Eichenberger’s Picks: May 19 CalX
May 19, 2011,by Bill Eichenberger
Bill Eichenberger offers his picks for the $10,000 Pick-4 at Cal Expo Raceway on May 19, part of the USTA Strategic Wagering program. Cal Expo Raceway Pick-4, Races 6-9, Thursday, May 19, 2011 Last week was a difficult one for the Amateur Handicapper, who has joked of late that his Pick-4 selections should be called Pick-2s. Of course, picking two out of four winners wouldn’t count even in horse shoes or hand grenades. $1 play: 2347/27/1/29 = $16 Analysis: Race 6: What an interesting opener for the Pick 4. This $2,000 claimer boasts three recent winners, all capable of doing damage here: (2) Ailene’s Prince, (5) My Tryin Ryan and (7) Franky Provolone. All three did benefit, however, from excellent post positions (1, 5 and 5, respectively). We’ve talked about the prohibitive advantage Standardbreds have from the fifth post at Cal Expo (a 20 percent winning clip). But what really makes this a tough race to handicap is the number of trotters who finished second either last week — (1) Mighty Kicker, (3) Bit O Lavec — or two weeks back — (4) Hope Tu Place. Six good, hot horses. But we can’t use ’em all. Notwithstanding his win last week, the company here is probably too stout for My Tryin Ryan, the horse most likely to provide the early speed. We like the the highly rated stalkers: Franky Provolone, Hope Tu Place and Ailene’s Prince. Also, Bit O Lavec, who has the best closing speed of the bunch. Bet: 2, 3, 4, 7. Race 7: (2) Moximum drops down to $2,400 after a series of drubbings in $15,000 sire stakes races. She’s the morning line favorite at 6-5. If Moximum isn’t poised to rebound from her humbling in the sire stakes, (7) Dragon’s Breath should be next in line. Bet: 2, 7. Race 8: We’re tired of waiting for (4) Letter Of Intent to declare her intentions. (2) Miss In Love should have little trouble dictating the pace, especially from her inside post. She faded badly in her last trip, however, and is much the lesser horse compared to (1) Mr Friendly. This is our chance for a single. Bet: 1. Race 9: We’d like (9) Dancing Barry more if the 4-year-old gelding weren’t likely to be slowed at the outset by (1) Bahama Bay Bea, who has two early speeds: slow and stop. (2) Code Blue is the morning line favorite (9-5) and should race to the lead out of the gate. If Code Blue does attempt a wire-to-wire win, Dancing Barry may get a chance to follow her cover. Bet: 2, 9.