John Mucciolo

A total of seven are entered for the lawn in Saturday’s $250,000 Bowling Green (G2) at Saratoga. The 1 3/8 contest on the inner turf features an interesting group at a fairly unique distance, and I will dabble with multiple runners in what appears to be a mostly wide-open tilt.

An octet of sophomore fillies will dash 5 1/2 furlongs on the Ellis Park grass in Sunday’s $175,000 Pea Patch S. The Rusty Arnold-trained #8 Triskelion (5-1) was a close and clear second in a fine allowance try at Churchill Downs to kick off her three-year-old season last time out and gets top billing as the value play in the heat. By Leinster, the chestnut has never missed the board in her lifetime, and her Brisnet Speed rating has improved with every lifetime run on the weeds, as well.

The Pick 4 of the Week will come from Ellis Park on Saturday, with the focus on the closing four races on the strong card. 50-cent Pick 4: 1,3,4 with 4,9 with 5 with all ($36) Nine sophomores will run 1 1/16 miles on the lawn to commence the play. #3 Exonerate (5-1) is my top pick, and I will make a win wager on the colt, but it’s too hard to single the son of Justify.