Pick 3 ending with the Clark Stakes begins with a single

Friday's 12-race card at Churchill Downs can hardly be labeled leftovers, not with a pair of graded stakes highlighting the program. As was the case for Thursday, I'll be concentrating on a Pick 3 in the latter part of the program.

Race 9 — Allowance (4:48 p.m. ET)

This stakes-quality allowance for three-year-old fillies features the return to action of #1 The Alys Look (4-1), who will be our single in the sequence. Although not good enough to topple presumptive three-year-old filly champion Pretty Mischievous on a trio of occasions, The Alys Look now finds herself in the same barn, with trainer Brendan Walsh, as that rival.

Although a non-factor when last seen at Santa Anita in June, The Alys Look is certainly likeable off her Fair Grounds form last winter, and she also crashed the tri in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) at an overlaid 30-1. This is far from an easy spot, with Punchbowl and Chop Chop entered, but The Alys Look might enjoy the slight class edge here.

Race 10 — Mrs. Revere (G2) (5:18 p.m. ET)

Assuming this stays on the turf, #3 Neecie Marie (4-1) figures prominently based on her last two outings, when she wasn't beaten much by European invader Eternal Hope in the Jockey Club Oaks (G3) and Sands Point (G2) at Aqueduct. She handles all kinds of grass conditions, which figures to be a strong asset.

#9 Safeen (8-1) also has some intriguing form from last spring and summer. Although her last two have not been up to par, perhaps didn't like the tricky Kentucky Downs course two back, and last time hung late after enduring a wide trip.

Race 11 — Clark (G2) (5:48 p.m. ET)

While many bettors will zig toward the three-year-old contenders, I'll zag toward some of the older horses that are relatively unexposed in stakes company. #4 Gasoline (5-1) has made significant strides since being gelded late last year, and enters off a dominating allowance win here over a sixteenth shorter than the Clark trip.

#6 Film Star (5-1) perhaps didn't care for the cutback to a one-turn mile when an even fourth in the Forty Niner (G2) at Aqueduct, but had finished first or second in his prior nine starts, including a string over nine furlongs.

Finally, I'm willing to give #9 Stage Raider (12-1) a pass for his no-show in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1). The half-brother to Justify ran solidly in two earlier starts for Cherie DeVaux, and won his only prior attempt at 1 1/8 miles.

The $2 ticket: 1 with 3,9 with 4,6,9 = $12