$7,500 Guaranteed Pick 8 Analysis

If you enjoy wagering on Sire Stakes like I do, Scioto Downs has the perfect bet on Saturday night. The track is offering a $7,500 guaranteed pick 8 (.20 minimum) combining all eight Sire Stakes Finals. With eight races in the sequence, Iʼm going to have to key a few horses to keep the ticket affordable. Those come in races 2, 6 and 7. With an expected pool in the $10,000 to $15,000 range, donʼt be dismayed if you miss a leg. This bet could easily pay out to 7 of 8 winners.

(1) LOOKING FOR ZELDA (R2) is undefeated in five starts and really hasnʼt seen much in the way of competition for the most part. If there was any other horse Iʼd consider including it would be (6) TO RUSSIA, who could be a sneaky horse to leave and sit a nice trip. While (4) ROSE RUN SYDNEY (R6) will have to defeat a three-ply entry from trainer Chris Beaver, there is no denying she is the most talented horse in the race. I feel reasonably confident with her. In race 7 Iʼm on board with the three-horse Beaver entry (1, 1A, 1B). I wouldnʼt say any of the three is far and away the best in the race, but all of them are clear win contenders.

(1) MISSION ACCEPTED and (3) SULTAN OF CASH in race 3 look to be the solid obvious plays, with the latter likely to be a heavy favorite since he has yet to lose in six career starts. Iʼd love to include (8) IN MY DREAMS on the ticket as well, but the bad post makes him difficult at add at a cost of $38.40.

Race 5 has another clear-cut chalk in (3) PRSNTPRETYNPERFECT and sheʼll likely take care of business. I strongly considered singling her as well, but (7) SHAKEWHATMAMAGAVEU has already gone faster than her and comes off a quick tightening mile at the Red Mile. I can see her pulling off an upset with the right trip. The remaining three races (4,8 & 9) appear the most wideopen of the group and Iʼm hoping we can catch a good price or two. Race 8 in particular seems like a crapshoot. More than half of the field appears capable of pacing a mile in the upper 1:51 range and I just couldnʼt separate them. .20 Ticket: 1 / 1,3 / 1,2,4,8 / 3,7 / 4 / 1 / 1,2,4,7,8,9 / 2,3,7,8 Total = $76.80