by Matt Rose

Matt Rose offers his picks for the $20,000 Pick 4 at Yonkers Raceway on May 2, part of the USTA Strategic Wagering program.

Yonkers Raceway Pick 4, Monday, May 2, 2011

The $1 Play: 156/2/46/356 = $18

Analysis:

Race 7: (1) Allamerican Major moved into the Scott Blackler barn last week after a series of dull efforts and he missed by a nose at 20-1. He draws best tonight and driver Jordan Stratton has been looking live recently. (5) Windsong Fortune enters another new barn tonight via claim. Gelding has a ton of gate speed but has had trouble finishing. Maybe new pilot George Brennan can coax some late life out of him. (6) Lislea Miles has been a disappointment since the Burke claim. He drops in class and is capable of better.

Race 8: (2) Sandro Hanover jogged last out in the Preferred at odds-on, and now he’s right back in for a $40,000 tag. Anyone other than Lou Pena and that would scare me, but he has a history of putting his stock where they can win, and win easily. He’ll be the deserving heavy favorite here.

Race 9: (6) Terrys Star Dragon looks for four in a row for Pena, and he has more than enough speed to clear this field into the first turn, then he should be able to rate kindly and save something for the stretch drive. (4) Armbro Durable has turned out to be a solid claim for Josh Green. He’s won three of four, with his lone defeat against tougher company. On paper, he’s clearly second best here.

Race 10: (3) Eragon has made me a believer in his last two. He stays at the same level tonight and draws inside of his primary competition, which makes him the obvious favorite here. (6) Iwannabesedated rolled into a speed break in the first turn last week. Prior to that, he cruised on the front end en route to two easy scores. Toss last week’s effort and assume Stalbaum will be firing out again. (5) Royal Man is a classy veteran who hasn’t seriously threatened in any of his recent efforts. He does take a needed drop in class tonight, which makes him a contender.