King: Gulfstream pick four play for Saturday, Feb. 14

Notwithstanding a short field in the featured Hurricane Bertie at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, the late pick four offers a series of wide-open races, creating the potential for a nice payoff.

Here’s a look at sequence, and a Ticketmaker play.

Race 9

This $20,000 nonwinners-of-three claimer appears closely matched, and horseplayers are advised to spread a bit to try to get past the first leg.

Two ‘A’ horses are on the ticket, Loveisheartandsoul (4) and the poorly drawn Franklin (12), and they will be backed up by ‘B’ plays Caminto (11) and El Chivo Viejo (3).

At the price, I like Loveisheartandsoul the most at his 6-1 morning line, but this race will likely come down to who gets the trip.

Race 10

Merry Meadow (4) is an ‘A,’ coming off a sharp score in the Sugar Swirl over this track and being a mare that runs well fresh. She should also sit a favorable stalking trip.

Wildcat Lily (5) offers value at her 5-1 morning line, and has shown that she can run well when pressing the pace, which may be the scenario that unfolds here. She is a ‘B.’

Race 11

Let’s go with two ‘A’ runners: Kitty Wine (#8) and I’m Already Sexy (3). Kitty Wine is sharp right now, coming off a fast race over this track and has trained well since, while I’m Already Sexy should benefit from a recent comeback start at Tampa.

Race 12

Last up is a maiden special weight contest on turf that seemingly drew a talented field.

Two horses with experience go as ‘A’ runners: Saham (1) and Jrock (2).

Secondary ‘B’ plays are first-timers Old Sport (4), Force the Pass (8), and Farz (9) – who have all drawn positive workout reports.

The play

Plugging the horses outlined above into Ticketmaker with a base wager of 50 cents and a budget of $56, results in an all-‘A’ play in $1.50 denominations; play of ‘A’s’ and one ‘B’ in $1 denominations; and a bet of two ‘A’s’ and two ‘B’s’ in 50-cent combinations. Collective ticket cost is $56.