Pick 3 of the Day on Saturday Starts in Race 8 at Churchill Downs

The best Pick 3 on Friday starts in Race 6 at Hollywood Park and ends in Race 8.

It’s a challenging Pick 3 but because a couple of the favorites look fairly strong, it makes no sense to spread more than you have to. It does make sense to use the favorites, pick a couple of price horses and hope that those price horses win their respective legs.

Friday’s Pick 3

Churchill Downs – Races 8 thru 10

Where: Louisville, KY

When: Race 8 (Leg 1) – 4:29 pm EST
Race 9 (Leg 2) – 4:59 pm EST
Race 10 (Leg 3) – 5:29 pm EST

TV: HRTV

Race 8 (Leg 1)

Grade III Northern Dancer $125,000 For Three Year Olds

1 1/16th miles over dirt

Horses Used: 4-Colizeo, 6-Prince Will I Am

Analysis: Colizeo doesn’t face a whole lot of other speed in this. Jockey Garrett Gomez, who has won 10 races with only 35 mounts, should be able to harness his speed and then coax him to the finish line with only minimal trouble. Prince Will I Am finished second to Colizeo in his last race. Jockey Calvin Borel knows Churchill Downs better than anybody. If Colizeo gets some pressure up front, then Prince Will I Am is the likeliest horse to run him down.

Race 9 (Leg 2)

Grade III Regret Stakes $125,000 For Fillies Three Years Old

1 1/8 miles over turf

Horses Used: 1-Go Ask Alex, 4-Joharmony, 8-It’s Tea Time, 10-Dynazaper

Analysis: Go Ask Alex has enough speed to clear this field unless Dynazaper goes after her early. Both of them have a shot to lead gate to wire. That means that both of them are must uses in this Pick 3. Joharmony steps up to this Grade III after winning a restricted stakes in her last.

She looks like the best closer in this field and jockey JJ Castellano should have her in terrific position turning for home. Joharmony has won 4 races in a row. It’s Tea Time failed miserably in the Grade I Kentucky Oaks but returns to turf for this. She’s got a huge shot with Garrett Gomez on her back.

Race 10 (Leg 3)

Grade I Stephen Foster $600,000 For Three Year Olds and Up

1 1/8 miles over dirt

Horses Used: 2-Battle Plan, 6-General Quarters, 11-Blame

Analysis: Battle Plan is the speed of this field, should get an easy lead, and looks very, very difficult to run down on the front end. Trainer Todd Pletcher might have another great one in this son of Empire Maker. General Quarters won the Grade I Turf Classic in his last. He returns to dirt and actually was closing in on Battle Plan the last time the two of them met.

If Battle Plan has a bad day, then General Quarters can definitely win this. Blame might go off as the chalk in this race. He’s won 3 races in a row and is 6-1-2 out of 9 lifetime races. Blame would benefit the most if General Quarters and Battle Plan somehow hooked up in a speed duel.

2 x 4 x 3 = 24 combinations

$1 Pick 3 = $24

Good luck!

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