Catskill Steve’s Picks: Feb. 22 BmlP
February 22, 2015,by “Catskill” Steve Terjanian
Catskill Steve offers his picks for the $25,000 Pick-4 at Balmoral Park on February 22 part of the U.S. Trotting Association Strategic Wagering Program.
Last night I invested $12 and had the first three winners ($11.20, $6.80 and $16.20) losing by a head in the finale with my 3-5 single who I thought was easily the safest bet in the four legs.
Meet totals: 1 winning Pick-4 +$129.30.
Balmoral Park Pick-4, Races 7-10, Sunday, February 22, 2015
$1 play: 234/34/15/8-10= $24
Analysis:
Race 7: (3) Pretty Place has been in tough in recent. Fast-finishing mare takes key drop and finds a nice spot against small field to use her brush. (2) Willow Wiper continues to race in sharp form and should be tough from this spot. (4) Get The Terror chased a better field home off ground saving trip and finished evenly through :56.3 final half. May try leaving in field void of early foot and is capable of taking them a long way.
Race 8: (3) La Semana Hanover was an early scratch last week on card that would later be cancelled. This one chased from the pocket in her latest, slipped out wide on final turn and finished evenly closing into stiff headwinds. Two back was used twice to the top racing into the wind, used again rebuffing backstretch challenge and did well to miss by two lengths. Mare doesn’t win often but looks to have found a nice spot to use her speed tonight. (4) Moon Bay Dancer has had tough trips trying to close off slow early fractions in recent. Was a two-move winner at this level three back, the last time she had a favorable pace to close. Mare is capable of leaving as well and looks tough on or from off the pace here.
Race 9: I’m not overly excited about this one. I’ll try the two speeds in here (5) Nessie’s Boy who returns to reality after chasing the winners over condition last time following a series of solid efforts at this level prior and the sharp (1) Mayfair Sophie who bottomed out lesser two back, then attempted the same when bumped up to this level in latest. Carved out a quick pace over sloppy track then gave way grudgingly through the long Balmoral stretch, doing well to hold show.
Race 10: Weak finale and I’ll have to go with the two likely favorites. (10) Mykindaprincess makes fifth career start and draws post 10 but comes off a giant effort racing uncovered a long way into stiff headwinds getting next to the favored leader, battled the length of the stretch holding the place through wind-aided :28 final quarter. Can move forward despite the post. (8) Green Valley left from similar spot in same race as top one, chased from the pocket and came up a bit short finishing evenly for show in first start since last July. Mare is just 1 for 30 lifetime but was facing tougher than these most of her sophomore campaign and is likely to be sharper tonight.
Good Luck!