Pick 4 of the Week: Belmont Park Saturday, October 24

I’ll take aim at the closing four-race sequence during Empire Showcase Day at Belmont Park on Saturday. 

Race 8 Wager

50-cent Pick 4: 1,2,7,8,9 with 1,2,3 with 4,7,8,9 with 2,9 ($60)

Race 8 – Hudson S. 

The boys will dash 6 1/2 panels on the dirt in the opening piece of the play. #1 Buttah (5-2) has really turned the corner since joining the barn of Ilkay Kantarmaci and comes off a solid fourth in the Vosburgh (G3) in his latest appearance. The Leofric four-year-old has never been better in advance of the dash and gets the rail in hopes of securing his second stakes score. 

Stable companion #2 El Grande O (6-1), defending champ #7 The Wine Steward (12-1), Linda Rice’s #8 Sacrosanct (3-1), and three-time stakes winner #9 Sculcos Folly (4-1) will also make the ticket in a tough opening leg. 

Race 9 – Sprint Championship S. 

A grassy dash at six panels on the lawn attracted nine in the second portion of the sequence. #1 Out On Bail (15-1) will appreciate the drop in with state-bred foes after going with open company since 2024 for Mike Maker. The multiple-stakes winner had a useful prep at Kentucky Downs in August and will improve in his second go off the long absence under Santana. 

The razor-sharp #2 Waralo (7-5), and potential post-time favorite #3 Twenty Six Black (2-1), are too good to omit in the heat. 

Race 10 – Empire Classic S. 

Ten will go postward in the 1 1/8-mile event on the main surface, and I will use multiple contenders in the tilt. #4 Pandagate (6-1), #7 Iron Dome (5-1), Joe Sharp’s #8 Wynstock (7-2), and horse to beat #9 Doc Sullivan (4-1) will be on my ticket in leg three. 

Race 11 – Ticonderoga S. 

Fillies and mares will travel nine furlongs over the inner turf in the finale, and I’ll close out the play with the one-two finishers of the race in 2025.  The Horacio de Paz-trained #2 Awesome Czech (4-1) hasn’t won in six straight attempts, but the consistent late runner has good form coming into the affair and will appreciate the long stretch under Ricardo Santana, Jr.  

#9 Gallant Greta (4-1) toppled open foes in a stakes score at Remington Park in her latest venture and has always run big with New York-bred foes. The Maker charge will have Flavien Prat in the stirrups.