by Evan Pattak, for The Meadows

Washington, PA — Saturday’s (March 24) Pick-5 at The Meadows, spanning races 7-11, offers a $15,000 total-pool guarantee. To get that prize, you’ll need to earn it; this one is tough, with full fields and plenty of win chances.

Perhaps the best shot for a single is Doctor RJ, who raced huge last week and has the strongest finishing kick in a race that sets up for closers. Single him, and you can spread a little wider in the other legs.

A look at some of the top contenders:

Race 7 — Claiming Pace
#2 – Officially Yours (Wilder/Corey) Moves inside and can sit behind dueling leaders.
#7 – Doctor RJ (Rawlings/Kennedy) Beaten a head after a mostly parked-out mile. The Doctor is in!
#9 – Beach Boy Brody (Palone/Marashian) Plenty of speed but caught late last two.

Race 8 — Conditioned/Claiming Pace
#5 – Breedlove (Wilder/Parker) Closer often comes up short. Live if speed tires.
#7 – Asterix (Palone/Burke) Can control this if Palone wants the point.
#8 – Phi Alpha (Brown/Gillock) Second time in class. Gets Downtown Brown. Watch out!

Race 9 — Conditioned Pace
#1 – Major Nemesis (Merriman/Bercury) Three straight wins. Keeps climbing the class ladder.
#2 – Allbeef N Nobull (Shaw/Andrews) Long shot special. Raced well first up last time.
#8 – Rycroft N (Charlino/Bendis) Can he handle the class jump and deep post?

Race 10 — Conditioned Trot
#2 – Vector (Palone/Kozar) Better post this week, Palone stays.
#3 – Pembroke Morgan (Wilder/Bendis) Speed and draw keep him in the hunt.
#7 – Just For You (Merriman/Gillock) Can’t get caught in speed dual.

Race 11 — Conditioned Pace
#2 – Cyrus Seelster (Charlino/Oluvic) He’ll be motoring late down in class.
#4 – Eddie Sweat (Merriman/Marashian) Improved last out. Second off layoff.
#8 – Adios Amigos (Palone/Kahrig) Only four starts this year, but for raw talent, he’s the best.

Also on Saturday, Mychoice members can compete in the Road to the Triple Crown Thoroughbred Handicapping Contest. More information is available at the retail counter in the track’s Racebook.