Northfield: $250,000 Carl Milstein Memorial part of guaranteed Pick 4
Northfield Park plays host to a stellar card on Saturday, August 15 that not only includes top 3-year-old pacers in the $250,000 Carl Milstein Memorial but also many of the best Ohio-breds currently racing. In addition to the racing action, the track is offering a pair of guaranteed Pick 4 pools in conjunction with the USTA's Strategic Wagering Program. Race seven offers a $20,000 guarantee and the eleventh race has a $10,000 promised pool. Below is my analysis for the early Pick 4.
[Get FREE full-card Past Performances for Northfield's Saturday card.]
Race 7 – Open Handicap
Fans of the sport get to see the freak of nature that is (7) SOUTHWIND AMAZON in this race. The 10-year-old has 97 career wins with an amazing 43 of them coming at Northfield Park over the last three years. He's clearly the best horse in the race and only an awful trip is going to keep him from picture-time in the winner's circle. (5) I’M SOME GRADUATE gets away from the outside part of the gate tonight and figures to see aggressive handling. He's the most likely upsetter.
Race 8 – Non-winners $8,500 in last 4
I'm not a huge fan of the morning-line favorite (3) WIND OF THE NORTH in this spot, but he can certainly win, and since I'm playing against the heavy chalk in the final leg, it makes sense to use him on at least one ticket. This race clearly goes through (4) JOGGINGTOTHEBANK. The 5-year-old has successfully climbed the class ladder each of his last three starts and if he comes to the track with another 1:52 4/5 mile, they are all racing for second. (5) BULLY BOY has taken a tour of PA tracks over the last month and now returns to Ohio where he was a winner here on June 15. Top trotting barn seems to have found a winnable spot. (1) LADYS DUDE drops out of the Open to a class where he scored three starts back. (8) SOME MORE PRINCE needs some pace help, but there is enough speed that things could get 'western' up front and he could swoop by the field late.
Race 9 – Myron Charna President’s Pace
(6) BLLACK HOLE is clearly the fastest horse in the race and arguably the sharpest in terms of form. Ohio Sire Stakes champion over this surface last year has the quick acceleration and staying power to avoid trouble. (3) MAJOR NEMISIS and (5) SECTIONLINE BIGRY are the others to consider for those that like deeper Pick 4 tickets.
Race 10 - $250,000 Carl Milstein Memorial
There is little doubt that (1) CATCH THE FIRE is going to be a heavy favorite in this spot off his Adios win and drawing post one. That said, he doesn't have any half-mile track experience and the likelihood that he'll be allowed to get away with a reasonable pace is small. He'll have to earn the victory and I see other viable options at better prices. (3) ELVER HANOVER is really made for this race. He is quick off the gate, perhaps fast enough to make the top without too much trouble, and has finished within a length of the favorite in both recent starts. The son of Yankee Cruiser also posted a 3-for-3 record over this track in 2019. While we haven't seen the best of this Ron Burke charge so far in 2020, I think it is coming tonight. (8) OCEAN ROCK got the worst of the draw but arguably is the best horse in the race. He's accomplished over this track and only needs a reasonable trip to make some noise for Ohio connections.
$1 Pick 4 Ticket:
5,7 / 1,3,4,5,8 / 6 / 3,8 = $20