Spot plays for Prairie Meadows closing day

Prairie Meadows features a mandatory payout of its Jackpot Pick 5 on Saturday, the closing day of the 2020 Thoroughbred meeting. With a 15% takeout and 50-cent minimum, the Pick 5 begins with Race 4 at 8:22 p.m. EDT.

Friday’s penultimate program has approximately $40,000 in carryover and if there isn’t a single winning ticket, a sizable pot of “untaxed” money will await horseplayers Saturday.

Here are a few of horses of interest in the Pick 5 sequence:

Race 4

#6 You Talkin to Me (3-1 morning line) will make his second start after a rallying third in a Sept. 14 maiden special weight. The 2-year-old Tapiture gelding broke slowly from the rail and had to be urged along while racing greenly along the backstretch and far turn. The chestnut leveled off late, finishing with good energy for third, and shows a bullet half-mile work in the 26-day interim. Look for an improved effort with Glenn Corbett (20% win this meet).

Race 6

#1 Mary Helen (6-1) did not receive the right setup last time, weakening to finish fifth, but I like her chances on the front end here. She posted a convincing front-running win from the rail post two back, generating a 75 Brisnet Speed rating that compares favorably to rivals, and she can take advantage of a better trip today as the other speed is drawn to the outside.

Race 7

With an abundance of early types entered, #1 Debating (7-2) can mow down rivals in the latter stages. The lightly-raced gelding returned from a nine-month layoff with a sharp score from just off the pace on Sept. 7, registering a solid 86 Speed figure.

The 5-year-old may not have defeated the strongest bunch last time, but Debating was flattered when the runner-up came right back to win his next outing by open lengths as an odds-on favorite. He looks set for another good performance in the second start off the claim and layoff for Von Hemel.