by Bill Eichenberger

Bill Eichenberger offers his picks for the $15,000 guaranteed Pick-4 at Harrah’s Chester on August 21, part of the USTA Strategic Wagering program.

Harrah’s Chester Pick-4, Races 7-10, Sunday, August 21, 2011

What a day of racing at Chester! More than $2.4 million in purses up for grabs by the finest pacers and trotters in the country. Which means we have our work cut out for us.

$1 play: 245/156/2/15 = $18

$1 play: 245/156/124/15 = $54

Analysis:

Race 7: The Colonial 3-year-old Open Consolation is the first leg of the Pick-4. The $200,000 trot features the 5-2 morning line favorite (4) Bambino Hall, a convincing winner his last time out by more than two lengths in 1:54 and a speed rating of an even 100. (2) Charlie De Vie had an awful stretch where he broke stride in three of four races (between June 18 and July 30) but will be hoppled for the second time and finished third to Manofmanymissions and Whit in 1:53.1. Before that bad patch Charlie De Vie had won four straight and five of six. Were it not for a disastrous result in the Hambo final (early break and ninth place finish, 19 lengths back) (5) Magnum Kosmos would be the hottest trotter in the field, having won four of his last six including a victory by 14 lengths in a lifetime best 1:53.2 at Pocono Downs. Should provide some value here.

Race 8: The Battle of the Brandywine 3-year-old Open Consolation for $200,000 features (1) Real Special coming off a lackluster fifth on a sloppy track at Chester on Aug. 14. The 5-2 morning line favorite paced a lifetime best 1:50.2 as recently as July 16 and his last four speed ratings have been 97 or above. (2) Dana’s Sharp Smart has been a model of consistency this season, winning six of 14 races (two places; two shows) and pretty much pacing in 1:51 or 1:52 each time out. (5) Shadyshark Hanover has only two wins in nine tries on the campaign, but one of those wins was a remarkable 1:47.4 in the Oliver Wendell Holmes on Aug. 6 at the Big M. The colt (Cam’s Card Shark-Shady Past-No Nukes) went off in that race at 21-1 and still can’t get any love. He’s at 10-1 in the morning line after coming back down to earth to finish fourth in a New Jersey Sire Stakes final on Aug. 13 in 1:51.2. Should figure here. (6) Mystic Desire is a question mark after a disappointing fourth in a Confederation Cup elimination last Sunday at Flamboro Downs. But the colt regularly paces in 1:50 and change and has won 11 of 19 lifetime races. Worth a look here.

Race 9: The Valley Forge Final for 3-year-old pacing fillies features a purse of $350,000 and the hottest horse on the planet: (2) See You At Peelers has won 21 of 21 races. Two other pacers have faster season best times: (1) Krispy Apple and (4) Drop The Ball have won in 1:49.1 to Peelers’ best 1:49.2. But how can you bet against perfection?

Race 10: A cool half a million is on the line in the Colonial 3-year-old Open trot final. (2) Dejarmbro gets the morning line nod at 5-2. He’s no See You At Peelers, but the colt has won 15 of 20 starts including six of his last seven. (1) Manofmanymissions beat Broad Bahn and Dejarmbro in the Stanley Dancer. Impressive. And good enough to make him the second favorite at 7-2. But where is the love for Hambo winner (5) Broad Bahn? He’s the morning line third pick at 9-2 despite going wire-to-wire and winning the $1.5 million Hambletonian by 3-1/2 lengths.

Told you we had our work cut out for us! These are some very special horses.