by Bill Eichenberger

Bill Eichenberger offers his picks for the $5,000 Pick-4 at Hoosier Park on June 8, part of the USTA Strategic Wagering program.

Hoosier Park Pick-4, Races 3-6, Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Took the week off from Pick-4 handicapping and move this week from Cal Expo to Hoosier Park. Important to remember that Hoosier Park has a monster home stretch that is more than 1,200 feet long. That means the number eight post wins more often than the number one post and that the first eight post positions have a legitimate and nearly equal shot at winning.

$1 play: 58/5/13/16 = $8

Analysis:

Race 3: (8) Lastcallforalcohol won on May 12 by nearly two lengths in a $15,000 pace and is dropping here to $6,500. (9) Pin Stripes is intriguing but is too lightly raced in 2011 to get much of a read on. The 4-year-old horse ships in from Scioto Downs. (6) Hillcrest Domingo is coming off three stout efforts in a row including a victory on June 2 in 1:56.2 The roan gelding will have to improve on that time to compete here. (2) Make You Famous should be at or near the lead but finishing will be difficult. (5) Hi Hopes Cruiser is the class of the field but has only raced four times this year and has yet to hit the winner’s circle.

Race 4: (5) Mark’s Way won the last time out in 1:54.3. Not too shabby for a Holiday Inn, as the saying goes. (2) Stone Appeal won, too, but in a less illustrious 1:56. After failing to win in 10 races last year, Mark’s Way appears to have figured things out this season.

Race 5: This is a wide open pace for a purse of $20,000. (1) Rocket Fuel is years beyond his lifetime best of 1:50.1 but the grey gelding still figures here. His last three speed ratings (including a 100) averaged greater than the race’s class rating (95). An also-ran in 2011, today looks promising. (2) Perrito Caliente was not hot in his last two races but did win on May 11 in a workmanlike 1:52.3. If stalkers fair well in the opening two races, a flyer may be warranted on (3) Chief Silverheels, who paced final quarters of :26.4 and :27 in his most recent two wins.

Race 6: Another interesting pace, this time a $19,500 claimer. (1) Eagle Flight had the best speed rating in the field his last time out (81) and an even more impressive rating (95) two races back, winning in 1:51.2. If the 7-year-old horse paces that quickly here he should win. (5) Private Room was scratched by the judges on May 19 and was lackluster in his return on June 1. (6) Got ‘Er Done is a stalker but very inconsistent. In his last two wins he paced final quarters of :28.3 and :26.4.