Early Pick 3 at Turfway offers a challenge

Looking for a super-competitive sequence of races to play this weekend—the type that could generate a big payoff? Look no further than the early Pick 3 on Saturday at Turfway Park.

With an average of 9.3 entries per race—and without a single standout favorite to be seen—handicapping the early Pick 3 is enough to make your head spin. If you’re skilled (or lucky) enough to string together all three winners, you’ll be handsomely rewarded.

Need advice on who to play? Here’s our take on the sequence:

Race 1: $7,500 claiming (6:15 p.m. ET)

You can make a case for several runners in this 1-mile claiming event for horses that have never won two races. Trainer Wesley Ward is on fire with 37% winners at Turfway this winter, so we’ll give plenty of respect to #1 Promontory, a speedy gelding making his Turfway debut after a series of competitive efforts on grass. He’ll be guided by high-percentage jockey Gerardo Corrales, a 40% winner when teaming up with Ward over the last 60 days.

#6 Rock On Kitten is another to include; he brings the best Brisnet Speed figures to the equation and enters off a runaway victory in a $15,000 maiden claiming race over this track and distance. We’ll round out our ticket with #10 Run This Time, who missed by just a half-length over this class level on Dec. 21 while putting up a competitive 85 Brisnet Speed rating.

Race 2: $5,000 claiming (6:44 p.m. ET)

Restricted to fillies and mares that have never won three races, this 6-furlong dash seems like a messy race with plenty of potential outcomes. We’ll give a narrow edge to #4 I Admire You. She never fired last time out, but was a winner against slightly easier company two starts back and picks up the services of Turfway’s leading jockey Albin Jimenez.

#7 Seductive adds blinkers off two disappointing efforts running long at Turfway, but her best efforts have come in sprints, so the cutback in distance should help her chances. #6 Bay of Fables showed promise in her Turfway debut on Jan. 11, winning via disqualification in a 6 1/2-furlong, $5,000 claiming event for non-winners of two races lifetime. We’ll add both to our tickets.

Race 3: $5,000 claiming (7:13 p.m. ET)

Fillies and mares that haven’t won a race since Aug. 1, 2019 will square off over 1 1/16 miles. #8 Tudox Lifting Off looks like the main threat for trainer Cipriano Contreras and jockey Joseph Ramos, who have teamed up to win at a 34% rate over the last 60 days. Tudox Lifting Off was third in a fast race over this class, track, and distance two weeks ago, earning a competitive 74 Brisnet Speed rating.

But this field is almost completely lacking in speed horses, so we’ll also use the quick mare #3 Bonita Springs, who could potentially shake loose on an easy lead.

The Bet

$2 Pick 3: 1,6,10 with 4,6,7 with 3,8 ($36)

Good luck!