King: Remington Park pick four for Oklahoma Derby Night

Here’s my handicapping analysis and wagering strategy for the late $100,000-guaranteed pick four on Sunday at Remington Park, a sequence that includes all stakes, including the meet’s highlight, the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby.

Race 9, Ricks Memorial

Although this race drew a field of 12, it doesn’t appear particularly contentious. Gianna’s Dream (1) stands out on form and recent speed figures and is favorably drawn on the inside in this 1 1/16-mile turf race. Plus, she is a two-time winner on turf at Remington.

She was eligible to face Oklahoma-breds in the Bob Barry Memorial earlier on the card but was entered in this open spot instead, with my guess being that her connections are aiming to get her an unrestricted stakes victory and enhance her value. They obviously wouldn’t choose this more challenging option unless they felt pretty good about her chances.

Single away.

Race 10, David M. Vance Sprint

Ivan Fallunovalot (6) is 6 for 7 over the Remington main track and just stylishly won an allowance prep for this stakes race. No surprise: This horse is the most likely winner.

That said, he hasn’t looked quite as sharp this year as he did last year and has been slowed by layoffs. So, I also will use an alternative in Wilbo (3), who is 7 for 15 on dirt and sports a stakes win this year on dirt in addition to a graded placing.

Race 11, The Oklahoma Derby

Though Battle of Midway (3) rates on top, being in sharp form and twice Grade 1-placed, it seems best to use a couple of others since he is shipping from California and facing a solid field by Grade 3 standards.

Girvin (8), the winner of the Haskell Invitational, likely has as much ability as Battle of Midway, though his Travers performance left much to be desired. He was never a factor and lost by 20 lengths. But the fact that he is running here and not being freshened suggests he likely came out of the Travers in good condition.

Finally, Colonelsdarktemper (7) holds some degree of interest, possessing speed and having won the West Virginia Derby before a third in the Grade 3 Smarty Jones at Parx.

Race 12

Last up is a stakes for Oklahoma-bred males going 7 1/2 furlongs on turf – conditions that suit Ibaka (2). Having won an allowance and run third in an open stakes race in two starts this year, he should appreciate facing statebred competition and cutting back in distance from longer two-turn grass races. He won this stakes race last year, one of four wins he has on this course from five attempts.

Former claimer Pacific Typhoon (5) also goes on my tickets, being in career-best form after having won two straight.

The tickets

Using the horses mentioned above, a 50-cent ticket of 1 with 3,6 with 3,7,8 with 2,5 can be played for a mere $6.