USTA Play of the Day

by Michael Carter

Hoosier Park Racing and Casino Race 9 (Pick 5)
Date: 6/22/2018  Carryover: $11,774.33   Guarantee: $40,000

Ticket: 3,4/1,4,6/8,9/3/1,4,9,10 – Cost: $24.00 (.50 base)

Yesterday’s Recap – Yesterday, we went two-for-four and were close in the other two races.  The biggest winner of the sequence was in Race 7 where Clifton Bell went to the top, gave up the lead, but got up.  The official Pick 4 was 6-1-5-6,9 and paid $171.60

Breakdown:

Race 9: This is a race that kicks off a very tough, but very competitive Pick 5.  #3 LADY DAY has some back class, having competed in the Reynolds and Kindergarten as a two-year-old.  Coming back in 2018 at Hawthorne Race Course, she has shown that she has very much matured.   Tonight she faces some tough company and will be truly tested here, but should be able to handle it.  #4 LETME FLY LOW made a big move last week and a very uncharacteristic break with Peter Wrenn in the sulky.  Tonight, Trace Tetrick who really gets along well with this filly, gets the lines back and should return to the winner’s circle.

Race 10: #1 ROCK N FANTASY is a new shooter coming in from Woodbine Mohawk Park who has been racing well north of the border.  He is a big closer and has the ability to pace as fast as some in this group.  #4 CINNABAR DRAGON is taking a nice jump in class after two strong victories against lower level company.  Tonight he gets Peter Wrenn as De Long chose off, but that shouldn’t make a difference against these.  #6 GREAT IMAGE rolled from off the pace at Hoosier last week gaining the lead at the head of the lane before drawing off and being geared down by Tetrick.  I believe he is going to be tough against these.

Race 11: #8 DEE ROCKS won the ISS Final on June 2 and had to come from off the pace to do so.  She has a good amount of early speed to work with and the outside post shouldn’t affect her.  If she gets away towards the back, she will be coming late.  #9 VOOM OR BANG gets a driver change back to De Long this week after a game effort against DEE ROCKS last out.  She came first over in that effort and was followed by DEE ROCKS who rolled off cover and passed her late in the trip.  Post Nine will be tough, but that should allow her to get the trip this week.

Race 12: #3 LA ALWAYS AMARTINI draws towards the inside this week and after fighting gamely in the stretch last week.  She isn’t the speediest filly, but she likes to race closer to the pace.  I expect her to be coming late and she has proven she can compete against these.

Race 13: #1 RISING TO THE TOP has been racing at Hawthorne the past couple of weeks and, in both of those efforts, he made up a lot of ground and hit the board.  He isn’t the speediest gelding in the world, but the form from last year has not yet returned.  The inside draw could really play to his advantage.  #4 BRIGADIERBRONSKI A hasn’t been racing that well, but the last quarter in 26.2 is really hard to ignore.  He is taking a drop in class that could make him more competitive.  #9 INCREDIBLE SHARK added Lasix in his last start and the line doesn’t do him a lot of justice.  In that effort, he made up a good amount of ground and closed home in 26.4.  Looking at his last quarters, he is the strongest horse in the field.  #10 BAD BOY BRAD A draws the second tier this week and I don’t believe this will hinder him.  He doesn’t have a lot of early speed, so he could get away mid-pack and close from off the pace, which is his normal traveling style.