Peck: Monmouth Park late pick four for Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018

With a couple of stakes on the menu at Monmouth Park – one seemingly clear-cut, one seemingly wide-open – the late pick four might be worth a play:

RACE 9: CINCO Y CINCO hasn't been out since December, but he fits here based on his Beyer Speed Figures, and he has a couple of decent works for this. DRAXHALL WOODS has been in good form this summer and does figure to make his presence felt late. TOTAL JOINT takes a big class drop for a barn that wins at a high rate with same (3).

RACE 10: SYNCHRONY was much the best against some of these same rivals in the Oceanport, and he's clearly going to be tough right back in this Red Bank. Might want a little more ground than this, but he remains the one to beat under jockey Joe Bravo (1).

RACE 11: Using them all in the Sapling, which features little proven route form and a race flow that is nearly impossible to plot. Hoping for a pace meltdown with a longshot benefiting most, as the favorites seem likely to be involved early. Note that Blazing Liason is scratched, reducing the field to six (6).

RACE 12: CLASSY DANCER is the most likely winner, exiting stakes races and from a barn that wins at a very high rate with turf sprinters, but I'll also try SWEET YARE N DIRE, who has run well in all three starts at the meet, including a deceptively good effort when off the board three back (2).

THE PLAY: 6, 8, 9 / 2 / ALL / 1, 3 = 42 combinations ($21 ticket)