Mucciolo's Million Pick 4 Plays

A great Pick-4 sequence on the Million Day program, starting in Race 9, is the play I will focus on Saturday at Arlington Park. This all-turf, all-stakes sequence encompasses the final four races of the day and features large and high-quality fields. The potential exists for a sizable return and I think I have it nailed down pretty well.

Here are my thoughts, with the races listed in order (9^th-12^th):

American St. Leger (G3): The 1 11/16-mile grassy test dons a field of eight and I will look to advance to leg two by going four-deep. Stars N Stripes (G3) hero #1 KEYSTONEFORVICTORY, Grade 3 star #2 TAGHLEEB, Eddie Graham’s #7 POSTULATION and Singspiel S. (G3) runner-up #8 BULLARDS ALLEY are all logical without a doubt.

Beverly D. (G1): For fillies and mares at 1 3/16 miles, this is a tricky one with so many capable sorts in the field and I will spread big. Irish Oaks (Ire-G1) runner-up #10 RAIN GODDESS and Argentine star #4 DONA BRUJA are my most appealing runners in the field, though I could make a case for each of the entrants and will use the “all” button, hoping to catch my separator here. 

Arlington Million (G1): I will focus on imports in the marquee race of the meeting. Grade 1 hero #5 DEAUVILLE was a close third in the 2016 edition of this race and is a must use for conditioner Aidan O’Brien. Four-year-old son of Galileo has been consistently good up to this point and some of his best work has occurred when shipping to the U.S., annexing the 2016 Belmont Derby (G1) prior to his Million effort.

French Group 1 star #13 MEKHTAAL, with Frankie Dettori in the silks, is also of top-class and could make big noise in his stateside debut.

Pucker Up (G3): With solid coverage leading up to this final leg, I do not have the luxury of spreading deep but am not concerned. #3 LIPSTICK CITY was a facile winner of the Boiling Springs S. at Monmouth Park last time and looks to be in a nice form cycle for Chad Brown. Daughter of City Zip is an improving sort who gets Joel Rosario in the stirrups and draws a nice post to stalk early and kick on in the lane for a potent turf conditioner.

#10 HAPPY MESA is the other runner in this field I have a lot of interest in. Filly makes a second try since being purchased at auction for $525,000 recently, and being moved to trainer Mike Maker. Multiple stakes heroine didn’t run her race off the layoff at Indiana last time, though she likely needed the run and a big leap forward is fully expected in a winnable finale. I love that excellent turf pilot Florent Geroux will be in the irons and the value should be great from a tough post.

50-cent Pick 4 ticket (races 9-12)

1,2,7,8 with all with 5,13 with 3,10 = $80