The Mark Casse trained My Boy Prince ran big in the Shakertown Stakes at Keeneland as he auditioned for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint

Danny Brewer

Beginning with the 2026 Spring Meet, Keeneland Race Course has introduced a $3 late pick 3 wager. So, question is, what does that mean to the speculating public and more importantly how do we capitalize on this investment opportunity? Considering the Breeders’ Cup is scheduled to be at Keeneland in the fall, the importance of many of the Stakes races have increased and most of them decorate that late pick 3. With eyes on these World Championships in late October, My Boy Prince provided a royal performance and keyed a nice late pick 3 payout.

First, let’s define the late pick 3 and the $3 aspect of the wager. The goal of the late pick 3 ticket is to select the winner in each of the last three races on the card. Because this can be a bit challenging, most players will select more than one horse in some or all of the races. Of course, every potential play costs $3 dollars therefore the ticket can get a bit costly if a player is not careful. For instance, if a body selects three horses in each race, the ticket price is $81. The best way to keep the ticket cost down is to find a single, which means you have a race where you only select one horse. Having that one runner on your ticket is the best way to lower your investment. As has been established long ago, one of the best things about playing the ponies is the low risk/high yield potential. So, how do we get there?

Experience is always the best teacher and there are many ways to handicap races and build multi-race tickets. Asking the best way to formulate is like asking Mr. Owl how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop. Here is a tale of handicapping excellence (tongue is firmly placed in cheek here) regarding the $3 late pick 3 at Keeneland on April 4.

As a veteran donor at the windows, many formulas have been concocted. The late pick 3 is often times a “bailout bet” as things may have not been going well early, so you load up late with hopes of success. The pick 3 is usually a $1 wager at Keeneland, but beginning this year, the late pick 3 will be $3 per combination. The good news about that is by tripling the minimum investment the return has greater monetary possibilities. The late pick 3 on April 4 consisted of highly competitive Stakes races so narrowing the ticket was going to be tough.

After careful consideration, I decided the best method was to not over-think the ticket. That seemed like the best approach as thinking has never been my strongpoint. The opening leg was a 7-furlong race on dirt for older fillies and mares. Choosing to go with two fillies here, I selected the Brad Cox-trained Eclatant as she had won her last race and was a winner in her only start at Keeneland. My other selection was Clicquot, Brendan Walsh trained and also a perfect one-for-one at Keeneland. The anchor leg was my single in Further Ado, a blossoming three-year-old colt who had won his previous start here by 20 lengths. The middle race was the really tough one. The Shakertown was a turf sprint at 5 ½ furlongs with 12 entrants. Loaded with speed and talent this is where handicapping expertise was needed. Also, given the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint will be run at Keeneland this fall, some of these runners were auditioning for a potential spot on an even bigger stage.

A perusal of the entrants told me I wanted to play three runners as that would make my ticket an affordable $18. The first selection was my longshot play in Bear River. Having won impressively at Kentucky Downs last year, this Keith Desormeaux trainee usually runs big if he breaks well and he would be a price for sure. My safe play was the outside horse in Usually Wrong as he had been right in seven of his last nine starts. The third selection was going to be my hunch horse, someone I felt connected with. In truth, that was the easiest pick.

The 2 horse in the Shakertown was My Boy Prince. Forget he was coming in off a win, it didn’t matter he was trained by a hot-handed Mark Casse, and so what he was ridden by the accomplished Jose Ortiz. When I was a struggling teen coping with the rigors of divorced parents and a young adult making my way into the world, I had a friend that was as intelligent and loyal as anyone you will encounter. He was a cocker spaniel named Prince. By my side faithfully until the day he went to heaven, special couldn’t truly define Prince as he was no doubt my boy. So, it was a no-brainer…My Boy Prince.

The opening leg was a thriller as Eclatant got up by a nose at the wire to kick things off. The second leg was all about Euphoria as down the lane there was that 2 horse passing them all on the outside. Yes, My Boy Prince delivered…again. The final race was a rout as my single came home by 11 lengths. The $18 investment yielded a $214 return. For those scoring at home that is almost 12 to 1 on your money, which is a nice way to end the day. Yes, Eclatant had kicked things off and Further Ado finished it up, but it was this man’s best friend that made the day.

On opening day, April 3, the $3 late pick 3 at Keeneland returned $394.29 to those who chose correctly. Keeneland will offer this wager on every race day during the Spring and Fall Meets. The $3 version may not be required at the Breeders’ Cup, but it’s a good bet My Boy Prince will be there on Oct. 31.