Color this pick four green
Handicappers with a penchant for turf sprints will appreciate a late pick four sequence on Thursday that includes three such races, topped by a $77,000 preliminary allowance at seven furlongs on the Widener course that is carded as race 7.
Among the nine entered for turf, the most accomplished runners are Glowing Ember and Hidden Vow, a pair of older geldings who have each won twice on Belmont turf, capped by New York-bred allowance races at the 2014 fall meet.
Manhattan Mischief and Ticket Holder are lightly raced 4-year-olds who have shown ability in out-of-town sprints and try the grass for the first time.
Manhattan Mischief has run twice, both times at Parx Racing, posting a debut win over maidens and a runner-up finish in an allowance behind the Grade 1-placed Lunarwarfare.
Ticket Holder has run twice, both times at Laurel Park, where he rebounded from a fifth-place finish in his debut to post a wire-to-wire win over maidens for Godolphin Racing and Kiaran McLaughlin.
Element and Secret Fortune each emerge from a maiden win when switched to turf at Gulfstream Park.
Element cuts back slightly after edging 7-5 favorite Dujac at 7 1/2 furlongs. Secret Fortune stretches out after leading throughout a five-furlong dash and widening under a hand ride, an effort that earned the field’s top Beyer Speed Figure of 92.
KEY CONTENDERS, Race 7
HIDDEN VOW (Last 3 Beyers: 76-79-73)
◗ He returned from a similar layoff to run third in the Kingston Stakes on the Widener turf last May, posting a lifetime-best Beyer of 90.
ELEMENT (Last 3 Beyers: 73-38-50)
◗ After being beaten 39 3/4 lengths in two dirt starts, this colt by Unbridled’s Song improved sharply to win his first start on grass.
SECRET FORTUNE (Last 3 Beyers: 92-DNF-80)
◗ Never headed when returned from a layoff and switched to turf, graduating by six lengths over Bonnie Breeze, who was running second for the seventh time in nine starts.
GLOWING EMBER (Last 3 Beyers: 81-79-65)
◗ He has won wire to wire in both previous starts on the Widener turf, beating $50,000 restricted claimers at one mile last June and second-level statebred allowance foes at 1 1/16 miles in his most recent outing last fall.
TICKET HOLDER (Beyers: 77-57)
◗ He comes off a maiden win at Laurel over Mythos, who won at Pimlico next out.
MANHATTAN MISCHIEF (Beyers: 88-86)
◗ He gets a switch back to Angel Arroyo, who was aboard for the debut victory.