Peck: Monmouth Park pick four for Saturday, June 22, 2019

The back half of the Saturday card at Monmouth features one of the two Grade 1 races at the 2019 meet, the United Nations, race 11. This year's edition is especially competitive, but it helps to make for an interesting pick-four sequence that also includes the Grade 3 Iselin.

RACE 10: RUNNIN'TOLUVYA ventures outside the friendly confines of Charles Town for only the second time, but he seems to fit with this field, as does DIAMOND KING, who was a half-length behind him in the Charles Town Classic. ZANOTTI may be ready for a big step forward here off a sprint prep in his return from the layoff. MONONGAHELA was against the race flow in the Flat Out at Belmont but should get a better setup here (4).

A's: 3, 5, 7
B's: 6
C's: NONE

RACE 11: The lack of a clear-cut pace scenario makes narrowing down the field in the United Nations difficult, as it will likely come down to positioning and jockeys' decisions. Given how closely matched this field is, I'll use them all and look for something outside the box to hopefully juice up this sequence (8).

A's: 1, 2, 5, 6
B's: 3, 4
C's: 7, 8

RACE 12: PINK SANDS adds blinkers, and her solid recent works indicate the equipment change agrees with her. She should be ideally spotted off a contested pace. ALBEROBELLO is one of the expected speeds, but she can also rate a bit if need be (2).
A's: 3, 8
B's: NONE
C's: NONE

RACE 13: FLOWMOTION was closing with interest in that last one, and though he's been away since that April effort, he has run well when fresh in the past. MISSION DRIVEN had a valid excuse for his latest due to traffic issues, but he has back figures that very much put him in the thick of this (2).

A's: 3, 7
B's: NONE
C's: NONE

THE PLAY: A caveman-style play using all the above combinations would cost $64 (3, 5, 6, 7 / ALL / 3, 8 / 3, 7). Pressing again with the "A" plays only would cost another $24 (3, 5, 7 / 1, 2, 5, 6 / 3, 8 / 3, 7).