Pick four has a tough act to follow

Last Sunday, the pick four at Emerald Downs seemed like a reasonable proposition. After all, the four races in the sequence were stakes and on paper it seemed there were logical horses to play in each race, including the $150,000 Longacres Mile, which was won by second betting choice Slew’s Tiz Whiz, who paid $8.80.

However, the initial surprise of the day came in the first leg of the pick four when Tiz a Macho Girl paid $45 for her 6 1/4-length romp over heavily favored Slack Tide in the $75,000 Washington Oaks. Excluding the Mile, that turned out to be the shortest price in the sequence as Zippin Sevenz paid $49 for her front-running win in the $75,000 Emerald Downs Distaff and the biggest shock of all came in the $75,000 Muckleshoot Derby when You’re the Cause rallied from last to win.

The tote board showed You’re the Cause paid $115.60, and one astute handicapper was jumping up and down when he found out after the Mile he was the only person who had all four winners and was going to have to pay taxes on the $67,847 he earned.

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With no real feature race at Emerald on Sunday, it might be worth taking a look at some of the contenders in the races that make up the pick four. There is no chance of the results matching last week, but most of the races are competitive and there is a reasonable shot at a decent payout.

Post time for the first of nine races is 2:15 p.m. Pacific.

Race 6: Mayhem and Chaos looks like the one to beat in the one-mile $8,000 claimer for nonwinners of two. Mayhem and Chaos has a good record at the distance and should appreciate going around two turns following a couple of sprints, including a runner-up finish two back on July 16. Mileys Bluecat and J C Express also look interesting.

Race 7: Mahi Mahi, Mister McLean, and Curling Secret are the main players in this $10,000 claiming race. Mahi Mahi should be okay cutting back to six furlongs after finishing third going a mile in a $15,000 claimer Aug. 7. Mister McLean dead-heated for second in a similar race July 30 and figures to move forward in his second start following a layoff. Curling Secret takes a substantial drop after finishing fifth in a conditioned allowance race with a $30,000 claiming option July 24.

Race 8: Mosquito Fleet is a possible single following his runner-up finish at this level in his first start off the claim by Emerald’s all-time leading trainer, Frank Lucarelli.

Race 9: Youonlylivetwice drops into a $5,000 maiden claimer after finishing fifth for $25,000 on July 24. Summer Pudding, fourth for $15,000 in her last start, and Coastal Queen, who just missed at this level Aug. 12, also should be part of any ticket.