BetAmerica’s horse racing pick of the day: May 4, Will Rogers

Weekday picks and plays for Thoroughbred racing.

Monday, May 4

Will Rogers Downs, Race 8: Maiden special weight (1 mile, 5:45 p.m. ET)

A classily-bred son of Malibu Moon, out of a Grindstone mare, #2 Instigated (3-1 on the morning line) looks like the horse to beat in this 1-mile maiden heat.

Sold for $195,000 as a yearling, this 3-year-old gelding is winless in nine starts, but he has recorded a trio of runner-up efforts against tougher company in Kentucky and Arkansas. Last time out, Instigated flashed some tactical speed in a 1 1/16-mile maiden race at Oaklawn Park, before he weakened to finish seventh, behind Prodigious Bay (who returned to finish fourth in a quality allowance race) and Hunt the Front (a next-out maiden winner).

Monday’s test is a much easier spot, and Instigated’s career-best 88 Brisnet Speed rating stands out as the best in this field. With any luck, he’ll secure a breakthrough victory at Will Rogers Downs, with fellow Oaklawn shipper #6 Litany (7-2), the inconsistent but promising #7 Algebra (4-1), and the Steve Asmussen-trained #9 Just Ask Joel (5-1) the most likely to round out the exotics.

We’ll bet the race accordingly.

$15 to win on #2 Instigated
$2.50 trifecta: 2 with 6,7,9 with 6,7,9 ($15)

Good luck!