Peck: Pick four for Tampa Bay Derby Day
The centerpiece of the Tampa Bay Downs season is the Tampa Bay Derby, and the 2016 edition is a solid one. Here's a look at the late pick four, featuring the Grade 2 Kentucky Derby prep as the third leg.
RACE 9
Using them all in this maiden special weight sprint, which features several first-time starters, making it tough to parse with confidence without the benefit of seeing the board. That said, on secondary tickets, I'll press with firster RACE ME HOME and second-time starter KING OF DIAMONDS, who was a remote second in a very fast debut race (12).
A's: 3, 4
B's: 1, 2, 5, 9, 11
C's: 6, 7, 8, 10, 12
RACE 10
TEPIN is obvious, but she just looks too good for these. Some may be scared off by the subpar Beyer Speed Figure she earned in her seasonal debut over this course, but that light figure can be attributed to the race flow; the fractions were very mild, making a fast final time difficult to post. She drew away smartly when asked and should be expected to move forward in terms of Beyers here (1).
A's: 6
B's: NONE
C's: NONE
RACE 11
Of the speeds, I like MORNING FIRE in the Tampa Bay Derby, but it won't be easy for him due to the presence of several other potential pacesetters. The expected race flow works to the advantage of ECONOMIC MODEL, who goes long for the first time but hails from the barn of Chad Brown, who excels with stretch-outs. DESTIN was sharp in the Sam F. Davis Stakes last time out and is easy to like right back here. BRODY'S CAUSE has little speed but should get ample pace help, and he's the one to fear late (4).
A's: 4,7
B's: 1, 8
C's: NONE
RACE 12
QUIETER AMERICA lost all chance when he broke slowly in that last one, as that was a race lacking speed to begin with, and his most recent turf tries were solid. ROGUERY has a decent late kick when he has the race flow in his favor, and that should be the case today. REPLAY is the main danger in the lane; he, too, should be well positioned behind a lively pace and certainly can make the last run (3).
A's: 8, 12
B's: 4
C's: NONE
:: See Kenny Peck's pick four ticket in DRF TicketMaker and bet it with DRF Bets.