Pick 4 of the Week: Belmont Park Saturday, September 19

A challenging, yet entertaining, four-race closing sequence at Belmont Park on Saturday will be the Pick 4 of the Week. 

Race 7 Wager

• $.50-cent Pick 4: 1,2,3,6,7,9,11 with 1 with 1,2,7,8,9,10 with 4,7 ($42)

Race 7 – Claiming

The boys will run 6 1/2 furlongs on the main oval in a $35,000 claiming event to commence the play. I’m not overly confident with any horse in the murky sprint and will use the following runners in the difficult opening piece: #1 Rule Sixty Two (9-2), #2 Mike’s Magic (10-1), #3 Unauthorized (4-1), #6 Supreme Good (8-1), #7 Special Ops (3-1), #9 Chips and Fish (12-1), and #11 Next Level Beau (20-1).  

Race 8 – Allowance

Males will travel the one-turn mile in a first-level allowance heat on the dirt in leg two. The Grade-1 placed #1 Chief Wallabee (1-1) is the standout in the contest and could be a free space for trainer Bill Mott. The talented sophomore broke his maiden at seven panels on debut in his lone one-turn race to date, and he cuts back in distance on Saturday, which could be a good thing for him. I expect the colt to roll home late at a short price under Junior Alvarado. 

Race 9 – Floral Park S. 

A very good cast of a dozen fillies and mares will travel six panels on the sod in the afternoon feature. I feel this is an ultra-competitive affair and will use half the field in order to advance to the closing leg. Grade 3 queen #1 Love Cervere (5-1), #2 Lovely Emma (10-1), #7 Delightful Flame (12-1), #8 Movin’ On Up (4-1), #9 Tabiti (6-1), and #10 Leslie’s Humor (5-1) are the ones. 

Race 10 – Maiden Claiming

I will go two deep to close out the wager in the nine-furlong tilt on the grass. #4 Big Frosty (5-2) was a good second at the level two back and drops back down from the stakes rates as a major player for Pletcher and Rosario. Top choice #7 Bourboncentric (4-1) was a clear second with the addition of blinkers at Saratoga most recently and will be tough to beat with even minor improvement under Ricardo Santana, Jr.