by “Catskill” Steve Terjanian

Catskill Steve offers his picks for the $20,000 Pick-4 at Balmoral Park on June 13, part of the U.S. Trotting Association Strategic Wagering Program.

Checking up on Catskill Steve: Last Sunday I invested $24 and had two winners and a place finisher.

Meet totals: 37 plays, six winning Pick-4s, +$152.30

Balmoral Park Pick-4, Races 9-12, Saturday, June 13, 2015

$1 play: 23/34/610/37 = $16

Analysis:

Race 9: The lightly raced and talented filly (2) Audrey Anna continues to show improvement, winning in 1:53.4 mile two back then unleashing a 1:23.4 final three-quarters to just miss in first start against older gals and fifth career start. Seems heading in the right direction and looks good enough to handle these now. You can never count out (3) Kimberley R, especially at this level because if you do she can burn you. The 7-year-old has battled sickness over the last month and was a bit short off sick scratch in last but still managed to pace :56 final half, rallying from last at three-quarters and passing five horses in the stretch. Her last try at this level was a powerful wire-to-wire score back in April.

Race 10: (4) Rex Passus uncorked a :54.2 final half from third over, finishing well to miss by a length. The 5-year-old races best at Balmoral and could be sitting on a big mile in second start back from Hoosier. (3) Fox Valley Andy comes off a game uncovered try in same race as top one, wearing down the leader mid-stretch only to be passed in the final strides by rocket like finish out of the returning Sayna Knows in fast paced mile.

Race 11: (10) Yes We Did left and tucked sixth from post eight, made a :27.4 second quarter brush to the lead at the half, chased an identical :27.4 third panel and weakened late, doing well to hold show. Draws another tough spot but will offer good value and looks worth a shot. (6) Get The Terror is 0 for 13 on the year but has had a series of tough posts/trips in recent, including latest when he was impeded early and wound up with even pace after recovering. The 4-year-old is better than her recent lines and looks to have a shot, also at a price.

Race 12: (7) Sir Mammo may have been handled a bit cautiously last time after making a bad break two back, was far back early from tough spot but was flying late once in gear, pacing a wicked 1:22 final three-quarters to miss by less than a length. Doesn’t face all that tough a field and anything close to that last finish puts him in the thick of it. (3) Lucky Crusader is better than this level and the likely favorite and looks tough to beat with decent trip.

Good luck!