Pick 3 of the Week: Keeneland Saturday

The Pick 3 of the Week comes from Keeneland on Saturday in a sequence that concludes with the feature of the day.

Race 7 Wager

• $1 Pick 3: 2,4,7 with 5,9 with 1,2,6,8 ($24)

Race 7 – Allowance

The 5 1/2-furlong turf dash for fillies and mares is oversubscribed with 15 entered in an ultra-competitive heat. #7 Pipsy (9-2) has been inconsistent from four tries since arriving in the U. S. for trainer William Walden, but the Kodiac filly can be very good when she fires her best shot. The Grade 3 heroine was well placed turning for home in the deep Franklin S. (G2) before tiring late in the fall, and she faces a much more reasonable field in her return. Joel Rosario has the assignment and I’ll be playing this filly to win. 

Two-time stakes victress #2 Dancing Duchess (10-1) has displayed both class and versatility on multiple occasions in her lifetime and has a lot of room to improve while making her second run off the shelf. John Velazquez will pilot the Mark Casse pupil. #4 Bandonarun (7-2) was a stakes third at Gulfstream in her latest endeavor and wouldn’t be a big surprise for Christophe Clement with Dettori up. 

Race 8 – Optional Claiming

A nine-furlong event on the dirt for the boys is the middle leg of what appears to be the most straightforward race of the sequence. The 2024 Blue Grass S. (G1) runner-up #5 Just A Touch (6-5) dominated allowance foes at Fair Grounds in his 2025 debut and will be tough with a repeat of that effort for Brad Cox. 

I will also include second choice #9 Skinner (3-1), who was a close third behind Dubai World Cup (G1) star Hit Show two back in the Louisiana S. (G3) for Cherie DeVaux. 

Race 9 – Elkhorn S. (G2)

An overflow field of 13 is entered for the 1 1/2-mile turf test. Shug McGaughey’s #6 Limited Liability (8-5) is a deserving favorite in the closing leg under Dettori, but I don’t have total confidence in singling him in a field with a lot of depth. I’ll surely include the Kitten’s Joy gelding but will also use three others. 

#9 Missed the Cut (6-1) was in too deep at Royal Ascot in the summer, and he missed the break at Gulfstream Park in his seasonal debut, but the DeVaux pupil should be set for his best in his second try at this venue. The six-year-old was a very good second in the race in the fall behind a loose-on-the-lead winner and could go one better on Saturday under John Velazquez. 

#1 Rebel Red (8-1) and #2 Grand Sonata (4-1) are also worth including to close things out. 

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