Delta Downs Pick 5: All in the first leg

A competitive field of 10-plus horses sprinting five furlongs kicks off the late Pick 5 at Delta Downs on Thursday night, and I’ll be using all of them in my first ticket.

Read below to see how I will narrow that down when the pools open up. There’s value in this sequence, and I have strong opinions in the next four legs.

50-cent Pick 5 = $20

Race 5: Dirt, 5 Furlongs, Clm 5000N3L, 3-year-olds and up

An inseparable group in the first leg. All run similar figures, all desperate for that third win. Any could win, none can be trusted. Most importantly, I want to be alive to my stronger opinions. I will play one ticket using "all," but when it comes post-time, I will look at the pools and write another ticket that includes the longer prices in this leg. When there’s chaos, press the prices, not the chalk.

Race 6: Dirt, 7 Furlongs, Alw 35000N2L, 3-year-olds and up

#2 Life Is a Banquet (7-2) figured it out in his layoff, coming back to fire a new top speed figure and looks to be tightened up with that bullet workout at the beginning of the month. He improved in his last second start off the layoff, and I expect the same tonight. The Thoro-Graph form pattern for #3 Ghost Cowboy (6-1) points to a new top for him. He couldn't keep up with Life Is a Banquet in the last one, but guess who worked second fastest the morning that foe worked? You got it. A live one with value.

Race 7: Dirt, 5 Furlongs, Clm 5000N3L, 3-year-old and up fillies

#1 Kleinmeister (12-1) has two huge factors going for her: she’ll be racing behind a field of likely fading speedsters and she gets Vicente Del-Cid up. I’d single if it weren't for the way that #9 Fish N Chick (3-1) was flattered by Wednesday night's winner, who beat her in the last. The form is there, and she will likely stalk and pounce the hot pace.

Race 8: Dirt, 5 Furlongs, Alw 41000N1X, 3-year-old and up statebreds

It looks to me like #4 Reece’s Priority (8-1) is sitting on a big one. Maria Baca has been riding like a star, and Lee Thomas’ barn has been locked in. The Thoro-Graph pattern says his new top figure will be tonight. When we single with a horse like this, we ensure the juice will be worth the squeeze, so see a race like this as a perfect opportunity to be the smartest gambler in the room.

Race 9: Dirt, 6 1/2 Furlongs, Clm 5000N2L, 3-year-olds and up

#5 War Reporter (5-2) is all I need to get out of this sequence alive. The connections have been hot, the form is there, and he has outside speed. Facing a field of foes who love to get next to the finish line but never taste it first.