USTA Play of the Day

by Michael Carter

The Meadows Casino and Racetrack Race 9 (Pick 5)
Date: 7/24/2018  Carryover: $0  Guarantee: $5,000

Ticket: 5,8/4,7,9/1,5,9/7/4,8 – Cost: $18.00 (.50 base)

Yesterday’s Recap – We had a rough go of things yesterday only going three-for-five in a sequence that paid like it was the easiest to hit.  Looking at the odds it was the easiest sequence to hit as it was mostly the post time favorites.  The Pick 5 4/2/6/8/3 returned $143.75 for .50.

Breakdown:

Race 9: Is a very strong group of fillies and mares who take center stage, but I was able to narrow it down to two horses.  #5 LAKEISHA HALL just missed against this group last week with Palone in the sulky.  She gets around the same post draw and if she can control the fractions a little more she may be tough to beat.  #8 FOX VALLEY CHARM has lived on the outside a lot as of late and has been racing well at Scioto.  Her last win came at The Meadows in June, if her form continues to shine through then she is the one.

Race 10: #4 PHOTO MASS faces a little easier company this week and has been racing well at Northfield Park in Ohio.  She has some early speed to work with which should allow her to be close to the pace.  #7 HOLY HALIBUT has won two of her last three starts and has been subject to many different barns over the last few weeks.  I expect her consistency to shine through and continue.  #9 SHORT REIGN picks up the services of Goodell again this week who got along very well with this mare last out.  She doesn’t seem to mind the outside post that much, look for her to be in the mix early.

Race 11: #1 DANCE FOR KISSES could be the value play of the sequence today.  She has been racing well at the fairs and faired extremely well at Harrah’s Philly.  She faces some easier company this week and gets the rail which she should use to her advantage.  #5 ASK ME IFI CARE is one of the more consistent horses in the field this week and she has a good amount of speed to go along with it.  Her last win came here at The Meadows against a strong group where she was forced first over and won decisively.  Look for her to be strong again.  #9 DANIKOVA has won three of her last four starts and she has looked dominant in all of them.  I expect her to be near the pace and hard to fight off at the wire.

Race 12: #7 CATCH ALL appears to be the horse to beat in this group tonight.  Time was she is faster than these and Palone sticks with her this week after a couple of tough efforts.  Class relief should play to her liking as well tonight.

Race 13: #4 TAMIKA TERROR is one of the more consistent horses in the group and when she draws well it normally leads to a win or close to it.  She has a good amount of early speed and likes to sit just off the pace, look for her to be coming late from a stalking spot.  #8 BYE HANOVER showed speed last week at Hoosier Park and improved on Lasix for the first time.  Second time Lasix for this three-year-old filly could prove to be a victorious one.