Editor’s note: Just like he did during the 40-day Saratoga meet last summer, Ed Sehon (aka Mr. Ed) will provide VSiN readers with daily picks during the 15-day Keeneland meet that opened last Friday and runs through Friday, April 29 (no racing on Mondays, Tuesdays or Easter Sunday, April 17). Sehon’s selections are meant to give an overview of how to attack each day’s card through the use of Best Bets on individual horses as well as multi-race wagers. He generally tries to do it on a bankroll of (about) $100 a day, though will sometimes go higher on bigger days like he did on Blue Grass Stakes Day last Saturday.
Sehon had a small losing day on Friday as he won with Ocean Road ($4.60) in Race 5 but lost his late Pick 4, though it was reduced to just a $36 after scratches (Sehon also had a Win bet on another horse, Kaufymaker, who was scratched from Race 7). That leaves him with a small profit overall through 6 days of the meet. Here’s his plays for a loaded Saturday card:
Race Nos. 1-2 (1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT)
Mr. Ed likes a $2 SPECIAL DAILY DOUBLE (cost $12)
Race 1: #1 H. T. Xena (4-1 morning line) and #3 Yes to Mischief (5-2)
Race 2: #6 Mahoney Road (4-1), #8 Chasing the Crown (7-2) and #12 Growth Capital (3-1). Wager: $2 Daily Double of 1,3/6,8,12.
Race No. 4 (2:36 p.m. ET/11:36 a.m. PT)
My BEST BET of the day is #8 Under Oath (3-1 morning line). “Flavien Prat picks up mount on late-blooming, 3-year-old colt for HOF conditioner Todd Pletcher. Lost speed duel in lone start over slop. Rider upgrade, top barn and fast track point to victory -- I swear.” Wager: $10 to Win and Place.
Races Nos. 4-6 (2:36 p.m. ET/11:36 a.m. PT)
Mr. Ed likes a $1 Pick 3 (cost $18)
Race 4: 8,10
Race 5: 2,4,6
Race 6: 1,2,5
Race No. 6 (3:40 p.m. ET/12:40 p.m. PT)
My PRICE PLAY of the day is #5 Soros (15-1 morning line). “This 5-year-old gelding came to life in last with powerful stretch run to get up for second. Hot young jock Gerardo Corrales climbs aboard for vet conditioner Norm Cash. Politics aside, I like Soros. Wager: $5 to Win, Place and Show.”
Races Nos. 8-11 (4:44 p.m. ET/1:44 p.m. PT)
I like the following $.50 Pick 4 (cost $45)
Race 8: 2,3,5,6,11
Race 9: 7,8,9
Race 10: 3,4
Race 11: 2,4,8
Race No. 9 (5:16 p.m. ET/2:16 p.m. PT)
Mr. Ed likes #7 Major General (4-1) in the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes.
“Rough trip in Tampa Bay Derby may have cost sophomore spot in Kentucky Derby However, I’m willing to pitch that one in favor of previous two victories. Pletcher changes riders to Irad Ortiz Jr. I salute the General. Wager: $10 to Win and Place.”
TOTAL WAGERS FOR SATURDAY: $130
TOTAL WAGERS THROUGH FRIDAY: $535
TOTAL MONEY CASHED: $612
TOTAL PROFIT: $77