Player Quick Pick: Saratoga Late Pick Four for 8/14/14
August 14th, 2014
The rain that ravaged Wednesday’s card at Saratoga has moved out of the area. As such, I’m planning for turf racing Thursday at The Spa, especially in a late Pick Four sequence that (knock on wood) looks pretty hittable. Here’s how I’ll play it.
RACE #7: We start with a turf route that drew a field of eight. I think the morning line guy got this one right, as I’m using #4 Al’s Gal (3-1) and #6 Wine Burglar (2-1).
Al’s Gal makes her first start for Bruce Levine, who is a solid 19% with new acquisitions. A repeat of her last race makes her a threat to win this one, which is contested at the same level. Meanwhile, Wine Burglar is a legitimate favorite. She came up just short in a starter allowance race at this route earlier in the meet. She didn’t have a great trip that day, and Javier Castellano signs back on for this one.
RACE #8: The second leg of the Pick Four is a $25,000 claimer for sprinters. I’ve gone four-deep here, using #3 Dr Disco (12-1), #5 Broad Rule (6-1), #6 Photon (5/2), and #7 Storm Pursuit (5-1).
Photon won at this route earlier this month, and he’s arguably never been better. He makes his first start for Rudy Rodriguez in this spot, and Rudy is a lights-out 31% with horses first off a claim.
RACE #9: We’re back on the turf for this one, an optional claimer for state-breds. My ticket uses #2 Caribean Beat (6-1), #5 Distorted Beauty (9/5), and #8 One Time Only (2-1).
Distorted Beauty is a legitimate favorite. She chased a loose-on-the-lead Palace Dreams last out, and Palace Dreams could be a stakes-quality horse. This is a weaker field than the last one she faced, and she’s definitely the one to beat in this spot.
RACE #10: Our Thursday finale is a starter allowance for older sprinters. Again, I’ve gone three-deep, using #3 Regulus (7/2), #7 Bug Juice (6-1), and #8 The Big Deluxe (3-1).
The Big Deluxe has progressed in a big way in his last two starts. After running away with a $25,000 claimer, the John Toscano trainee did everything but win last out, running second behind Noble Cornerstone after setting ridiculously-fast early fractions. He beat the rest of that field by more than seven lengths, and while I’m not crazy about the outside post, 3-1 seems like an overlay to me.
This ticket checks in at an affordable $36. Again, though, it assumes we’re on the turf, and if that changes, so does the ticket. Best of luck!
RACE #7: We start with a turf route that drew a field of eight. I think the morning line guy got this one right, as I’m using #4 Al’s Gal (3-1) and #6 Wine Burglar (2-1).
Al’s Gal makes her first start for Bruce Levine, who is a solid 19% with new acquisitions. A repeat of her last race makes her a threat to win this one, which is contested at the same level. Meanwhile, Wine Burglar is a legitimate favorite. She came up just short in a starter allowance race at this route earlier in the meet. She didn’t have a great trip that day, and Javier Castellano signs back on for this one.
RACE #8: The second leg of the Pick Four is a $25,000 claimer for sprinters. I’ve gone four-deep here, using #3 Dr Disco (12-1), #5 Broad Rule (6-1), #6 Photon (5/2), and #7 Storm Pursuit (5-1).
Photon won at this route earlier this month, and he’s arguably never been better. He makes his first start for Rudy Rodriguez in this spot, and Rudy is a lights-out 31% with horses first off a claim.
RACE #9: We’re back on the turf for this one, an optional claimer for state-breds. My ticket uses #2 Caribean Beat (6-1), #5 Distorted Beauty (9/5), and #8 One Time Only (2-1).
Distorted Beauty is a legitimate favorite. She chased a loose-on-the-lead Palace Dreams last out, and Palace Dreams could be a stakes-quality horse. This is a weaker field than the last one she faced, and she’s definitely the one to beat in this spot.
RACE #10: Our Thursday finale is a starter allowance for older sprinters. Again, I’ve gone three-deep, using #3 Regulus (7/2), #7 Bug Juice (6-1), and #8 The Big Deluxe (3-1).
The Big Deluxe has progressed in a big way in his last two starts. After running away with a $25,000 claimer, the John Toscano trainee did everything but win last out, running second behind Noble Cornerstone after setting ridiculously-fast early fractions. He beat the rest of that field by more than seven lengths, and while I’m not crazy about the outside post, 3-1 seems like an overlay to me.
This ticket checks in at an affordable $36. Again, though, it assumes we’re on the turf, and if that changes, so does the ticket. Best of luck!
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