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Single Zenyatta… end of blog. Okay so it’s not that easy because there is still the races around her that need to be deciphered. Last time Zenyatta was 1-5, but keyed a $264 Pick-4 with the other runners paying $9, $10, and $11. Which mid-range odd horses in the early Pick-4 at Hollywood on Saturday are worth including?

Might as well hit the all button in race 1 with the short field. Living Our Dream is coming off a layoff, but Bejarano is tabbed to ride in race 2. And in race 3 another layoff horse Peace by Peace could be worth adding. If the first three races look a little chalky play it for more than the $1 minimum.

And if you’re looking to beat Zenyatta… all I can say is wow!

The Iowa Derby and Oaks are the features this Friday night at Prairie Meadows. The ladies are up first in the Grade 2 Oaks and Hooh Why could start favored. She is one of two graded stakes winners in the field and the only with a Grade 1 win. Hightap is the other graded stakes winner and should be sitting just off the speed with Sweet Relish.

Next up are the boys in the Iowa Derby, which is not graded. Terrain last raced in the Preakness, but is at the mercy of the pace and there may not be enough speed. Proceed Bee and Conchacer just finished one-two in the local prep for this race and are worth a look. Moonport steps up in class, but his speed figures suggest he can be competitive with this group. It’s definitely a good wagering race.

Indiana Downs has a pretty contentious turf stakes race on Wednesday for three-year-old and up fillies and mares. The race drew 10 entrants and there is plenty of speed signed on for the mile run. The morning line favorite is front-running Meadow Saffron who is coming off a third place finish in a Grade 3 stakes. Happiness Is could get first run on the leaders from her position right behind the speed and gets a jockey who is five for nine in the money at the track. Ciao is the stone cold closer who will be helped by the expected speed duel. An interesting long shot is Please Call Me who has won three straight on off-the-turf races. She doesn’t fit on class nor speed figures, but it’s interested the connections still want to try to the turf, bombs away.

The idea here on a Friday night is to make some money at Churchill then to put it all into the massive carryover at Hollywood Park. The 522K carryover starts with Race 3, which goes off around 11 Eastern Time.

The sequence seems to be a little easier than yesterdays. Royal Fortune holds the edge in the first leg off the short layoff for trainer Neil Drysdale. Principle Secret drops into the claiming ranks for the first time in race 4. Race 5 is wide open for20maiden claimers, but the presence of Garrett Gomez on El Rifle could mean the first time starter is primed for a top effort. The next race is a spread race for 16K claimers. There seems to be a lot of speed signed on in race 7, which could help the chances of Position A. The final race of the night and all the money will be on Cactus Flyer, but Suances de Espana could upset them all. It’s a good sequence to play.

Churchill Downs steps into a new era Friday night when it races under the lights for the first time in its storied history. The card kicks off at 6 pm eastern and concludes a little after 11. There are plenty of wagering opportunities with 11 races throughout the evening. The feature is race 10, an allowance race for three-year-olds and up. Flying Pegasus makes his return to the races after the Triple Crown preps in Louisiana. He finished second to both Friesan Fire and Charitable Man and a repeat of any of those races makes him strictly the one to beat.