by “ Catskill” Steve Terjanian

Catskill Steve offers his picks for the $25,000 Pick-4 at Balmoral Park on June 21, part of the U.S. Trotting Association Strategic Wagering Program.

Last night, I invested $16 and had two winners and a place finisher.

Meet totals: 40 plays, six winning Pick-4s, +$96.30

Balmoral Park Pick-4, Races 7-10, Sunday, June 21, 2015

$1 play: 68/18/46/47= $16

Analysis:

Race 7: (6) Western Boudoir was locked in until late last time from first decent post in a while and first for new barn, found room late and finished with :27.1 final quarter to nail place, her fourth sub-:28 second last panel in her last five starts. The 6-year-old makes second start at reduced level and looks set. (8) Always Talking finished in :27 after being shuffled out last time. Mare makes second start at reduced level as well and shows some nice finishing lines against faster back in May. Will likely benefit from small field and figures to be charging late.

Race 8: (8) Rt Habanero has been in tough, battling stakes fillies to start her season as she did much of her solid freshman campaign. Takes a big drop to take on non-winners and is likely to show improvement. (1) Magic Babe was impressive winning career debut, holding sway after making bold wide move to three-quarters.

Race 9: (6) Bell Valley Bill brushed to the top, set pace under hounding pressure and held on gamely to score in fast mile. The 7-year-old seems best at this level and is taken to repeat. (4) Western Deal never got involved from post 10 in race he needed after more than three months on the bench. The 12-year-old should be tougher this week and was racing gamely against tougher here over the winter.

Race 10: (7) Mr Leland’s Filly is hard to gauge in current form but has finished fast in four of her six seasonal starts after a solid freshman campaign, takes another drop and may be ready to wake up. (4) Audrey Anna is an impeccably bred filly that has taken three of her last four starts and seems to be getting better with every start, having paced sub-1:54 miles in her last three starts.

Good luck!