Frank Cotolo offers his picks for the $25,000 Pick-4 at Balmoral Park on March 24, part of the USTA Strategic Wagering Program.

Balmoral Park Pick-4, Races 10-13, Sunday, March 24, 2013

Last week’s $16 ticket, one of the largest we have offered since we began presenting Balmoral choices, took $20 from us, including win bets, and produced nothing that equaled our enthusiasm for the races. There is no accounting for accounting for which combos are good and which are rotten. If there were then everyone would be hitting these multi-race exotics regularly.

$2 play 3/9/39/9 = $4

Analysis:

Race 7: (3) Western Willow has three legitimate excuses for losing and three delicious prices that would have knocked out the toteboard lights. Once again she is right where she belongs and perhaps luck will give her the extra push she needs to start this ticket with a strong single.

Race 8: This is one difficult race to find value this early before the wagering so we have to make a big decision among a field that can easily result in any member winning. We will take (9) Greatestofease for reasons obvious to us and hopefully not to the crowd. The filly is three for three and appears to be oblivious to class, so maybe she will also ignore an outside post and win her fourth straight.

Race 9: (3) Roseraire NZ may have found her best level in America and should enjoy the two turns more than the curves at Maywood. (9) Bella Sophia is just getting started for the season and will flex her muscles more as spring ensues. She has the kind of past form that promises to enjoy a mile track more than any other.

Race 10: (9) Dickie Finn is standing out for us in this field. His foes have lost their last race by more than 120 lengths combined.