Mucciolo: Breeders’ Cup Friday Pick 4 wager

I will start by saying no Breeders’ Cup Pick 4 is for the faint of heart. With so many competitive fields, and in this particular year, with no complete standout I can see, it makes it even harder. I have a horse of great interest to close out the card on Friday, so I will take a swing at a challenging sequence that could return a lucrative sum.

Race 6 Juvenile Fillies Turf:

Tough opening leg of the stanza attracts an overflow field of 16 and it would be hard for me to say there is a standout, or even a few standouts, in this affair. I will be a bit deep in this grassy test as the imports appear to be the real deal, especially #2 HAPPILY, #4 MADELINE, #10 SEPTEMBER and #13 JULIET CAPULET. I am a big fan of the Chad Brown-trained #8 SIGNIFICANT FORM and will add stable companion #11 RUSHING FALL as well.

2,4,8,10,11,13

Race 7 Dirt Mile:

I covered this race in a separate post and like #7 CUPID for an upset. But in a wager like the pick 4, there is simply no way I could take a stand with one runner here and will spread more. #3 SHARP AZTECA, #6 MOR SPIRIT, #8 ACCELERATE, and #10 PRACTICAL JOKE are the most likely other ones who could win, and I will also take a chance in adding #5 AWESOME SLEW, who looks like an overlay for Mark Casse and pilot John Velazquez while in fine form.

3,5,6,7,8,10

Race 8 Juvenile Turf:

These juvenile turf races are quite the challenge, with runners coming from the East, Midwest and overseas to take aim on Del Mar and the locals. #1 MENDELSSOHN, #3 SANDS OF MALI, #5 BECKFORD, #6 MASAR, #7 JAMES GARFIELD #14 RAJASINGHE are the Europeans. Since I am not overly thrilled with any of the U.S. contingent, I will stick with that sextet in a race that overseas runners have fared well.

1,3,5,6,7,14

Race 9 Distaff:

I have a rapidly growing love for #5 ELATE. As I mentioned in my Distaff preview, everything seems to point to this evolving superstar and this would be a nice way to put a cap on her superb second half of the season. She will be the single of the sequence.

Pick 4 ticket (races 6-9)

2.4.8.10.11.13 with 3.5.6.7.8.10 with 1.3.5.6.7.14 with 5 = $108

Good Luck!