How to play the Pick 4

Race Six

The sixth race, the All Along, appears among the most competitive of the stakes at Laurel Saturday afternoon. Adding to the somewhat cloudy handicapping picture is that a couple runners in the lineup – Lift Up and Mythical Mission – are cross entered in the Noble Damsel Saturday at Belmont. Provided she stays in the race, Lift Up (1) is my choice to win the All Along. She is well drawn in post one, suited to the 1 1/16-mile distance on the grass, and has shown she can close to win behind slow splits – which Timeform’s Pace Projector anticipates. Others that merit use in multi-race gimmicks include Stormy Victoria (7), Celestial Insight (11), and My Impression (10).

Race Seven

Tombelaine (7) seems to want firm or good turf, and with dry weather forecasted for Maryland from Thursday through Saturday, he will likely receive the ground he desires. That was not the case in his prior start when he was outrun in the Troy when racing on soft going at Saratoga. Possesses tactical speed and having already won at three quarters of a mile on turf, he rates on top over Dubini (9) and Oak Bluffs (6), two other contenders but horses accustomed to running shorter distances on the lawn.

Race Eight

Hello Don Julio (4) is classier than a quick glance at his last two races – a pair of losses in allowances – might suggest. He faced graded quality foes in those New York contests, and particularly last out when second at Saratoga July 21 to Call Provision, he held his own. This sharp form makes this speedball the one to catch and beat. Renown (9) - who won this race, The Laurel Turf Cup, in 2016 and was third in it last year – seems his primary foe. He turned in his best race over his last couple years when third in the Johns Call at Saratoga Aug. 22, perhaps indicating he is ready to get back to steadily reproducing his form of old.

Race Nine

Two fillies, Smiling Causeway (10) and Compelled (7), stand out based on their grass form sprinting this year. Both are stakes winners in 2018 that are capable of running lofty Beyers. Moreover, they are graded placed in turf sprints this year, with the former running second in the Grade 2 Royal North at Woodbine and Compelled finishing third in the Grade 2 Monrovia at Santa Anita.