USTA Play of the Day

by Michael Carter

Vernon Downs Race 6 (Pick 4)
Date: 8/17/2018  Carryover: $0  Guarantee: $5,000

Ticket: ALL (6)/1,3,5/6/5,7,8 – Cost: $27.00 ($.50 base)

Yesterday’s Recap – We struck twice out of the four races at Hoosier Park yesterday including a $24.00 winner in the third leg.  It was a pretty tough sequence and the payoff shows that.  The Pick 4 of 9/2,9/4/5 returned $1,962.50.

Breakdown:

Race 6: It is a wide-open affair and could be won by just about anyone.  My top pick here is #3 SIMONE who is 10/1 on the morning line and is facing tougher after just missing in the Tompkins-Geers.  She is a speedy filly and can really fight in the stretch, look for her to be on the ticket this week.

Race 7: #1A LINDSEY’S PRIDE gets a tough draw, but has the speed to be able to make the front.  If Marcus Miller can get him into a good early striking spot, he may be tough to be.  His stablemate TITO could also strike off a tough effort being parked the mile last week.  #3 SEVEN IRON steps up to face a lot tougher company this week and this is a big step up from the Excelsior A Series.  When he flashes early speed, he is very tough to catch.  #5 ZEPHYR KRONOS made a break in the Hambletonian Elimination last out, which was very uncharacteristic for him.  He steps back and faces an easier group if he can hold it together this week he could be tough at decent odds.

Race 8: #4 PLUNGE BLUE CHIP set a world record two weeks ago in the Del Miller Memorial with a dazzling 1:49.4 win over champion Manchego who steps up against the boys.  She is the most consistent filly in the group and should rebound with a little bit of a layoff.

Race 9: #5 ALARM DETECTOR raced extremely well in the Hambletonian Elimination making a break at the start and making up a lot of ground in the stretch to manage to make the final.  IN the final he was parked the mile and just never fired.  I expect him to rebound at decent odds tonight.  #6 SIX PACK was conservatively driven in the Hambletonian Elimination which caused him to run into traffic trouble.  You have to think that the strategy will be different this week.  #8 MET’S HALL raced lights out in the Hambletonian and just missed against the start Atlanta.  The post draw is a little tough for this colt, but he definitely has proven he can handle the pressure from out here before.