Pick 4 Betting Preview: Arlington Park, August 31, 2013

Photo: Ken Smith

The feature race on Saturday at Arlington Park is the Grade 3 Washington Park Handicap for three-year-olds and upward going nine furlongs on the main Polytrack. The race drew a field of five with the veteran Willcox Inn installed as the 6-5 morning line favorite.

Willcox Inn has not won since an allowance race over the Arlington Park turf course in July 2012, but is one-for-one on the poly at Arlington and is the class of the field. Mister Marti Gras looks the biggest danger off his stakes win at Canterbury at his second place finish in the Grade 3 Hanshin at Arlington in May.

With the expected battle between the favorites in the feature, let’s take a look at the three surrounding races, which make up the late pick-4.

In the first leg, race eight, Indygo Prince, Illusive Fugitive, Old Boots and Love You Mon will try to break their maiden in this one-mile turf race. Bare Your Heart is a viable long shot as is Eben Zabeel, who cost $200,000 as a yearling, but has only cracked the top three once in his 10-race career.

Race 10 is a split of race eight and again we are looking at a wide open maiden turf affair. On the morning line Blu Cobalto is the 3-1 favorite and is the horse to beat. He is not without faults; however, and must outrun Mr. Pumpermichael, Papa Josey, Balega and Fishing Line. Classic Recital is an eight-year-old gelding you have to root four as he will be making his 48th career start on Saturday. With 10 seconds and 8 thirds he has made over $54,000 in his career, all without coming back to the winner’s circle. Perhaps 48th time is the charm?

The finale is also on the turf, this time for starter horses running the sprint distance of five furlongs. Pirates Vow has been a terror on this turf course during his career winning half of his 16 career races. After a trip to Indiana Downs, Pirates Vow is back to his favorite course and at a class level where he has won his last two races. Come and catch him.

Uno Pecador could be the thorn in the side of Pirates Vow and has enough early gas to ensure a decent pace. Should they fly up front; Wekiva Wachee, Yankee Injunuity, Barracuda Bay and Upsell will be catching the front-runners late.

Tough, tough way to end the card. First post on Saturday at Arlington Park is 2:00 pm ET with race eight scheduled to break from the gate at 5:33.