Frank Cotolo offers his picks for the $25,000 Pick-4 at Balmoral Park on March 10, part of the USTA Strategic Wagering Program.

Balmoral Park Pick-4, Races 10-13, Sunday, March 10, 2013

The two winners in our first ticket last week were not bet, since they were both less than 4-1 (remember, you can decide your own measure of value if you are betting some of our ticket members to win). Fort Silky, a single, paid $7.80 and Look Ma No Hands paid $7.00. On the Sunday ticket we lost all four singles. Iron Outlaw, at 10-1, finished second and helped thicken an exacta. All in all, the weekend put us back $14.

$2 play: 16/6/6/6 = $4

Analysis:

Race 7: (1) Sharky Dee was overwhelmingly the choice last out and it looks as if that was only because Oosting took over the reins. Or was it? How many times have I seen horses come back and win at a big price no matter the driver after a failure like this one had on Feb. 23? Let’s just say many times and this could be another. (6) Nancys Skyscape was also well backed, though it is more obvious why that happened, and he only lost due to an early skip of gait, making him wide and tired making up the difference.

Race 8: (6) Russell The Muscle is the obvious choice and yet he is not the morning line choice, meaning we must be all over him and, in fact, give him single status.

Race 9: (6) Kennans Nancy Lee got the top for a brief moment going three wide, making her trip an encouraging reason to take her back. I know that was Maywood but more importantly it was recently and that has more strength than digging into the mare’s history.

Race 10: (6) Haileysheartdesire will be the third horse on our ticket to leave from post six. Only superstition can make anyone look twice at that. In this spot the mare may be able to either find room and charge late, like last week, or find a path after finding an early spot to cruise.