Illman: Pick four for the middle of Black-Eyed Susan card
There are several big guaranteed exotic pools at Pimlico over the next couple of days. Let’s take a look at the $100,000-guaranteed pick four covering races 3-6 on Friday.
Race 3
FANTASTIC STYLE (8) towers over the field in terms of Beyer Speed Figures and should appreciate the slight class and distance relief. Like many pick four players, I will single the probable odds-on favorite.
A - 8
Race 4
This looks like a wide-open race for fillies and mares on turf. LEAFY SHADE (7) is being asked for a great deal as a 3-year-old trying older in her first start since October. She faced genuinely good competition in Europe last year, however, adds Lasix for her stateside debut, and her trainer has enjoyed great success over the past few years with horses like Hardest Core. JET MAJESTY (14) attempts to repeat the long-layoff/turf-route-return-to-the-races pattern that resulted in her maiden win during the summer of 2014. She has good speed to avoid being hung out too wide from a tough outside post. INVOLUNTARY (5) was one of several live debut runners for trainer Arnaud Delacour at Tampa Bay Downs this winter. She showed good tactical speed in her first start, and slight improvement from that 70 Beyer puts her right in the hunt. As a backup, I’ll use QUEENOFZEENILE (3), who makes the second start off the Jamie Ness claim. She drew a nice attack post position.
If there are any scratches, I will include both also-eligibles. DICEY FLATS (15) ran well in her turf debut off the Rudy Rodriguez claim and can utilize a stalking gear if necessary. HOLD HARMLESS (16) adds blinkers after a traffic-filled journey against a sharp European invader at Belmont.
A – 5, 7, 14
B – 3
(add 15 and 16 as A’s if they draw into the race)
Race 5
TALE OF LIFE (9) has improved with the addition of blinkers, but I’ve never been a big fan of this colt, and he’s likely to go off at a short price. I must use him in the pick four, but he’s not for me from a single-race play. Perhaps ROD MCLEOD (3) has been a two-turn horse just waiting for an opportunity to stretch his legs. While he didn’t beat much for $32,000 going this distance at Keeneland, he pressed a solid pace before drawing off nicely. TOP OF MIND (6) is a lightly raced gelding making the third start of the form cycle with improving Beyers. If this pace falls apart, he is eligible to run these down late. As a deep backup, MONKEY’S MEDAL (5) boasts some back races that can be competitive with this field.
A – 3, 6, 9
C - 5
Race 6
SUNNYSAMMI (4) is extremely logical as the speed nearest the rail. She’s burned serious money in her last three races, however, and can’t be leaned on as a single. Instead, I’ll also use ROCKY POLICY (12), a filly who has improved by leaps and bounds since being moved to turf, and SATAN’S MISTRESS (15), a speedy mare who faced better on turf last year. The latter must overcome an extremely difficult outside post position. SETTLE ‘N SPEIGHT (2), a half-sister to Tonalist, makes her turf debut and drew very well.
A – 4, 12, 15
C – 2
Good luck!