by Keith Gisser

Keith Gisser offers his picks for the $10,000 Battle of Lake Erie Pick-4 at Northfield Park on July 23, part of the USTA Strategic Wagering program.

Northfield Park Pick-4, Races 8-11, Saturday, July 23, 2011

Saturday at Northfield Park offers a Pick-4 with a $10K guarantee and 14 percent takeout.

Wednesday’s result: An epic three of four fail. I picked a 43-1 horse to win the third leg and used two others as well. The 43-1 was second to a 5-2 trotter I did not use, but, as former NBA coach Bill Fitch always said, “Close only counts in hand grenades and drive-in movies.”

$1 play: 1345/9/2459/125 = $48

Analysis:

Race 8: It’s really wide open and there are question marks on both Millner-trainees (1) Australian Stock and (5) Benn’s Thunder). (3)Celebrity Wonder, my top choice, gets Anthony MacDonald for absent Robin Miller, and (4) Mom’s Looker fits with his best.

Race 9: Going with a risky single in (9) Kb’s On My Toes, but I just don’t see any other horse that is legit at this level. It may come back to bite me.

Race 10: Another very competitive bunch. Could easily have hit all here if I had the budget or the guts to just go three deep in the first leg.

Race 11: Using the big three in the Battle — (5) Giddy Up Lucky is my top pick over (2) Hypnotic Blue Chip and (1) Foiled Again. I love looking for a price, but these three are head and shoulders above the rest.