How to play the Pick 4

Contention runs deep in Sunday’s Grade 3 Longacres Mile, and being the last leg of the Pick 4 there, the potential for a price horse winning the feature creates the opportunity for a nice-sized payoff in the wager. Here’s a look at the sequence and the horses I advise playing.

Race 5, The Pete Pederson

Trainer Blaine Wright looks poised to win this race with one of his two representatives – Emmett Park (3) or Blame It On Royce (5). Emmett Park is the top choice, appearing to hold a class edge and catching a field with plenty of pace to aid his late charge. But Blame It On Royce also seems worth of inclusion in the Pick 4 being ultra consistent and coming off the two fastest races of his career.

Race 6, The King County

This race seems well covered by using three horses. Listed in order of preference they are Risque’s Legacy (8), who is returned to a sprint after a speed and fade in a route; fellow turnbacker Profound Moment (3), a winner of four of five in sprints; and the streaking Jerre to Carrie (6), a winner of four straight. Risque’s Legacy and Profound Moment are stakes winners this year, while Jerre to Carrie get a class test after defeating claimers and optional claimers.

Race 7, The Emerald Distaff

Again, I will go three deep, using Hastings invader Victress (4), already a winner at the 1 1/8mile distance of this race; sharp local Citizen Kitty (3), in top form but accustomed to racing shorter distances; and California shipper Plastered (9), a winner of 4 of 10 on dirt.

Race 8, The Longacres Mile

Probably half the field has a realistic shot of winning the Longacres Mile, and spreading seems like the best strategy while hoping to connect with a price. Gold Rush Dancer (3), in the third start of his form cycle and exiting stakes in Southern California, gets a slight nod, particularly since he handled the Emerald surface earlier in his career when he was based in the Northwest. Still, his form was a little shaky prior to his latest – so the recommendation is to use numerous others. They include Seattle Serenade (6), a winner of two in a row; local standouts Mach One Rules (9) and Barkley (11), defending champ Point Piper (2), and graded dropper Chief of Staff (10).