Player Quick Pick: Saratoga late Pick 4 for 8/1/2014
by Andrew Champagne
We’ve got an all-turf late Pick Four Friday at Saratoga. The sequence includes a pair of turf sprints, and all four races have large, wide-open fields.
RACE #7: This field isn’t one to write home about. It’s a $40,000 claimer for horses that have yet to win two races, and the turf runners boast a combined total of 101 runners.
In fields like this, it’s sometimes prudent to bet horses that have not had many chances to lose. I’m going three-deep, using #7 Soul House (7/2), #8 Shore Runner, and #10 Lunar Tales (4-1). All three horses have less than 10 starts, and all three are dropping down considerably in class.
RACE #8: This starter allowance is where I go deepest. I’m using five horses, and it doesn’t seem like there’s a clear-cut favorite in the race.
The horses on my ticket are #3 Smokey Brown (4-1), #5 Permanent Campaign (6-1), #6 Aripeka (3-1), #7 Jigsaw (5-1), and #11 Arch Avenger (6-1). Permanent Campaign is probably my “key” horse. After breaking his maiden by six at Belmont, he had an adventurous trip in his first try against winners. Jose Ortiz gets the mount, and I think continued improvement is in the cards at a bit of a price.
RACE #9: Our feature is the Smirnoff Sorbet Caress, a turf sprint for older fillies and mares. It features solid, but beatable, favorites, and I’m going four-deep.
#3 Free as a Bird (5/2) and #10 Madame Giry (7/2) are both talented.
However, my longshot of the day is #6 Jewel of a Cat (8-1), who won a stakes race at this route last year and gets John Velazquez.
Additionally, #8 Coarsegold (10-1) has run a series of competitive races going short on turf, and she could surprise second off a brief layoff.
RACE #10: The word “all” is involved here. Fortunately, it’s with the two horses I’m using, not a cop-out for a race I’ll never understand!
#3 All Cash (4-1) and #9 All My Trails (3-1) seem to tower over this field. All Cash is an 11-start maiden, but a repeat of either of his two efforts last year at the Spa may put the D. Wayne Lukas trainee in the winner’s circle. Meanwhile, All My Trails drops in for a tag after running sixth behind All Included, who could be a stakes-quality horse.
This ticket costs $60 for a 50-cent bet. It’s not cheap, and these races aren’t easy, but it should pay those who hit it handsomely. Good luck!
RACE #7: This field isn’t one to write home about. It’s a $40,000 claimer for horses that have yet to win two races, and the turf runners boast a combined total of 101 runners.
In fields like this, it’s sometimes prudent to bet horses that have not had many chances to lose. I’m going three-deep, using #7 Soul House (7/2), #8 Shore Runner, and #10 Lunar Tales (4-1). All three horses have less than 10 starts, and all three are dropping down considerably in class.
RACE #8: This starter allowance is where I go deepest. I’m using five horses, and it doesn’t seem like there’s a clear-cut favorite in the race.
The horses on my ticket are #3 Smokey Brown (4-1), #5 Permanent Campaign (6-1), #6 Aripeka (3-1), #7 Jigsaw (5-1), and #11 Arch Avenger (6-1). Permanent Campaign is probably my “key” horse. After breaking his maiden by six at Belmont, he had an adventurous trip in his first try against winners. Jose Ortiz gets the mount, and I think continued improvement is in the cards at a bit of a price.
RACE #9: Our feature is the Smirnoff Sorbet Caress, a turf sprint for older fillies and mares. It features solid, but beatable, favorites, and I’m going four-deep.
#3 Free as a Bird (5/2) and #10 Madame Giry (7/2) are both talented.
However, my longshot of the day is #6 Jewel of a Cat (8-1), who won a stakes race at this route last year and gets John Velazquez.
Additionally, #8 Coarsegold (10-1) has run a series of competitive races going short on turf, and she could surprise second off a brief layoff.
RACE #10: The word “all” is involved here. Fortunately, it’s with the two horses I’m using, not a cop-out for a race I’ll never understand!
#3 All Cash (4-1) and #9 All My Trails (3-1) seem to tower over this field. All Cash is an 11-start maiden, but a repeat of either of his two efforts last year at the Spa may put the D. Wayne Lukas trainee in the winner’s circle. Meanwhile, All My Trails drops in for a tag after running sixth behind All Included, who could be a stakes-quality horse.
This ticket costs $60 for a 50-cent bet. It’s not cheap, and these races aren’t easy, but it should pay those who hit it handsomely. Good luck!
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