Pick 4 of the Week: Tampa Bay Downs Saturday

The $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G3) highlights a big day of action at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday, and the Pick 4 of the Week will take place earlier on the card with a four-race sequence that I like a lot. 

Race 3 Wager

• 50-cent Pick 4: 3,4,8 with 3,4 with 5,6,7,8 with 3,6,12 ($36)

Race 3 – Maiden Special Weight

A six-furlong dash on the dirt for three-year-old fillies kicks off the play with a field of nine set to go postward. Three debuting ladies have gotten my attention most in a dash where the ones that have started don’t impress me all that much. Chad Brown’s #3 Subtle Humor, Graham Motion’s #4 Roja, and the Brad Cox-trained #8 Cha Cha Quick are the ones that I will use in the opening leg. 

Race 4 – Allowance

A total of 10 fillies and mares will travel 1 1/16 miles on the lawn in the second leg of the sequence. Chad Brown’s #3 Alimara closed from well back to graduate on the course in her U. S. debut and could be a nice prospect going forward. The gray four-year-old makes her first appearance off a 12-month absence, and I expect her to improve with Tyler Gaffalione retaining the mount. 

Brown’s #4 Pride’s Crossing tries the lawn for the first time in her initial appearance since arriving in this barn, and the Quality Road filly is out of a very good turf mare. The bay will thrive with the move to the green with Flavien Prat in the silks. I feel fairly confident going two deep with the Brown duo to advance to the next race. 

Race 5 – Challenger S. (G3)

I feel that any of the four outside horses that are signed on for the contest can win, so I’ll play it safe and include each of them. Multiple stakes winner #5 Patriot Spirit, Oklahoma Derby (G3) victor #6 Most Wanted, Grade-1 placed #7 Bendoog, and multiple Grade 2 winner #8 Skippylongstocking, will make the ticket. 

Race 6 – Maiden Special Weight

The closing leg is a seven-furlong dash for three-year-old boys. #12 Accelerize has worked well in advance of his debut, and the $400,000 son of Omaha Beach will be a runner at first asking, in my opinion. This three-year-old colt gets Irad Ortiz Jr. and will always be involved for Todd Pletcher assistant Anthony Sciametta. 

Fellow first-timers #3 Wise Up and #6 Playa Del Mar will be added for insurance in the final leg.