeneland pick five play for Saturday, April 20

Focused around a single of Zulu Alpha in the featured Elkhorn, here is my late Pick 5 play for Saturday at Keeneland. Listed below are the horses I prefer, their program numbers, and whether they are primary “A” runners or secondary “B” plays, utilizing DRF’s Ticketmaker.

Race 6

Up first are $20,000 nonwinners-of-two claimers going a 1 1/8 miles, where my value-based choice is 5-1 shot Sergio (1, A). Though he exits sprints, he was a router earlier in his career and is by a stamina sire in Broken Vow, suggesting he may be able to go the distance. He is in good form and has the benefit of a race over the track this meet.

Others to use include Hollywood Strike (2, A), and Fort Ramsey (8, B).

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Race 7

Provided this turf sprint remains on the grass, the top choice is Mominou (2, A). A close fourth in the Captiva Island Stakes at Gulfstream March 9 in her seasonal debut, she has been a consistent allowance performer over her career.

Backup runners are Pastime (6, B) and Really Proud (8, B)

Race 8

Three horses again go on the Pick 5 for the eighth race, with two focused as primary plays: Cohete Rojo (8, A) and Distant Shore (10, A). The former is an intriguing 10-1 shot on the morning line that might prove capable of contending if he maintains his form with the move from turf to dirt, while the latter is a deserving favorite, a stakes-placed colt that just finished second in a quick allowance race at Fair Grounds.

Not liked as much as the top two but still worthy of Pick 5 inclusion is Stage Left (Stage Left (11, B).

Race 9

Zulu Alpha (10, A) has won three graded stakes from four such starts since being claimed for $80,000 last September by owner Michael Hui. His only loss over that stretch came when seventh in the Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale, which was over a shorter 1 1/8-mile distance and against a Grade 1-caliber field. Proven over yielding ground, he is a single.

Race 10

The Saturday finale seems the most wide-open race of the sequence, suggesting spreading is the way to go. Three horses are primary plays - Into Morocco (6, A), Where Paradise Lay (8, A), Fortune's Fool (4, A) and another three - Highest Honors (1, B), Strong Market (3, B), Phantom Currency (5, B) fall in the backup camp.

Into Morocco is an appealing prospect at his 8-1 morning line. Fourth in a quick race when debuting at Fair Grounds, he looks ready to move forward after fast works this month at Churchill Downs.

The Ticketmaker ticket

Plug these runners into Ticketmaker and with the 50-cent minimum and using up to two "B" horses in a variety of combinations, total ticket cost is $67.50.