by ‘Catskill’ Steve Terjanian

‘Catskill’ Steve Terjanian offers his picks for the $25,000 Pick-4 at Yonkers Raceway on August 21, part of the U.S. Trotting Association Strategic Wagering Program.

Yonkers Raceway Pick-4, Races 7-10, Tuesday, August 21, 2012

$1 play: 1267/14/34/3 = $16

Analysis:

Race 7: Age old battle of freshmen against sophomores starts tonight’s Pick-4. (1) Crocodile Rock and (2) Hang Ten are both sophomores with speed but both have had trouble holding on in their combined 34 career starts. They do get position edge on their younger and less experience opponents. (6) Ideal Carver and (7) Edington both have chased stakes competition at the Meadowlands. Ideal Carver’s career debut was a giant score north of the border over a half-mile track which he followed up with a 1:54.3, wire-to-wire score from nine hole at Mohawk. Edington hasn’t won as yet but is impeccably bred and can only get better with more experience for top barn.

Race 8: (4) Relentless Dreamer is much improved since last seen at Yonkers back in May. The 4-year-old has been competitive chasing fast miles at the Meadowlands in recent and actually prefers the smaller oval. (1) Bestjetyet lacks much half-mile experience but ships in sharp from Philadelphia, gets the rail and does show potentially more speed than the other sharp shipper starting next to him.

Race 9: (3) Bolero Topgun returns from the Sunshine State where he put in some decent miles in Florida pacing series but this one is best over the half-miler, namely Yonkers, where he took his mark last year in a season that saw him bank more than $140,000. (4) Pacey Deucey was much improved returning to the half-miler at reduced level. This one looks tough to beat and note who he beat on May 19 at Freehold.

Race 10: (3) Lambretta was a pick last week, finishing well to be a much the best winner in second straight solid try. The 9-year-old drops off those efforts and may be able to wear down the speed at this level.

Good luck.