by “Catskill” Steve Terjanian

Catskill Steve offers his picks for the $20,000 Pick-4 at Hawthorne Race Course on Sept. 11 as part of the U.S. Trotting Association Strategic Wagering Program.

Last Sunday, I invested $12 and had four place finishes. For the meet I’m 1-for-11 and stand at +$207.70.

Hawthorne Race Course Pick-4, Races 7-10, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016

50-cent play: 257/189/148/49 = $27

Analysis:

Race 7: (7) Causway is still looking for maiden win but has raced well against Illinois-bred freshman in stakes events much of his career and comes off a race in which he had no shot trying to close off slow fractions, paced a :55.2 final half from far back and never really got close in elimination for this stake. Two back paced a :56 final half rallying for place behind pacer that would likely take this. Draws tough post but may be heading in the right direction and the value should be there. (2) Fox Valley Smarty has been used hard in the pace in last two and gave way grudgingly in latest. Gets another inside post and may be the most accomplished of any in here to date. (5) Captain Rhett has paced some good miles in brief career and will likely be in the forefront of the action here.

Race 8: (8) Dee Tumbleweed looked solid finishing with :56.1 final half against similar following a 1:55.1 maiden breaking score at DuQuoin two back. Filly is bred to be a good one and seems to be inching towards those expectations. (1) Changeforthebetter has flashed some ability in her three career starts and gets a huge position edge on her main foes here. (9) Giftfromtheheart has made breaks in two of her last three but her other start saw her race overland the entire mile rallying for place behind top one two back. Looks capable of big mile but post hurts as well as her ability to stay flat.

Race 9: The 1,4 and 8 all come out of the same race three days ago and one of these should take it. (8) Beauty’s Life had post 10 in that race and paced a 1:24.3 final three-quarters while racing wide. Two back she left for the top from post 7, yielded for the pocket then rallied late but fell a head short. The 11-year-old continues to race in sharp form and gets the nod on or from off the pace. (1) Pretty Place went down the road from post 9, put away backstretch challenge and held sway when dropped to this level. (4) Make Way tipped wide off cover and rallied willingly for place behind the former. The 5-year-old has shown improvement since switching to Krueger and figures to be a factor once agin.

Race 10: (4) Holy Mcmoses has raced well despite tough posts/trips in recent. (9) Four Starz Louie has been chasing fast miles in recent. Draws outside but is driver’s choice and more than capable of perking up against an inconsistent group in finale.

Good Luck!