Peck: Mountaineer picks for Saturday, Aug. 6
Saturday's West Virginia Derby, the highlight of the Mountaineer meet, is part of the late Pick 4, and it's certainly a very playable sequence:
RACE 6: ROCKINN ON BYE closed deceptively well in his last try on the main track, two back. CANDIP is easy to like off that last Beyer. WILBO was a close third behind Candip. W. B. SMUDGE will be tough if he runs back to that figure he posted two back.
RACE 7: S'MAVELOUS was game in defeat in his latest, dueling for the lead from the start in a race that set up well for the closers. GREAT MINDS just missed when last seen, snapping a three-race win streak. MAJESTIC AFFAIR has good early zip and may look to steal it. DEPARTING scored in his latest, and this barn excels with last-out winners (30%, $2.86 ROI).
RACE 8: CUPID is the one to catch and beat in the West Virginia Derby, and he'll be tough to reel-in if he's able to shake loose. MO TOM comes off the best Beyer of his career. ECONOMIC MODEL adds blinkers for Chad Brown, and he could get first run at Cupid. SUDDENBREAKINGNEWS disappointed in the Belmont, but he's easily forgiven for that sub-par effort.
RACE 9: PLEUVEN lost his best chance at the start in his latest, and his prior Beyers fit nicely. ROSE BRIER is usually close-up, but he can also rate if needs be, and this race does feature a fair amount of pace. BULLARDS ALLEY should be well set up given the expected race flow, as should HAMMERS TERROR.
THE PLAY: 2, 4, 7, 9 / 5, 8, 9, 10 / 1, 3, 9, 12 / 1, 5, 6, 7 = 256 Combinations ($128 Ticket).