How to play the Pick 4

Race 6

AWAKEN has done little wrong in three starts. He’s the one to beat returning here off a solid third in a Monmouth stakes with two strong works in tow. CANDY EXCHANGE beat him here July 8, before ending up third well behind him in a Thistledown stakes. He has loads of speed. TIZ A RUSH really came into his own last month, romping in two Thistledown starts (was disqualified from the first). He appears to have figured things out. FOREWARNED broke his maiden with gusto here and was a sharp second in his first start vs. winners. PLAY BALL ran second as the 1-9 favorite in a stakes here Sept. 9. He’s worked strongly since and could make amends. (5)

Race 7

MOVES LIKE ALI showed potential a year ago with a big debut win at Saratoga and then a third in Belmont’s Grade 3 Futurity. He hasn’t been seen since but has worked well for a trainer who does well off the bench. RIVERS RUN DEEP has been a real pro – you don’t win 19 times by accident. He comes here in peak form off two big wins and is 6 for 7 here. (2)

Race 8

LEONA’S REWARD comes here sharp as a tack off two straight wins. MAYAS QUEEN NEETEE romped in five straight before a so-so third last time. She could bounce back. CALI DREAM really picked up her game last month with two romping wins. SCHOOL BOARD PREZ has been freshened since a dull fifth at Thistledown but the rest may get her back to a track she likes (2 for 3). (4)

Race 9

MO DON’T NO continues to fire bullets coming off four straight wins and eight wins and four seconds in his last 12 starts. He won this last year. CAKE POP was third behind MO DON’T NO and EIGHTTHEHARDWAY last time out at this distance but that was at Thistledown. He’s 3 for 3 here. EIGHTTHEHARDWAY was second not far behind ‘Mo’ going this far at Thistledown Aug. 26. He handles this trip. (3)