Taking a swing at the Fleur de Lis Pick 4

by JOHN MUCCIOLO

The inaugural “Fleur De Lis Pick 4” will be held on Saturday. This cross-track wager will feature a pair of races from both Churchill Downs and Fair Grounds, with a pair of graded races in the sequence.

I feel as though the Pick 4 is very playable, and I have given my analysis and ticket structure below. 

FG – Race 7

Maiden special weight event on the dirt kicks things off. A field of nine will go postward in a puzzling 1 mile and 70 yards contest. I don’t see a standout in the field and I will buy the race.

A horse that really intrigues me is second timer PAUL CANE. And if I like the joint-longest price on the board, using the ‘all’ button makes complete sense to me. I’m going to turn the wager into a virtual Pick 3.

CD – Race 9

A nice field has assembled for the $200,000 Golden Rod Stakes (G2), a 1 1/16-mile affair for juvenile fillies. Going two-deep is my plan of attack in the second leg of the sequence.

RESTLESS RIDER was a single for me in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) so she is surely my top selection today. Kenny McPeek filly had no chance late with an impressive winner last time but the Grade 1 queen is consistently very good, and she likes this surface, too.

BREAK CURFEW is the wild card in the field. Empire State shipper won on debut like a real good one for Chad Brown in a six-furlong dash at Belmont Park. Into Mischief filly took a lot of money in her career bow and comes in with a pair of nice morning moves in the interim. I like the aggressive move shipping in for the Golden Rod. And Castellano comes with her, too.

FG – Race 9

A field of nine will go in an optional claiming event on the sod. MASTER MERION bypassed the River City H. (G3) last week for a more logical spot for conditioner Wesley Ward. Multiple stakes winning son of Quality Road closed well to be third behind a nice one at Keeneland and might peak third time back after a voyage to Royal Ascot.

ZAPPERINI, TWENTY FOUR SEVEN and CAMMACK, will also be included in a well-matched field.

CD – Race 11

The $200,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) drew an overflow field of 16 in the 1 1/16-mile event for two-year-olds. I will close it out with the obvious top-two choices.

Grade 1 hero KNICKS GO was a game second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and has really blossomed since stretching out for Ben Colebrook. Paynter colt gets a tough draw while wide but he is swift and classy. Colt is a must use.

SIGNALMAN has finished behind Knicks Go in both the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and Juvenile but could turn the tables today. McPeek pupil gets the rail and will also have a hearty pace to rally into late in the Jockey Club. He is my top pick.

Suggested $.50-cent Pick 4 play:

All with 5,8 with 2,3,4,5 with 1,13 = $72

Good luck!