How to play the Pick 4

Focused around a single in the Grade 3 Canadian Turf, the speedy Heart to Heart, here is my strategy for the late Pick 4 at Gulfstream Saturday – a sequence that also includes three other graded races, capped by the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth.

Race 10, the Davona Dale

Although this mile race for 3-year-old fillies drew a full field of 14, I view three horses as standing above the rest: Miss Sky Warrior (7), Eloquent Riddle (9), and Pretty City Dancer (12). Miss Sky Warrior is my top selection, having won three straight races, including the Tempted and Demoiselle to close out her 2-year-old campaign. But not having started since Nov. 26, there is the possibility she could return rusty. So Eloquent Riddle and Pretty City Dancer will also go on my Pick 3 tickets. Both start for powerhouse stables, and enter the Davona Dale in top form.

Race 11, The Canadian Turf

As noted earlier, Heart to Heart (3) is my single. An honest frontrunner, he is quite difficult when allowed to set the pace – a scenario that seems likely in this mile turf race. None of his foes seem to have as much speed as him.

Race 12, The Mac Diarmida

This is among the deepest turf marathons contested this year in terms of numbers and quality, and the winner will likely be the horse that gets the best trip. I slightly prefer Bigger Picture (7) to win but the advice is to go deep, using multiple runners. Also on my tickets will be Charming Kitten (5), Wake Forest (4), Taghleeb (9), and Danish Dynaformer (1).

Race 13, The Fountain of Youth

The presence of headstrong frontrunner Takaful infuses more pace into the Fountain of Youth than last month’s Holy Bull, which should benefit the off-thepace horses in the lineup. Practical Joke (6) has already closed successfully to win a fast-paced Champagne last year, and even his third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile was deceptively good given how fast that race was. Training well for his first start of the year, he gets a narrow edge. Gunnevera (2), a troubled second in the Holy Bull when checked on the far turn, rates as my second pick, followed by Holy Bull winner Irish War Cry (8) in third. I will use those three, plus Three Rules (7) and Made You Look (9).