How to bet Churchill's Stephen Foster Pick 4 on a budget
Saturday's Churchill Downs race card represents the richest of the year outside of Kentucky Derby weekend, and the spotlight will be squarely on the Twin Spires. Triple Crown winner Justify is set to parade for the public early on the card, and later, five graded stakes will run.
We've handicapped the late Pick 4 here using the spread ticket formula, splitting top contenders across multiple tickets at a total cost of just $30. Here's how to bet the sequence on a budget:
Race 6 (Grade 2 Wise Dan, 8.5T)
Primary - #1 DIVISIDERO
Secondary - #2 Shining Copper, #4 World Approval, #3 Inspector Lynley, #5 Mr. Misunderstood
Comments: #1 Divisidero (3-1) is 3-for-3 at Churchill, and he likes this distance as well. He finished a solid second in his needed Grade 2 Monmouth return and can move forward at his favorite venue. #2 Shining Copper (6-1) does some of his best work at this distance and will take them as far as he can under Irad Ortiz Jr. #4 World Approval (6-5) tries to get his mojo back after a disappointing fifth in the Grade 1 Kilroe Mile. He was outstanding in 2017, but has not quite looked the same in two starts this year. #3 Inspector Lynley (10-1) ran well in both starts this year, and the two-time Grade 3 winner might be able to move forward third off the shelf for Jose Ortiz/Shug McGaughey. #5 Mr. Misunderstood (10-1) has lost his way vs. older recently, but he is 2-for-2 here and 3-for-3 at this distance.
Race 7 (Grade Fleur De Lis, 9f)
Primary - #7 VALADORNA, #3 Blue Prize
Secondary - #6 Awestruck
Comments: #7 Valadorna (4-1) is very consistent, but she has never run what would be considered a fast race. She is fresh and should be grinding away in the lane, and she might be the right one from a race flow perspective. #3 Blue Prize (7-2) ran well at Pimlico last time despite the fact that she does not particularly like a wet track. She enjoys this course/distance and projects a decent tactical trip under Jose Ortiz. #6 Awestruck (8-1) exits back-to-back romps vs. lesser and is clearly on the upswing. She gets a class and distance test for +ROI graded stakes trainer Rusty Arnold, and Irad Ortiz Jr. takes the call.
Race 8 (Grade 1 Stephen Foster, 9f)
Primary - #1 HONORABLE DUTY, #6 Backyard Heaven
Secondary - #8 Irish War Cry, #3 Hawaakom
Comments: #1 Honorable Duty (6-1) returned with a local sharp optional claiming victory in a solid prep for this May 20. The two-time winner at this trip likes Churchill and owns running style versatility. He has back class as well. #6 Backyard Heaven (6-5) is lightly raced, fast, and consistent. He stepped up and had no problem with 8 1/2 furlongs in the Grade 2 Alysheba, and looms a strong stalking threat for the productive Irad Ortiz Jr./Chad Brown team. #8 Irish War Cry (5-1) is a gem of inconsistency for Graham Motion. He can be brilliant at times, like he was in the Grade 2 Holy Bull and Wood Memorial last year, and in the Grade 3 Pimlico Special last time. He has thrown in multiple stakes clunkers as well, and he never runs two alike. Will the 4-year-old version of the son of Curlin find some consistency? We shall see, and Saturday would be a good day to run another good one. #3 Hawaakom rallied for the place in the Alysheba last time, and he might be able to make a late run and land a share again.
Race 9 (Grade Regret, 8.5f)
Primary - #1 HEAVENLY LOVE, #8 Beyond Blame
Secondary - #9 Secret Message, #10 Kabella
Comments: #1 Heavenly Love (5-1) did not have the best trip vs. Rushing Fall in the Grade 2 Appalachian on April 8 over yielding turf. She has never run back to her sharp maiden turf sprint win and Grade 1 Alcibiades romp, but she sports two bullets for this and might rebound at square odds. #8 Beyond Blame (6-1) did not get involved early for the first time in five starts in the Grade 3 Edgewood (checked first turn), and that is why she did not put her best foot forward. Look for her to stake out a nice tactical position under her winning pilot Florent Geroux, and she could easily bounce back at a hint of a price. #9 Secret Message (12-1) hooked a runaway winner in his first turf stakes try May 18 (soft turf - clearly second best). Irad Ortiz Jr. hops aboard for Graham Motion. #10 Kabella (6-1) was no threat in the Edgewood due to early trouble. She won three straight on turf before that and defeated Beyond Blame twice.