10/29/17 Golden Gate Fields Late Pick Four - Results

Race 6 - # 7 Krsto Skye (Final Odds 1.10*) - "A" Selection
Race 7 - # 2 Holdthismiss (2.90) - "A" Selection
Race 8 - # 4 Belisarius (Ire) (7.30) - "C" Selection
Race 9 - # 10 Hot Lightning (2.20) - "B" Selection

Among the final decisions I made when putting together Sunday's play was to single Krsto Skye on the big ticket in the opening leg, shifting # 2 Soap Box (2.80) from a "B" Selection to a "C" Selection.  When Krsto Skye won the photo to take Race 6, that was proven to be the right move.

Also among my final decisions was to relegate # 5 Macho Marini (2.10*) in the second leg to backup status as a "C" Selection.  At first, I was planning on using Macho Marini as an "A" Selection, based upon his wide margin of victory in his last race, his prior record over the Golden Gate main track, and Trainer John Martin's success with last out winners in the claiming ranks.  As can be seen by Macho Marini's status as the Post Time Favorite, more than a few punters agreed with my initial assessment.  But I ultimately decided that Macho Marini's speed just wasn't up to par with his classier opponents, so I dropped Macho Marini from an "A" Selection to a "C" Selection.  When Macho Marini had to settle for the Show, that was proven to be the right move.

In the third leg I decided in the final analysis that Belisarius (Ire) simply did not deserve a spot on the big ticket.  As I mentioned in the preview, Belisarius is a very talented horse; but a very talented horse that consistently fails to run to his full ability, as evidenced by his lifetime record of one-for-twenty-five on the turf entering Sunday's action.  Well, Belisarius is now two-for-twenty-six lifetime on the turf, and my decision to leave him off the big ticket was proven to be the wrong one.

Oh well; onto the next race.

For the record, here is the $0.50 Will Pay for the runner to which I would have cashed in the finale:

# 9 Zarqa Star (1.10*) - $84.35 Finish: 4th

Meanwhile, those who had the correct Late Pick Four sequence of  7 / 2 / 4 / 10  were rewarded with a payout of $101.95 for their fifty cent wager.  May God bless them as they spend their winnings.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo