by “Catskill” Steve Terjanian

Catskill Steve offers his picks for the $20,000 Pick-4 at Balmoral Park on July 25 part of the U.S. Trotting Association Strategic Wagering Program.

Checking up on Catskill Steve: Last Sunday, I invested $16 and, for the second straight night, had three winners and a third place finisher.

Meet totals: 45 plays, 8 winning Pick-4’s +$196.10

Balmoral Park Pick-4, Races 9-12, Saturday, July 18, 2015

$1 play: 46/610/1/46 = $8

Analysis:

Race 9: Tough sequence tonight so I won’t be investing much. (4) Ice Scrapper a fast 6-year-old returns to favorite track where he’s taken his last two in identical 1:50 miles and will take them as far and fast as he can. (6) Fort Silky amazing an 9-year-old always gives his all and seldom puts in a bad race having finished in the money in 15 of 16 races this year, but has finished behind top once in last two meetings and will need best to turn the tables.

Race 10: (6) Southwind Scorpion has improved since joining new barn. Had a long overland trip in the slop from post eight two back in last visit, still finished alertly against far tougher field. Returns off a game uncovered score over Maywood half-miler and finds a good spot to roll by late. (10) Maywood shipper Summer Shandy made two moves past a 1:23.4 three-quarters last time and tired badly against tougher field. The 5-year-old has been lightly raced this year and makes first start over Balmoral oval where he took a lifetime best mile last year. Likely to offer value from this spot and is capable of leaving for position or rallying from far off the pace.

Race 11: (1) Silver Devil was in tough at Yonkers and looks to be inching his way back into form since returning, finishing in :26.4 last time against faster following an even try over half-miler at Maywood two back. Takes a key drop, gets the rail and figures to be a handful at this level.

Race 12: (4) Wings had steady rally from post 10 last time clocking a :27.2 final panel, two back had a nightmare parked the mile trip in the slop and somehow missed by only two lengths. (6) Kimerley R had impossible spot from 10-hole last time still paced a :56.3 final half. Two back was parked from 8-hole before getting a seat, lacked a rally late. Mare has battled sickness over past two months but may be coming around again and is always dangerous at this level from spots like this.

Good Luck!