7/17/13 Del Mar Late Pick Four - Results

We played our Late Pick Four Tickets looking for value and hoping for action.  Well, while we got those things, what we didn't get was a winning play.

But first, a quick look at our "Plus One" - Race 6, the first division of The Oceanside Stakes.  We stated a preference of # 2 Gervinho (Final Odds 2.90) over # 6 Freakin Rocket (3.40) over # 5 Undrafted (1.80*); and that's the order in which they finished, taking the Win, Show, and Fourth positions respectively; while the Place went to # 4 Greeley Awesome (14.00).

Turning now to the Late Pick Four, # 4 Diamond of Blue (Final Odds 4.40) crossed the wire first in Race 7, winning the photo finish against our "A" selection, # 6 Royal Meridian (1.40*), and proving us wrong regarding our pessimism about Diamond of Blue's ability to wire the field.  As Diamond of Blue was one of our “C” contenders we remained alive in the Late Pick Four; but we needed our "A" contenders to win the next three legs.

We were able to cheer “A” contenders onto victory in Race 8 (# 5 Love de Car - Final Odds 2.80*) and in Race 10 (# 12 Spring Up - Final Odds 5.20).  But we completely dropped the ball in Race 9 - the second division of The Oceanside Stakes; as our two “A” contenders, # 7 Joelito (3.60) and # 9 Rosengold (5.60) both finished out of the money; indeed, even our "C" selection, # 4 Den's Legacy (2.20*) failed to hit the board.  Worse still, we never gave a serious thought to the eventual winner, # 10 Rising Legend (GB) (7.80).  Small consolation in that we were not alone in misjudging the real contenders in this field, as the Trifecta in Race 9 of # 10 Rising Legend / # 2 Gabriel Charles (4.40) / # 8 Olympic Blue (47.10) paid $1,469.50 for a buck.

So, with those results, we were left with a ticket (the $16 one) that had three of four winners; which, as you all know, pays absolutely nothing.  So our day ended with a net loss on our Pick Four play of $38.00.

Meanwhile, those who played the correct sequence of  4 / 5 / 10 / 12  were rewarded with a payout of $1,000.35 for their fifty cent wager.  May God bless them as they spend their winnings.

Oh well; onto the next race.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo