Litfin: Saratoga pick four for Saturday, Aug. 15
Last week’s simple $24 Whitney Day late pick four play brought back $216.50, so let’s plow some of the profits back into the $500,000-guaranteed pick four on Fourstardave Day. We’ll use the same basic strategy of singling in one leg and spreading as necessary in the others.
RACE 8: BOOT SCOOTN DADDY (3) is 2 for 2 and should trip out nicely toward the inside. SLIM SHADY (4) has run 90-plus Beyer Speed Figures in his last five starts, and no one else has hit the 90s once on turf this year. CANDIR (6) won both of his grass starts last year and returns for Chad Brown. HOLLYWOOD IDOL (7) has yet to be headed in two turf starts.
RACE 9: ELRAAZY (2) just missed at this level after a debut win. TOP DECILE (4) has been sidelined, but the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up won at the Spa off workouts last summer. KIROV (9) ships in from California, joining Brown’s barn, and boasts a competitive figure in winning her only dirt start. MAYLA (10) was beaten less than a length under these conditions three weeks ago. MISS COBBLESTONE (11) was a good-figure maiden winner at this distance two back.
RACE 10: The inner turf course is carrying inside speed tremendously well, which is potentially a big advantage for KING KREESA (4) in the Fourstardave. He gave Wise Dan fits in this race two years ago and is razor-sharp after taking the Poker and Forbidden Apple at Belmont. We’re standing alone here.
RACE 11: If it’s not DEFICIT HAWK (1), WHO’S Z DADDY (3), or ALEANDER (6) in this low-grade restricted claimer, then your guess is as good as mine.
The ticket: 3, 4, 6, 7, with 2, 4, 9, 10, 11 with 4 with 1, 3, 6 = 60 combinations @ 50 cents = $30