McGee: Pick four for Kentucky Oaks Day

There are all kinds of wagering opportunities Friday and Saturday here at Churchill Downs. As always, picking the right pool in which to bet is as critical as any of your other wagering decisions.

Trying to leverage a strong opinion on Farrell in the Kentucky Oaks, I’ll go horizontal and wade into the late pick four (races 10-13) while hoping for something really good to happen to pad my Derby bankroll.

Race 10 – Will merely try to get alive here in the Edgewood, although if La Coronel (1A) stays in the race as opposed to being scratched in favor of facing the boys Saturday in the American Turf, I’d be tempted to single her and forget the rest. Otherwise, I’ll use her entrymate, Dream Dancing (1), along with Proctor’s Ledge (7), Storm the Hill (8), Emphatically (11), and You Missed It (12).

Race 11 – I’m all in with Farrell (7). Totally committed. All or nothing. If you don’t agree, well, this sequence probably isn’t for you.

Farrell is 5-1 on the morning line, but when Wayne Catalano heard that, he said: “Can I please have some of that right now?” I’m also skeptical that that price will be available at post time. Farrell has been dominant in winning four straight stakes (including three at Fair Grounds, which has produced eight of the last 20 Oaks winners) and has shown the ability to rally from off the pace – which might well be needed when lining up against a couple of similarly fast fillies, Paradise Woods and Miss Sky Warrior. I fully expect a career-best effort (and for what it’s worth, I’ll be singling Farrell in the two-day multiple-race wagers that end with the Derby).

Race 12 – When the Oaks throng finds out that American Cleopatra (7) is a full sister to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, well, they’ll probably back her down to something lower than her 3-1 morning-line odds. She’s been regrouped by Bob Baffert after faltering in a Grade 1 race last October, and reports are that she’s ready to rock in her return. She won’t be much value but is a must-use. I’ll also work in Friend of Liberty (4) and Noelle’s Mischief (10) for safekeeping.

Race 13 – If you’re tempted to use more than just four horses in this maiden special weight turf route, well, go ahead, but I’m hoping for sufficient coverage with Saburo (2), Kitten’s Gold (4), McCormick (5), and Big Exchange (10). (Obviously, you’ll need to reevaluate this final leg in case the non-stakes turf races are moved to the main track because of wet conditions Friday.)

This is the straight-A play:
R10 – 1, 7, 8, 11, 12
R11 – 7
R12 – 4, 7, 10
R13 – 2, 4, 5, 10
50-cent ticket = $30

Here’s the DRF Ticketmaker link.