by Bob Pandolfo

Bob Pandolfo offers his picks for the $50,000 Pick-4 at Meadowlands Racetrack on June 24, part of the USTA Strategic Wagering program.

Meadowlands Pick-4, Races 6-9, Friday, June 24, 2011

After 16 Pick-4s at the Meadowlands I’m down $348 and haven’t hit a Pick-4. I hit the first three legs on my $18 ticket last night. Tonight’s sequence doesn’t look that hard, but it’s never easy. I’m going with two keys and $2 tickets.

$2 play: 5/9/24/28 = $8.00

Analysis:

Race 6: (5) Speed Bomb is now 8 years old but still racing well. He ships in off a game parked-out effort in the slop at Pocono and picks up Gingras while taking a key drop.

Race 7: (9) Drop The Ball has shown good speed when she has been flat. She broke in her 3-year-old return race, broke again in the qualifier, then came back with a sharp qualifier two weeks later. Croghan switches to Gingras, and he handles these type of trotters very well. She faces older here but I’ll single her.

Race 8: (2) Barks Like A Dog was scratched sick last week but showed improvement two back. (4) Shesa Bragn Dragon drops after making two moves and going first over against a sharp repeat winner in last.

Race 9: (2) Marymary Fra ships in from Pocono Downs and gets Tetrick; her form isn’t that strong but she draws inside of her main rivals and this is a weak field. (8) Thesantafe Express doesn’t win often but is a threat in this slow field.