By Ryan Dickey:

The Grade 1 Central Bank Ashland at Keeneland on Saturday drew eight runners, but for all intents and purposes is a three filly race.

The top two contenders are morning line favorite and 2-year-old filly Champion Jaywalk, for trainer John Servis, and trainer Kenny McPeek’s Darley Alcibiades (at Keeneland) winner Restless Rider.

Chad Brown’s undefeated Feedback rounds out the top three contenders.

The other five fillies would be quite the upset winner should they beat all three these exceptional contenders to the wire — and, in my opinion, they won’t.

Jaywalk (4)  was a huge favorite in her 3-year-old debut at Gulfstream in the Grade 2 Davona Dale — when she finished off the board following a 120-day layoff. She just didn’t have it that day. The hope is that the rust has come off, and she’s ready to fire here at Keeneland.

That would set her up perfectly for the enviable position of “third off the layoff” in the Kentucky Oaks, which is the race she’s obviously been targeting.

Restless Rider (6) is making her return to the races after being off for 133 days. She’s looking to turn the tables on Jaywalk, who bested Restless Rider in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Churchill Downs last November. But, unlike the Champion, she ran another race in 2018, getting nosed out for second place by Liora in a sloppy rendition of the Golden Rod (also at Churchill Downs in November).

Feedback (5)  broke her maiden in her debut at Saratoga last August, winning as a prohibitive favorite. She wasn’t seen on the track for another 174 days until she won at second asking — capturing the Grade 3 Forward Gal at Gulfstream Park. That race was 64 days from Saturday. She’s lightly raced, and her races have been spaced out. Her speed figures from her maiden win are actually better than those garnered for her Graded Stakes win. Hmmm. Yet, she may be something special. The Ashland will let us know.

I have no betting interest in the other five fillies in the race, as I think the #4, #5, and #6 finish 1-2-3 in this race.

When it comes down to it, it’s hard to ignore the Champ, even at short odds. My heart tells me to take Restless Rider, but my wallet is going to say:

JAYWALK — because she has the race under her belt this year, and Restless Rider does not. However, on the first Fridayin May, I just might flip the tables — and go with my heart then.

Bet Jaywalk (the chalk) to win.

In the Blue Grass, I’m playing four horses that won’t be the main three contenders. In the finale on Saturday, I love a horse that will most probably be at short odds in a Maiden Special Weight affair on the turf.

If my Blue Grass picks pan out, a late pick-3 ticket with JAYWALK to SOMELIKEITHOTBROWN, DREAM MAKER, SIR WINSTON, and LUCKY LEE to the MSW favorite DELTA’S KINGDOM could pay handsomely.

Race 9 $2 pick-3: 4 with 1,6,9,10 with 5 ($8.00)

Race 9 $0.50 pick-3 4 with ALL with 5 ($7.00 for a total of $15)

Best of luck!