How to play the Pick 4

RACE 8: Standing alone with COLLECTED despite the layoff, as he has a big edge in figures and his solid works leading up to this return suggest he could run to them in his first start back. The fact that he’s run some big races off the bench in the past certainly adds to the appeal (1).

RACE 9: ENGAGE ran well in defeat in both the Allen Jerkens and the Amsterdam despite running into some trouble each time. WHERE SHE TOLD ME TOGO is clearly in top form at the moment, and he’s shown that he’s versatile enough to lead or rate. FIRENZE FIRE predictably failed to run back to that tour de force in the Dwyer in her latest but he ran a good race to close for the show (3).

RACE 10: It’s impossible not to use favorite MONOMOY GIRL given what she’s accomplished, and she will be singled on many tickets. Perhaps she’s worth pressing in this Cotillion as an “A” but value players will like WONDER GADOT. The latter does have upside, as her dull effort in the Travers can be easily forgiven, and she merits respect on her best races. Using them both here (2).

RACE 11: INSTILLED REGARD makes his first start since the Kentucky Derby but he is a live longshot in his first start for trainer Chad Brown, based on the figures he posted earlier in the year. MCKINZIE makes his first start since March, training very well for Bob Baffert. He should be well spotted from the start given his tactical speed. TRIGGER WARNING is better than his Travers running line would indicate, as he was against the race flow when taken back early; prior Beyers put him in the mix. BRAVAZO closed well in that same race, finishing only behind the two main speeds (4).