Guaranteed $25,000 Pick 4 Balmoral Selections for Tonight

For those who don’t know, I do the Handicap Weekend at http://blog.horseplayersassociation.org/ and with the Breeder’s Cup festival yesterday I didn’t get to the Saturday Pick 4 at Balmoral. So we are back on schedule today with the Guaranteed $25,000 Pick 4. The races are number 7 through 10 and we are going to stay with a $24 ticket. Here we go …

Race 7 #4 AJS April Doll ML 3/1

There are several females that I like, Toshie Special, Tinkers Dam and Cole Blue but in the end the number 4 looks too good. This 5YO mare is dropping in class with a nice pair of speed figures (78 – 79) and has back to back 1:53 finishing times. Marcus Miller is driving and Scott Galloway hits at .297 with drop downs. No lock but she looks super fit and ready to win it.

Race 8 #6 Hitithard ML 8/1 #7 Detailer ML 12/1 #8 Thrills Sugar Buzz ML 6/1

In this race, Thrills Sugar Buzz looks real solid. Two wins in last three, excellent times and good speed (83-77-83). Todd Warren has been right on in the buggy with this 7YO gelding and while the others can be tough, I see the #8 handling them. You could argue singling him here too.

Race 9 #1 Itzalassi ML 8/1 #4 Temperment ML 8/1 #6 Bobs Minute Maid ML 5/1

This is the ticket buster race. With no budget in place I’d hit the “all” button. In truth, the more I look at this field the less I like them. There are several here that have done by us in the past, but they look like they are out of form. You look at Itzalassi and you see those five wins in a row, then three with troubled trips, can this 3YO filly bounce back? I have always been a big Temperment fan, but she is a far cry from her form of August, so that leaves us the #6. Bob’s Minute Maid is another that has been less than stellar; the only thing that makes him strong is his final times. So in the end, I’m going with Itzalassi to come back and win.

Race 10 # 1 Forcryingoutloud ML 3/1 #2 Mandy’s Gold ML 5/1 #6 Pickaplacetopark ML 5/1

This is a highly competitive group and in the end I’ll go with the #6 Pickaplacetopark. This will be her first start at Balmoral and with Todd Warren driving. She had some good efforts at Maywood and then struggled at Indy. Her back to back 68’s while not the top for this group shows me form is coming into play. The 4YO mare has shown good 70’s not too far back and good shoot through this crowd and take it. I also like Mandy’s Gold in here too.

$25,000 Guaranteed Pick 4 at Balmoral Park Tonight - Selections

This morning I took a look at the results for the Pick 4 last night at Balmoral. I have to admit I took a long blink not seeing one of my selections winning. I believe that has happened only once before, then I looked at the payoff and saw $3000+ and knew it was long shot city. Tonight is the Guaranteed $25,000 Pick 4 and here go … (Note this is a $36 ticket tonight)

Race 7 #1 Boiler Heidi Ho ML 3/1 #3 Vegas Venture ML 7/2

I could single the #1 easily. This 8YO mare has won 2 of the last 4, she is one of the best in the Wilfong barn. Her speed fig’s are rolling along nicely. We have to keep an eye on Vegas Venture, while her speed isn’t there she is a recent winner and Marcus Miller is in the buggy, that alone makes her dangerous.

Race 8 #4 Skinny Jeans ML 5/1 #5 Waiting and Hoping ML 7/2 #7 Redhot Hart ML 3/1

We had Skinny Jeans before and finished 5th after coming off a layoff. Her past speed figures should dominate this group and could single her too. I do like the #5, moving up in class, respectable speed (71-73-76) and has Miller driving.

Race 9 #2 Wolf Creek Pass ML 5/1 #3 Powerful Speed ML 3/1

I like Wolf Creek Pass here, last out he broke before the start and never recovered. Has good speed and John Roberts drives him well. Powerful Speed will be tough with a recent win, not sure how much that last one took out of him. It will be a close race.

Race 10 #1 Freddy To Rumble ML 7/2 #4 Mr Casual ML 12/1 #8 Rockme Amadeous ML 6/1

This is the most contentious race of the evening. All of them have had a measure of success in recent times but will go with the class dropping Rockme Amadeous. He won two back, has Marcus Miller back in the driver seat and Procopi is back training this 4YO gelding. The speed and success along with the high winning percentage connections say’s the #8 can take this one.