A look at Saturday's Early Pick 4 at Kentucky Downs

On the most important of the five Kentucky Downs cards this month, we'll take a swing at the Early Pick 4 (Races 2-5, 14% takeout) before five stakes, four of which are Grade 3s, round out the 10-race program.

Race 2

#2 TAXMAN (3-1) was not overly distinguished in a pair of maiden turf attempts in France, though he was within 1 1/4 lengths of a borderline stakes/Group 3 type last time. Brendan Walsh strikes with 24% of his new arrivals and addition of Lasix might help. #5 ASPEN SNOW (8-1) cost $245,000 at auction and shows a solid string of works at the Churchill Downs Training Center. Shares a second dam with Mine That Bird, Dullahan, and Bolo.

Race 3

Mike Maker has started the meet five-for-12 and enters two here, both recent arrivals to the barn. Perhaps a confident class hike for #14 LINDBERGH'S KITTEN (12-1), who has speed and shortens up a tad with Jose Ortiz named to ride. #7 LUCKY BODE (10-1), who will be coming from off the pace, hasn't run since December, but at least has a stakes-placing at Santa Rosa to his credit. Interestingly, he's a half to California Chrome's sire Lucky Pulpit.

Race 4

#11 EAST MOON (5-2) has developed into a bit of a "sucker" horse this year with five seconds and thirds, but still looks the one to beat following a neck loss in her turf debut at Saratoga last time. #8 TALAALAH (20-1) is an interesting first-time starter by Candy Ride. Unraced dam is a half to multiple Group 1 winner Bahri and Group 2 scorer Bahhare, and her only other foal to race narrowly lost her debut before winning or placing in five of six starts on the grass.

Race 5

#8 CAMPAIGN (6-1) freaked here in a 1 1/2-mile maiden just last week and striking while the iron perhaps not a bad idea as he steps up in trip by only a sixteenth-mile. #7 SIR SAHIB (10-1) in good form for Ian Wilkes and five-furlong drill a couple weeks back at Churchill hints a good performance awaits. #10 ZUMURUDEE (5-1) has placed in two of three since his importation, the exception being a slow-starting sixth to eventual Saratoga stakes scorer Focus Group. Stidham/Bravo combo strong, most notably with Synchrony. #5 KING OF CANDY (15-1) fired fresh with a key-race maiden win at Fair Grounds back in February. No better than fourth in a quartet of allowance tries since with occasional trouble. Gelded since his last appearance and five-furlong bullet punctuates recent tab.

Here's the $1 ticket:

2,5, with 7,14 with 8,11 with 5,7,8,10 = $32.

Good luck!