Vernon Downs $5,000 Pick 4 Analysis

On Saturday evening, Vernon Downs will host a 12-race card that features nine open and state-bred stakes for 2- and 3-year-olds highlighted by the $330,000 Zweig for sophomore colt trotters where Hambletonian runner-up Greenshoe will attempt to make amends to those that backed him at 1-5 in the sport’s most prestigious race. Vernon management along with USTA Strategic Wagering has put together an all-stakes $5,000 Guaranteed Pick 4 which we’ll look at below.

Race 6 - $53,000 NY Sire Stakes

This race should prove to be a good matchup between the talented two-time NYSS winner (4) AMERICAN REBEL and undefeated newcomer (6) MAJOR BETTS. The former would be on a three-race winning streak if he wasn’t done in by slow fractions two starts back at Batavia. The latter has already beaten some nice young colts in Open company and probably deserves favoritism. If you want to fill out your trifecta or take a shot at slightly higher odds, (1) CIGARS AND PORT has been racing well but could be an underlay with Tim Tetrick jumping in the bike.

Race 7 - $54,000 NY Sire Stakes

New York Sire Stakes point leader (7) GROOVY JOE is clearly the horse to beat in this spot, especially since he doesn’t seem to have much speed to his inside to stop him from controlling the action. That said, (1) SPLASH BROTHER might have an opportunity to upset if new driver Tetrick works out a pocket trip. The son of So Surreal put up big fractions last time and walked home while having a bit of trouble on the third turn. The big track could move this guy up.

Race 8 - $135,000 Zweig Memorial – 3YOF

(3) SONNET GRACE finally seemed to be coming around heading into the Hambletonian Oaks, but she had to race off Lasix and didn’t fire. Now with the medication back in her regimen, Muscle Massive-sired filly has a chance to wake back up and upset. (9) GOLDEN TRICKS has a string off good efforts to her credit if you ignore the Hambo Oaks mile where she never got involved from a bad post. She’s stuck outside again here but in against easier. (4) THE ICE DUTCHESS is the horse to beat coming off an easy win last time.

Race 9 - $330,000 Zweig Memorial – 3YO Open

(6) GREENSHOE dealt with plenty of issues – some self-inflicted – in the Hambletonian and while he hung late, to miss by a neck was still an accomplishment. He has everything to prove this week and I don’t think we’ll be disappointed. (2) GREEN MANALISHI S finally seems to be coming around and along with the erratic (3) DON’T LET’EM are the main dangers if the top one falters. For trifecta players, (7) SHEENA’S BOY has been racing well and many of the Ake Svanstedt-trained horses have moved up with Dexter Dunn driving.

.50 Pick 4 Ticket: 4,6 / 1,7 / 3,4,9 / 6 = $6