King: Kentucky Downs pick four play for Saturday, Sept. 9
Here’s my wagering strategy for the late pick four Saturday at Kentucky Downs. The bet covers the last four races, which also happen to all be stakes races, three of them graded.
Race 7
Up first are fillies and mares going a mile in the Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf. Three-time Grade 1 winner Miss Temple City (5) is heavily favored at even-money on the morning line, with Zipessa (4) the second betting favorite at 7-2.
Although I will use them in the pick four, given their spotty form in 2017 and relative short prices, particularly in the case of Miss Temple City, I’m hopeful I can beat them with my top choice, Linda (2).
Although winless this year in four starts, she might be ready to return to her best Saturday, having elevated her game last fall when the weather grew cooler and having won over the Kentucky Downs course.
Race 8
Filly and mare sprinters go next in the Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint. Here I will again go three deep, using, in order of preference, Mississippi Delta (1), Fair Point (2), and Lull (5).
Are three are established turf sprinters of high quality, and Mississippi Delta and Lull are stakes winners at Kentucky Downs, with the former having won this race last year.
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Race 9
The male counterpart to the Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint follows with the Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint, which like the Ladies Sprint is contested at 6 1/2 furlongs.
I’m going to just use a pair in this race, taking the miler Bondurant (5) on top on the cutback in distance as well as Hogy (10). Bondurant owns some of the race’s highest recent Beyer Speed Figures, while Hogy is a hard-knocking old veteran that ran well to be second in this race last year and now joins the turf-winning stable of trainer Mike Maker.
Race 10
The 9-2 shot Postulation (1), in career-best form after winning two straight turf-marathon stakes, is the choice in the $600,000 Kentucky Turf Cup, the richest race of the Kentucky Downs meeting.
But one can never count out Maker in grass races, particularly in Kentucky. So using his trio - Oscar Nominated (4), Taghleeb (11), and Enterprising (7) – seems a good policy. Beyond their high-percentage trainer, they fit on form and class.
The play
Using the horses mentioned above in a 50-cent play costs $36. Here is the play: 2, 4, 5 with 1, 2, 5 with 5, 10 with 1, 4, 7, 11 costs $36.