by Bill Eichenberger

Bill Eichenberger gives his selections for the $100,000 guaranteed Breeders Crown Early Pick-4.

Saturday, Oct. 29, Woodbine Racetrack, Races 4-7, $100,000 guaranteed Late Pick-4

$1 play: 34/4/15/235 = $12

Analysis:

Race 4: This 2-year-old colts and geldings pace for $652,535 is no less tough to call just because these are the best 2-year-olds on the continent! Sure, the two favorites — (3) Sweet Lou and (4) A Rocknroll Dance — have to be on your ticket. But what about the 6-1 shot (7) Sing For Me George, who has won five of seven including a best of 1:51.2 and an impressive place in his last outing in 1:50.2? Or (8) Speed Again, who was shaky his last time out but had won six of his previous eight including three under 1:51? Even (1) Escape The News offers a touch of intrigue, having won on Oct. 8 at Lexington in 1:50.3, albeit for only an 85 speed rating. Have to go not only with the fastest horses over a mile but also the hottest horses.

Race 5: The mile trot for 2-year-old colts and geldings is headlined by (4) Possess The Will, a winner in five of his nine starts including a field’s best 1:54 as recently as Oct. 7. (8) Royal Shyster had an impressive stretch of nine wins in 10 outings between July 14 and Oct. 1 before faltering in his last two. His season’s best is a middling 1:57.1 and his last race boasted his first break, all of which explains his 10-1 morning line odds. Appears to be a good spot to single Possess The Will, though if you’re inclined to hedge your bet, (3) Uncle Peter has won three of his five races this year. His primary drawback: two breaks in his last four. A risk. (9) American Gangster has beaten Possess The Will, but that was back on Sept. 11 and the trotters seem to have gone in different directions since then.

Race 6: Old girlfriends return in the sixth for this $302,170 Open Mare Pace. (5) Anndrovette has won 10 of 18 this season and nine of 17 last and the 4-year-old is the understandable 7-5 morning line favorite, but she hasn’t paced a sub-1:50 mile since early in June. The second favorite should be (1) Maureen Rocks, who seems to have peaked a tad too early for the Breeders Crown. But she had a stretch in July and August that included four straight wins and a season’s best 1:49.1. She has to be considered here. (10) Laughandbehappy paced a massive 1:49.1 on July 16 with a speed rating of 99. She hasn’t been worse than 1:51.1 in her last 12. But that post is brutal, especially considering she’ll be in back of (2) Fred And Ginger, who is as slow-as-molasses at the gate. Where will she find the room to race? (6) On The Glass has been competitive recently at both a mile and a mile and a sixteenth, but more often as a bridesmaid than as a bride. (4) Western Silk has been stellar at a mile and a sixteenth (three straight wins at the distance before finishing fourth at a mile the last time out).

Race 7: OK, so it’s a lot of chalk so far, but what are you going to do? We’re handicapping the best Standardbreds on the continent here! The seventh is an Open Trot for the boys and the purse is $600,000. What a couple of years (2) San Pail has had in 2010 and 2011, winning 26 of 30 for more than $1.6 million. But this is an international battle royal and the 7-year-old gelding might just be the smart money’s third choice. That’s because Sweden offers up (3) Commander Crowe, winner of 43 races lifetime in 66 starts including six of 12 this year. Youtube is highly recommended to get a sense of just what a fabulous trotter the Commander can be. What a finish he had to the Prix du Conseil General des Alpes Maritimes in August. Huzzah. Along with the Commander, the field includes the French trotter (5) Rapide Lebel, who has won 21 of 24 in the last two years and looks just as good on film as Commander Crowe. He made a move halfway through the St. Michel Ajo in July that was reminiscent of Frankel. And then he held off two furious challengers. On any other card, (4) Arch Madness and (7) Lucky Jim would be automatic on the card. But it’s hard to find room for either one in such rich company. No matter who wins this race, it’s likely to be heart-in-your-throat stuff!