King: How I'll play Saturday's Pick 4 at Tampa Bay
With Rymska scratching from Saturday’s Grade 3 Endeavour at Tampa Bay Downs, running instead at Gulfstream in the Suwannee River, here is my revised late Pick 4 play for Saturday afternoon at Tampa. Selections have their program numbers listed, as well as A or B designations for primary or secondary betting emphasis within DRF’s TicketMaker wagering tool.
Race 9: The Suncoast
For an ungraded stakes, this came up a demanding race, one that drew numerous invaders from South Florida. One, Sweet Diane (9, A), is the top selection, not only based on what she did there when second in the Hut Hut, but also due to the advantage of having trained at Tampa since for high-percentage trainer Mike Stidham.
Others that warrant use in the Pick 4 include two blowout maiden winners at Gulfstream, Point of Honor (7, A) and Tapit's Princess (3, B).
Race 10: The Endeavour
Hawksmoor (6, A) seems in position to control the pace and looks tough. Still, the view here is that she has been off her peak efforts from 2017 for quite a while now. Therefore, a couple others warrant joining her in the Pick 4.
Better-valued options to use in addition to Hawksmoor include 9-2 shot Get Explicit (2, B), twice second in major graded stakes in late 2018, albeit in restricted 3-year-old filly company, and 15-1 longshot Bonnie Arch (3, B), a bounce-back candidate on firm ground after catching wet turf in her last two appearances.
Race 11: The Sam F. Davis
Not fully trusting Knicks Go (3, B) to rebound following a disappointing effort in the Kentucky Jockey Club, the nod in the Sam F. Davis goes to Kentucky Wildcat (6, A), a developing Tapit colt who graduated from the maiden races at third asking at Aqueduct on Dec. 1. Right behind him was Country House, a colt who would return to break his maiden decisively at Gulfstream this winter.
One must also respect So Alive (8, A) in this race given the success trainer Todd Pletcher has experienced in the Sam F. Davis over the years. Still, this one is not particularly fast. He needs a leap forward, though he does have a winning race over the Tampa surface.
Let’s use Kentucky Wildcat, So Alive, and even Knicks Go as a backup – plus Five Star General (7, B) - and hope to connect with one of the better prices.
Race 12: $16,000 Claiming
Adios Nardo (1, A) has won two straight, and is the most likely winner of the nightcap. He also is drawn in a position to save ground from the inside post. He seems unlikely to offer much value, however – something At the Ready (4, B) and Gray Dude (8, B) should provide. As contenders, they go on the ticket.
At the Ready hinted he is cycling back into peak form by running second Jan. 26, his best race since the winter of 2016-2017, and Gray Dude drops in class and has a winning trainer/jockey combination.
The Ticket
Plugging the above-mentioned horses into TicketMaker along with their A or B emphasis, a $1.50 ticket of all A horses costs $6; a $1 ticket of three As and one B costs $22, and a 50-cent ticket of two As and two Bs costs $21. Collectively these total $49.
