Blamed the key to challenging Pick 4 on Pegasus World Cup Day
The $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) is the obvious headliner on a huge day of racing at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, but there is plenty of fine racing and money to be made throughout the 12-race card. The Pick 4 sequence spanning the 5TH through 8TH races is most intriguing to me and I will take a shot on cashing in what could be a healthy payout.
RACE 5: Ladies Turf Sprint Stakes
This loaded turf sprint for fillies and mares draws a field of 10. Morticia (#5) (7-2) and Smiling Causeway (#8) (4-1) finished second and third, respectively, on this course last time in the Abundantia Stakes and must be used. California-invader Surrender Now (#1) (6-1) is the other runner in the cast who I will use in going three-deep to get things started.
https://youtu.be/VMFWgMRiF6A?list=PLlvW5LNUHCIwSMiNkMsdcSQDa0G6vWyY6
RACE 6: South Beach Stakes
A massive field of 14, plus two also-eligibles, runs 7 1/2 furlongs on the lawn in the competitive South Beach Stakes. Fire Key (#1) (10-1) removes the blinkers in her second start for a new conditioner and is my top pick. The multiple stakes-winning vixen draws well and also gets Jose Ortiz. The price is right.
https://youtu.be/uePrsCLd750
Grade 1 heroine Capla Temptress (#13) (7-2) is the obvious one to beat in the field. The Bill Mott charge was a winner of the My Charmer Stakes (G3) on this lawn most recently and rates as the class of the field. I will also use Golden Rod (G2) winner and Mother Goose (G1) runner-up Road to Victory (#12) (4-1), who is the only runner to date to finish in front of recently named champion three-year-old filly Monomoy Girl. Road to Victory is two-for-two on turf for Mark Casse.
RACE 7: Hurricane Bertie Stakes (G3)
An octet of fillies and mares will vie in the Hurricane Bertie (G3), and Blamed (#5) (5-1) looks to be the controlling speed in the field for conditioner Bill Mott. The four-year-old Blame filly sports a superb 8-6-2-0 lifetime line and proved her class with huge runs in both the Comely Stakes (G3) and Raven Run Stakes (G2) to conclude 2018. She is my aggressive single in the sequence.
https://youtu.be/oi46foGmyRQ
RACE 8: La Prevoyante Stakes (G3)
Fillies and mares will run 12 panels on the Gulfstream Park turf in the La Prevoyante Stakes (G3). I will spread deep to close it out with the all button.
English Affair (#3) (8-1), who concluded 2018 with a victory in the Cardinal Handicap (G3), is my top selection but I could make a case for at least nine in the cast. Since I went fairly thin leading up to the final leg, buying the race stays in my comfort zone from an investment standpoint.
https://youtu.be/Tt39Mo1Fk9Y
SUGGESTED WAGER ($.50-cent Pick-4 play)
1,5,8 with 1,12,13 with 5 with all = $54
Good Luck!
PHOTO: Blamed and jockey Julien Leparoux win the Comely Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct on November 23, 2018 (c) Adam Coglianese Photography/NYRA
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