How to play the Pick 4

Race 7

SWORN SILENCE won her first two starts for high-percentage trainer Brad Cox. THREE CHORDS has done nothing wrong in four starts and is a proven commodity coming off a sharp second (beaten just a head) in a race like this here Feb. 2. MIZ K looked good beating maidens at Churchill Nov. 3 and has worked well of late. SHANGHAI TARIFF romped in the slop here Feb. 11 with blinkers off. That plus mud may have made her a new horse so upgrade her if it’s wet. (4)

Race 8

SONNETEER has improved with blinkers and his best work has come here. FUTILE was a sharp second in his last two, both here. His speed can have him in it from the bell. HAWAAKOM ran second in this last year to no less a beast than Horse of the Year Gun Runner. He faces no one close to that here, comes off a nice return third at the Fair Grounds and can move forward. (3)

Race 9

Your approach to this race likely depends on whether PRINCIPE GUILHERME goes here or in Saturday’s Grade 2 Risen Star at the Fair Grounds. He romped in his first two starts before finishing a better-than-looked second to topclass Instilled Regard in the Grade 3 Lecomte at the Fair Grounds when he got shoved out wide from the start but made a nice run to get second. MOURINHO romped in the Smarty Jones here last month so he’s shown he’s a good horse and likes it here. Should PRINCIPE GUILHERME not go, add SPORTING CHANCE as the $575,000 son of Tiznow makes his first start since taking Saratoga’s Grade 1 Hopeful last summer. (2)

Race 10

ZULFIKHAR dazzled winning his debut at Los Alamitos last summer for Bob Baffert. The $750,000 son of Bodemeister hasn’t run since but has worked smartly for his return. NEW YORK CENTRAL made a strong run to the lead into the lane but couldn’t quite sustain his run, finishing second. That was a most encouraging return for the $750,000 son of Tapit. DREAM BABY DREAM looks headed the right way. (3)