Litfin: Breeders' Cup Saturday late pick three

We’re taking a swing at the $750,000-guaranteed pick three that links the Juvenile, Turf, and Classic as follows:

Race 9: Juvenile

GREENPOINTCRUSADER (3) and BRODY’S CAUSE (7) are the first two choices by virtue of their last-out wins on wet tracks. Greenpointcrusader took the Champagne to become the fourth wet-track graded stakes winner produced by the mare Avaknowsthecode, while Brody’s Cause got a terrific pace setup in the Breeders’ Futurity. RIKER (2) is 4 for 4 and should control the pace from a cozy post. UNBRIDLED OUTLAW (4) was a tough-luck third in the Iroquois first time going long. Not leaving out EXAGGERATOR (9) or SWIPE (12) for Keith Desormeaux (remember Texas Red). NYQUIST (13) drew horribly for a pace-pressing type.

A – 3, 7
B – 1, 2, 4, 9, 13

Race 10: Turf

GOLDEN HORN (1) towers over the field if he handles the going. BIG BLUE KITTEN (7) is best of the Americans. FOUND (9) was within a length of Golden Horn on soft turf in the Irish Champion. Sounds pretty simple.

A – 1
B – 7, 9

Race 11: Classic

Thinking this race is wide open despite a pace advantage for AMERICAN PHAROAH (4), whose two least-spectacular performances this year were at 1 1/4 miles. FROSTED (3) brings to mind Will Take Charge, who came on strong in the second half of 2013, taking the Pennsylvania Derby before just missing in the Classic with a new Beyer Speed Figure top (112). The backups – TONALIST (1) and HONOR CODE (9) – are quite a B team.

A – 3, 4
B – 1, 9

Click here to see how an $64 play looks after some Ticketmaker mixing and matching.