by Bill Eichenberger
Bill Eichenberger offers his picks for the $20,000 Pick-4 at Yonkers Raceway on May 15, part of the U.S. Trotting Association Strategic Wagering Program.
Yonkers Raceway Pick-4, Races 7-10, Tuesday, May 15, 2012
On Tuesday, May 15, Yonkers Raceway will offer a $20,000 guaranteed pool in the Pick-4.
$1 play: 1/36/246/157 = $18
Analysis:
Race 7: There’s no mystery why (1) Real Mystical is the 6-5 morning line favorite. Who wouldn’t bet on a pacer who has finished in the money in 8 out of 11 starts this year and 18 out of 28 last? His connections get him in the right spots more often than not. Add to that the 1 post and his monster consistency (always always around 1:54 and one second better last in a winning effort of 1:53) and you have as likely a single as you’re going to get.
Race 8: The conditions are just right for (3) Bill Onthehill A: non-winner of $6,000 in his last six starts (Check!); non-winner of $30,000 this year (Check!). Though he hasn’t been reward for it, Bill Onthehill A has been rounding a bit into form. On April 14, he put up a monster speed rating of 92 and two weeks ago he placed in 1:53.3 with a final quarter of :27.2. Poised? Or simply pleased with OK and lacking the fire to win? (4) Secluded Island dropped from $20,000 to $12,000 back on March 31 with nothing to show for the switch. Hard to get behind a horse rated “tired,” “weakened,” “tired,” and “dull” of late. (6) Cooperstown Kid had a disappointing string of races the Meadowlands and Pocono before shipping this week to Yonkers. But a few recent races pique the curiosity: a couple with speed ratings of 94 and 93; a place in 1:51.1 after being parked for half the race (on March 31). He’s had terrible luck with the draw in his last four: 9, 8, 8 and 6. Maybe the 6 hole will be friendlier to the kid here.
Race 9: After a modest freshman campaign, (2) Redford Blue Chip has stepped it up as a sophomore, winning three times in 10 tries including his last at Yonkers in a lifetime best 1:55.1. He’s performed particularly well under trainer Josh Green and become a very consistent pacer the past month. (3) Sir Jonathan Z Tam is capable if his last win on March 13 is any indication: a 1:54.2 and an 85 speed rating. But he hasn’t been a factor in two months. (4) Relentless G was game in his last race, a second place finish to Silent Partner that saw the 4YO gelding close the gap at the wire. (6) American GI hasn’t been on the track since October of 2011, so something of a wild card. He did win two of five races in the fall and placed in another, going 1:53 and change in all of them. Qualified nicely last week and placed behind Easy Again with a :27.4 final quarter. (8) Rego Park would be worth a look, but not from the 8 hole.
Race 10: (1) Corey Road was passed by three last week after a try at going gate-to-wire from the 6 post. Should fare better dictating the pace from the 1. (5) Lucky Sniper is 0 for 10 in 2012 but has decent enough speed ratings to suggest at some point he’ll return to the form he had last year winning five of 20 races. (7) Hi Sir was another of our “beaten favorites” last week in a very disappointing fade from third to seventh. Won the week prior “handily” but the 7 post most likely will prove too much.