by “Catskill” Steve Terjanian

Catskill Steve offers his picks for the $20,000 Pick-4 at Hawthorne Race Course on Sept. 18 as part of the U.S. Trotting Association Strategic Wagering Program.

Last Sunday, after an early scratch cut the cost of my ticket to $18, I tabbed three winners and a place finisher falling a neck short to a $59.60 winner in that leg. For the meet I’m one for 12 and stand at +$189.70.

Hawthorne Race Course Pick-4, Races 9-12, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016

50-cent play: 367/29/368/134 = $27

Analysis:

Race 9: (3) My Kind Of Dance and (6) Princess Sage the likely favorites in leg one of tonight’s sequence have displayed the most ability of these in their brief careers and figure to battle it out. (7) Hope Hotspur brushed to the top, paced a :56.3 middle half-mile before understandably weakening. Filly may be a step behind top pair, but has paced some fast miles at Hawthorne and has tactical speed to be a factor at a price.

Race 10: (2) Allabout That Race moves inside off a good try from post nine. Two back locked wheels after making a strong three-wide move at three-quarters and three back broke her maiden with a strong :56.1 final half-mile rolling by the field from far back. Filly seems to be heading in the right direction and should prove tough from this spot. (9) Blissful Pansy beat top one three days ago making it two straight solid scores. Filly has shown much improvement in new barn since shipping to Hawthorne and post may be the only thing that can stop her from a three-peat.

Race 11: (8) Always Kenzer hasn’t done much in recent but takes a key drop and is likely to perk up. (3) Emmia Rocket has finished strongly in all recent starts and looks like the one to hold off late. (6) Shark Reality was too far back to menace in latest. The gelding doesn’t look like much off recent form but does show two sub 1:56 wins earlier in the summer and is capable of better.

Race 12: (3) Pretty Place is razor sharp wiring the field in her last two, not an easy task at Hawthorne. (4) Window Wiper had a long uncovered grind against the former last time and weakened late. Makes third start at this reduced level and is worth another look. (1) Beauty’s Life was a sick scratch last time following a trip from post 10 in which she paced a 1:24.3 final three-quarters while racing wide. Two back she left for the top from post seven, yielded for the pocket then rallied late but fell a head short. The 11-year-old continues to race in sharp form and figures to be well placed from the pole.

Good Luck!