USTA Play of the Day

by Michael Carter

Delaware County Fair Race 11 (Pick 4)
Date: 9/20/2018  Carryover: $0  Guarantee: $20,000

Ticket: 1,5,6/6/1/4,7 Cost: $6.00 ($1.00 base)

Yesterday’s Recap – Yesterday, in the first Pick 4 we went two-for-four in a sequence that provided some pretty good value for gamblers.  The Pick 4 ending in Race 16 of 3/4/5/1,3,6 returned a healthy $411.60.  We got home Alexa’s Power in the Jugette in the late Pick 4, but that would be all as we were handily defeated in the other leg.  The Pick 4 of 3,7/5/5/4 returned $9,222.20.

Breakdown:

Race 11:  #1 YANKEE BOOTS adds Aaron Merriman again this week after hitting the board in six of his last six efforts.  He draws the rail tonight and with his speed, he could be aggressively driven in the beginning.  #5 ROCK CANDY was second in the Ohio Sire Stakes Final on September 8 and looked very sharp over the sloppy track.  He has a big closing kick but also has a strong ability to show speed.  That versatility is something you don’t want to ignore.  #6 ROSE RUN ULYSSES tired badly in the Sire Stakes final last out.  Today he adds David Miller and that could turn things around this week.

Race 12: #6 WHATDAWHAT KEN WIN has won four of his last six and only missed the board once in his career.  He has shown the ability to go to the top and once he is there he is very tough to pass.  Expect a big effort.

Race 13: #1 BARON REMY gets a good draw this week after a few weeks towards the outside.  She handled the slop at Scioto extremely well and now draws the rail at Delaware.  Definitely a strong play from here.

Race 14: #4 OSTERC has won five of his last six starts and they were all on the front end.  He has a good amount of early contentious speed and I expect Gingras to put him on the lead.  Expect a big trip here.  #7 KATE’S MASSIVE is another colt who has put together a string of victories and only missed the board twice in his career.  I expect Paver to fire from the outside.

***BONUS COVERAGE***

Delaware County Fair Race 16 (Pick 4)
Date: 9/20/2018  Carryover: $0  Guarantee: $40,000

Ticket: 1,4,5/3,5,8,9/4,5,7/2,4,6,10 Cost: $144.00 ($1.00 base)

Race 16: #1 COURTLY CHOICE draws the much-needed rail spot today in the 2^nd elimination of the Little Brown Jug.  The Meadowlands Pace champion will be trying to play spoiler to a possible Triple Crown attempt.  He has the speed to make things interesting from this post.  #4 STAY HUNGRY has won four of his last six starts and is looking to complete the third leg of the illustrious Triple Crown.  He is a very versatile colt who has a ton of ability and has won races on the front end and coming from off the pace.  Look for him to be around from post four.  #5 DOSODURO HANOVER is a horse I have fancied since his effort in the Meadowlands Pace where he missed to champion Courtly Choice.  He looked very good with a ton of heart in the PA Sire Stakes, today’s task, however, will be more difficult.  I still think he is one of the top three-year-olds in the country, I expect a decent effort to be able to make the final.

Race 17: #3 DISLOCATOR put in a big effort in the Ohio Sire Stakes final where he got a very good trip and tried to close from off the pace.  He tired late over a sloppy track which was not very kind to closing speed.  Look for a better effort tonight over a better track.  #5 EASEONDOWNTHEROAD gets a driver change back to Tetrick this week off a game effort at Scioto Downs last week.  He showed speed from an outside post in that effort and drew off to win easily.  He is a consistent two-year-old and that should be commended.  #8 HIGH ON PAYDAZE drew off to win the OSS final on September eighth and took a week off following that effort.  He gets a very tough draw today and could be at a big disadvantage if Miller doesn’t put him into a good striking spot.  #9 SMACKITWITHAHAMMER was one of the favorites going into the final last week.  He showed some speed and tried to close, but tired over the sloppy going.  The second tier may be an issue, but it will depend on what the inside horses do.

Race 18: #4 EMOTICON HANOVER didn’t race that well in the Maple Leaf Trot at Woodbine Mohawk Park, but she bounced back in her qualifier and looked very sharp.  Her effort last year at Delaware was very good, I expect nothing else.  #5 NF HAPPENSTANCE has been hit or miss over the past couple of starts, but she has been facing some very tough company.  This group may be a little tough for her, but if the pace falls apart she may be there.  #7 BROADWAY DONNA faces some easier company this week for trainer Jim Campbell coming off a tough loss in the Open Series final at Pocono.  She has shown the ability to leave from an outside post before and it has been successful.  She may be worth a play.

Race 19: #2 AS ME IFI CARE faces a little bit easier company coming off a tough effort from post seven.  When the draw is in her favor, she normally races back well.  I look for her to be apart of the early pace.  #4 KAY AGAIN didn’t get the best trip in the Sire Stakes Final and didn’t seem to like being lightly raced this year.  She is a rambunctious filly who should be respected against this class.  #6 MCPANSY gets the services of Bob Mcclure tonight as Miller gets the drive on Up Front Flor Ida.  She seems to perform her best on the lead, but she can close from off the pace.  Look for her to maybe be the value play of the sequence.  #10 BELIEVE IN WACO could be another upsetter, but she is one of the more consistent horses in the class.  She has a lot of speed, the question is here how she will handle the 2^nd tier.