$100,000 Guaranteed Pick 4 Analysis

Saturday, Aug. 8 at Meadowlands

Race 8: $319,000 Peter Haughton Memorial

(4) TYPE A is not only fast off the gate but he is also capable of settling down quickly. That maturity will serve him well here. I also love the spacing on his races as many young horses are having issues because of the rapid-fire schedule due to COVID-19. (1) PLUMVILLE PRINCE displayed a very impressive quick burst of speed last week in a race that fell into his lap nicely. There is talent here but I’d still demand a decent price. (7) MOONSTONE S raced very well behind the former last time but lacked his acceleration. He can be a player with the right trip. (5) LOCATELLI clearly has talent and would be no surprise.

Race 9: $600,000 Hambletonian Oaks Final

I absolutely love this spot for (7) SORELLA. Driver Yannick Gingras is no doubt heading to the front and should be able to control the action. Her connections have said she’ll race barefoot again, like in the Reynolds when she went the fastest mile of the year by a 3-year-old trotter (1:50 2/5). If you are set on spreading deeper, (3) REBA BLUE CHIP, (4) MAY BABY, (11) PANEM and (12) HYPNOTIC AM are all fillies to consider.

Race 10: $291,350 John Cashman Memorial

(4) GUARDIAN ANGEL AS is a horse I rarely select, but I can’t help but think he’ll be sitting in good position this week with every chance to win. While he has missed over a month of action, the return qualifier on July 31 was sharp and you know the price will be right with Gimpanzee and Atlanta in the race. (7) GIMPANZEE puts his perfect 2020 record on the line in his first start against older horses. Nothing fazes him, so if he loses it will only be because another horse was simply faster. (2) ATLANTA is certainly capable of a big mile, but I like her best when she can sit a trip and I don’t see how she gets away without making two moves or coming uncovered.

Race 11: $1,000,000 Hambletonian Final

Strategy is going to be key here as I fully expect Ramona Hill to either leave very hard or float and brush to the lead early. The question is how many other drivers are aggressive early and whether Andrew McCarthy behind ‘Ramona’ will consider yielding to a horse like Ready For Moni. My money says no, which leads me to (2) BACK OF THE NECK, who could very well be riding live cover from ‘Moni’. We’ve seen Back Of The Neck on the lead twice now and both times he was caught, perhaps getting a bit “lonely on the lead” in the late stages. I’m thinking we’ll see a different horse off a helmet. (5) RAMONA HILL was spectacular in her last two starts and she is clearly the filly to beat. .50 PICK 4 TICKET:

1,4,5,7 / 7 / 2,4,7 / 2,5 = $12