by Bob Pandolfo

Bob Pandolfo offers his picks for the $50,000 Pick-4 at Meadowlands Racetrack on July 1, part of the USTA Strategic Wagering program.

Meadowlands Pick-4, Races 6-9, Friday, July 1, 2011

After 19 Pick 4s at the Meadowlands I’m down $392 and haven’t hit a Pick-4. I hit the last two legs on last’s nights $16 ticket but missed the first two. Tonight’s sequence is tough.

$1 play: 18/19/49/15 = $16

Analysis:

Race 6: (8) Drop The Ball raced sharp off a layoff in last. (1) Dragon Princess finished in :26.3 after being used to get the early lead. These are my two but this race is wide open.

Race 7: (9) Hot Shot Blue Chip qualified back well in hopples, which go on here. He has a class edge here if he does his best but he has struggled in four starts this year and broke in last two. (1) Calchips Brute won at this level the last time he raced over the track, although this field is tougher; Sears is in the bike for the hot Smedshammer barn.

Race 8: This looks like a loaded 2-year-old maiden race. (9) I Fought Dalaw is out of a top broodmare, qualified impressively and David Miller took this colt over another well-bred colt, (4) Friday At Five, who is out of Five O’Clock Cindy, the dam of the great Jenna’s Beach Boy. He also prepped sharply and trainer Joe Holloway does well with firsters. Watch this race, there could be a future champion in it.

Race 9: (1) Weekend Update should handle these if she gets a good trip but I also used (5) Ronettica, a hard-trying sort who appears the main competition.