Litfin: Saratoga late pick four play for Saturday, Aug. 16

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Taking a swing at today’s $500,000-guaranteed late pick four, in which the main contenders all seem logical enough but are surrounded by some interesting fringe players.

Race 8: Exceptionally deep preliminary allowance in which Mosler, Scam, and Surfing U S A are lightly raced and eligible to improve. Mosler has been holding his own in the mornings with Grade 1-winning stablemate Lea, according to DRF clockers Mike Welsch and Mike Vesce.

All My Memories (90), Rich ‘n’ Tuck (88), Financial Mogul (86), and Waco (88) already are close to the 91 Beyer par for this level.

A’s: 1, 4, 5
B’s: 8, 9, 10, 13

Race 9: I like Orino getting back to the course and distance of his take-down in a New York Stallion race last summer. He’s well posted, and recent bullet works suggest a peak effort off a short freshening.

Mobridge and Why Not Whiskey are the main stretch threats.

The back-up is Hurry Up Again, a stranger down from Woodbine for new owner-trainer David Jacobson.

A’s: 2, 7, 9
B: 3

Race 10: The Alabama distance is a big X-factor for Stopchargingmaria, although to her credit, she comes off consecutive stakes wins at 1 1/8 miles and loves Saratoga.

Unbridled Forever could benefit from her initial try over the track against the favorite in the CCA Oaks.

Fortune Pearl and Size are the only graded stakes winners other than the favorite and are the main back-ups.

America is 0 for 3 against Stopchargingmaria, but she’s an A.P. Indy filly who may stay this trip. She is putting blinkers on and is capable of getting an early lead based on her pace-pressing Mother Goose.

A’s: 1, 8
B’s: 6, 9
C: 3

Race 11: What can (Chad) Brown do for you? Hopefully cash out this thing with either Innovation Economy, who put in an explosive finish to win his only start last fall, or Request, a good second in his seasonal bow against Hall of Fame third finisher Give No Quarter.

If things have gone well enough in the first three legs, Vigorish, Broadway Zen, and Southern Blessing will still be in the mix as back-ups.

A’s: 1, 4
B’s: 5, 6, 9

Good luck.