USTA Play of the Day

by Michael Carter

The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono Race 10 (Pick 5)
Date: 10/27/2018  Guarantee: $75,000 MANDATORY PAYOUT

Ticket: 2,3,5/3/1,2,5/3,5/3,5,7 – Cost: $10.80 ($.20 base)

Yesterday’s Recap – We went two-for-four in the Pick 4 last night, using the ALL button in the right leg as Someangelsomewhere stormed home late after getting the perfect trip and scored at 11/1.  The Pick 4 of 4/10/1/4 returned $1,083.80 

Breakdown:

Race 10: #2 SHARTIN N has been on fire this year winning 17 of 22 starts including five of her last six starts.  She gets a very good draw following a game effort in her elimination last week.  She has a big middle move that she likes to use and I would expect her to have tonight.  If the track is off because of the rain, she is 4/5 on an off track.  #3 CALL ME QUEEN BE looked very impressive from post eight last week in her elimination on the sloppy track.  The post improvement is something very big that should not be ignored.  I look for her to be apart of the early pace-scenario and fight on at the end.  #5 PURE COUNTRY was an absolute value play in last year’s Breeders Crown and I won’t allow her to beat me tonight even with only one victory in thirteen starts this year.  She gets a good draw, the question will be can Yannick put her into a good striking spot.

Race 11: The prohibitive horse of the year is in this race with #3 ATLANTA.  She has won two of her last three starts and has really impressed me this year having made just under a $1,000,000.  If Zeron can control the fractions he should have no issues here.

Race 12: #1 DORSODURO HANOVER has been on my radar since Meadowlands Pace night where he just missed at 50/1.  He isn’t the fastest off the gait, but he definitely knows how to win as he has shown throughout the year.  The rail draw tonight is something I wouldn’t ignore.  #2 THIS IS THE PLAN was a horse I liked following his effort in the first elimination of the Little Brown Jug.  Since coming to the Burke barn he has shown he knows how to win and last week took off once he made the lead.  A much better draw this week should allow him to make the lead with a little bit more ease.  #5 SHNITZLEDOSOMETHIN could be the value play of the Pick 5 tonight after a very big effort in his elimination last week.  He has a little bit of early speed, but he doesn’t have to be on the lead to win.  He has been getting along well with David Miller which could spell victory tonight.

Race 13: #3 NF HAPPENSTANCE surprised everyone last week with a dominating performance over a sloppy track where she defeated some of the top trotters.  She draws well again this week and if Jack Parker Jr. can repeat that effort, we may see something special tonight.  #5 EMOTICON HANOVER has five wins over a sloppy track in six starts on the off-track including a very game effort last week.  She draws the best post on a 5/8 mile track, that could play into her hand tonight.

Race 14: #3 MCWICKED has been on top of his game this year having won 9 of 16 starts.  He isn’t the speediest horse off the car, but his ability to pass horses is something I really fancy.  Expect a big effort here.  #5 ROCKIN RON will try to give Chris Page his first career Breeders Crown victory tonight off a tough fourth-place effort at Lexington.  He gets a very good draw this week and if things with the pace work in his favor, he may show up tonight.  #7 ALL BETS OFF is a horse that I have truly fancied this year saying that he has been sitting on a big one.  He enters the Breeders Crown off a bunch of tough efforts, but his ability on a sloppy track is the reason I will use him here tonight.  Look for a little bit of a price.