How to play the Million Preview Day Pick 5 at Arlington

Million Preview Day at Arlington on Saturday features several intriguing multi-race wagers, including the 50-cent Late Pick 5 (Races 6-10) and the TwinSpires.com Late Pick 4 (Races 7-10). Here are thoughts on the Pick 5.

Race 6 -- Modesty H. (G3)

Morning line favorite #13 DADDYS LIL DARLING is the one to beat from a class perspective, but is marooned in a wide post and hasn't exactly been a win machine. #4 CELESTIAL INSIGHT enters off a sharp second in the Mint Julep (G3) at Churchill in her debut for Graham Motion, while #6 HALLIE BELLE is an underrated contender who has made only one major misstep of late. Upset the quality mare Hawksmoor in the Dahlia at Laurel when last seen in April.

Race 7 -- Hatoof

We'll use the bookends here. #1 COOL BEANS has only been beaten on the turf by fillies competing in Saturday's Belmont Oaks (G1), thus she's an established class. #12 BEACH WALTZ has had troubled runs of late, but fifth in the Appalachian (G3) on testing ground two back a relatively solid try against better.

Race 8 -- Stars and Stripes (G3)

The logical class horses are worth using in this 1 1/2-mile prep for the American St Leger (G3), but we'll also throw in a few bombers. #4 ARKLOW has had strong form this year but is untested at this distance. That's not the case with #9 CANESSAR and San Juan Capistrano (G3) winner #5 NESSY, second and sixth, respectively, in the two-mile Belmont Gold Cup (G2) last month. Trainer Mike Maker was won the last two runnings of this and three of the last five. One of his trio, #1 SOGLIO, is a son of Scat Daddy who seems to have found his niche going long on the turf, though only strong evidence was an easy N1X allowance score last time. #12 CARTOON surely needed his comeback run in the Louisville H. (G3) last time, runs wells on this sod, and has been working lights out for this.

Race 9 -- Arlington H. (G3)

Morning line favorite #3 SYNCHRONY was compromised to an extent by the saturated ground at Churchill on Derby Day, but was still able to rally for third in the Old Forester Turf Classic (G1). Looked an emerging powerhouse at Fair Grounds over the winter and expecting him to bounce back here in a big way.

Race 10 -- Maiden Special Weight

#11 GWENDALYN SUE has been the runner-up in all three tries, the latter two this meet in races that came off the turf due to weather. Grass might be her preferred surface. #3 MAKADA has never run long on the grass, and her late rally for fifth going five furlongs last time suggests it would be of help. #5 CLOCHE met with interference at a crucial stage when favored against state-breds, but proved worthy of open company spotting with a near miss in her debut. #1 AVERY A. is an interesting first-time starter. Besides decent-looking works, the Kitten's Joy filly is a half to multiple Grade 3 winner Shakhimat and is from the family of turf champion mare Perfect Sting.

Here's the 50-cent ticket:

4,6,13 with 1,12, with 1,4,5,9,12 with 3 with 1,3,5,11 = $60.

Keep in mind the Arlington Pick 4 All-Ways Bonus available Saturday through TwinSpires.com. Opt in and earn a 15% bonus if you win, or 15% back if you lose, on any Pick 4 on Saturday's card. The bonus is capped at $500 per player.

(Hodges Photography)