How to bet the $1,636 Pick 4 carryover at Mahoning Valley & selected spot plays

A pair of carryovers await bettors of Mahoning Valley Race Course’s 8-race card on Monday, April 10: $17,521 in the jackpot Buckeye^6 (races 3-8) and $1,636 in the Pick 4 (races 5-8).

That $1,636 might not sound like much, but as about 5% of the pool, it’s sure to provide a little lagniappe for those who solve the sequence.

Most of my hopes will pin on #9 Ali Blue in race 7, an entry level allowance race for Ohio-bred females going 6 furlongs. Ali Blue was competitive against straight maidens, but winless in her first six starts before dropping to Ohio-bred company and winning by 9 ¾ lengths. Stakes foes in two of her last three efforts were too tough, but this seems to be her level.

In the opening leg (race 5), the morning line favorites look formidable, but one upset chance who will be on all my tickets is #2 Mariota, who drops to the lowest level of her career and could show speed with the inside draw.

In the closing leg (race 8) the better half of the entry scratched, and while the remaining “natural” #1 is still a top contender, he’s nowhere near the cinch 1A might have been. That probably means we won’t get 10- and 12-to-1, respectively, on #3 Cantcatchthegroom and #8 Erin’s Charge, but both horses will be on all my tickets. Erin’s Charge will have to go from the outside post and could lead gate to wire as the lone “E” type in this field. Cantcatchthegroom could trip out from post 2 on the drop to claimers after facing starter types in his last three.

From a spot play perspective, we’ll look to race 1 to help build our bankroll with #8 Al’s Prayer looking like a vulnerable favorite from the outside post and trainer change from the 18% Robert Gorham to the 4% Rodney Moyers. On the inside, #1 Marco’s Lion gets post relief and a fast track and is worth his 12-to-1 morning line price.