9/29/22 Remington Park Primetime Pick Four - Preview

"Theory looks well on paper, but does not amount to anything without practice." - Josh Billings

Less than twenty-four hours away from Opening Day @ Santa Anita; and while I'm looking forward to the Fall Meeting in Arcadia, I decided that I would like try my hand at a little nighttime racing this Thursday evening.  So with that let's get to it, as I take a run at The Primetime Pick Four at Remington Park.

RACE 6 - [S] ALW N1X - Eight and a Third Furlongs Dirt

A's

# 3 I'm Crenshaw (Morning Line 2-1)

B's

# 2 Spirit of Spoatie (ML 6-1)

# 4 Red Devil (ML 5-2)

# 6 Hit One Out (ML 9-2)

# 7 Canonize (ML 10-1)

C's

# 1 Hopgun (ML 15-1)

# 5 Mr Oklahoma City (ML 5-1)

I'm Crenshaw took the Place at this class level over this main track last time out.  Whether the additional seventy yards that I'm Crenshaw will have to travel tonight will prove to be a blessing or a curse remains to be seen.

Spirit of Spoatie, returning from a multi-month vacation, is a multi-time winner over this main track.  Spirit of Spoatie fits well here with the contenders.  Red Devil graduated by daylight over this main track last time out.

Hit One Out projects to be the early leader here, and Hit One Out could be the one that they'll have to run down in the stretch to win.  Canonize closed well last time out; perhaps Canonize is sitting on a big one.  The backup "C" Selections are the rest of the field.

RACE 7 - Clm $7.5k N2L - Six Furlongs Dirt

A’s

# 1 Directional (ML 7-2)

B’s

# 2 Weird Year (ML 4-1)

C's

# 3 Twice the Price (ML 6-1)

# 4 Elusive Freud (ML 15-1)

# 5 Golden Zip (ML 20-1)

# 6 True Diamond (ML 8-1)

# 7 Cole Spur (ML 5-2)

# 8 God Help Us (ML 8-1)

# 9 Texas Prado (ML 10-1)

Note that the claiming price for Oklahoma breds in this contest is $10k; at least, that's what is says in the conditions.  However, Oklahoma bred Golden Zip is listed in the program as being for sale at the same $7.5k as everyone else; so make of that what you will.

Directional, trained by Steve Asmussen, returns to competition after being on the bench for over a year.  Directional's workout at Louisiana Downs earlier this month suggests that he's ready to roll.  Weird Year took the Place at this class level last time out, and Weird Year could move up going second off the layoff.

I decided to fade the Morning Line Favorite Cole Spur in this contest.  Typically I go out of my way to back class droppers, and Cole Spur certainly falls into that category in this event, having taken the Place against much more expensive stock at Churchill Downs back in June.  However, after that race at CD Cole Spur had to take some time off; and when he showed up at Saratoga Cole Spur certainly wasn't the same horse that he had been; and now Cole Spur turns up at Remington Park priced to sell.

If Cole Spur returns to the form that he showed earlier this year, then I'm going to look very foolish for not using him on my main ticket.  But this is the stand that I'm taking, as I relegate Cole Spur to backup "C" Selection status.

RACE 8 - (F) Clm $15k - Five Furlongs Turf

A’s

# 3 Chikara (ML 3-1)

B’s

# 4 Summer Sangria (ML 4-1)

# 7 Miss B (ML 8-1)

# 10 Casino Queen (ML 10-1)

C's

# 1 Becky's Tattoo (ML 15-1)

# 2 Visual Magic (ML 15-1)

# 8 Faded Memories (ML 15-1)

# 9 Stalemate (ML 12-1)

# 11 Skycat (ML 5-1)

Scratch # 5 Shedialed Burreaux (ML 8-1) and # 6 Telling Time (ML 10-1)

Note that the claiming price for Oklahoma breds in this race is $20k; so if you wish to purchase Casino Queen, it will cost you an extra $5k.

Chikara, trained by Steve Asmussen, drops in class and cuts back in distance; both of which should work to Chikara's favor.  Chikara also boasts a couple of solid works over the main track in preparation for this contest.

Summer Sangria took the Show at this class level last time out, albeit for a different barn.  Miss B should benefit from having to travel only five furlongs tonight.  Casino Queen did a lot of the heavy lifting on the front end last time out; perhaps Casino Queen moves up off that effort.  The backup "C" Selections are everyone else.

RACE 9 - (F) [S] ALW NC - Five and a Half Furlongs Dirt

A's

# 7 Ragan's Jet (ML 5-1)

B's

None

C's

# 1 La Morena (ML 8-1)
# 2 Bring It On Baby (ML 10-1)

# 4 Sunday Flashback (ML 6-5)

# 5 Stormieis Blue (ML 12-1)

# 6 Our Bet (ML 4-1)

Scratch # 3 Sinnin N Grinnin (ML 6-1)

There are no conditions for this allowance race.  So any Oklahoma bred filly or mare, three years old or upward, could have been entered here.

So here's where I decided to single.  Sunday Flashback is the Morning Line Favorite; but I don't think Sunday Flashback is quick enough to stay with Ragan's Jet at the five and a half furlong distance.  Our Bet could be a pace presence early; but I don't think Our Bet is in the same class as Ragan's Jet; at least, not yet.  So for this leg it's Ragan's Jet solo on the big ticket, with all other entrants being used as backup "C" Selections.

OK, that's the analysis.  Playing my tickets in modified Crist fashion, I get:

All A Entries

$1.00 P4: 3 with 1 with 3 with 7 $1.00

All A Entries with All B Entries

$0.50 P4: 2,3,4,6,7 with 1,2 with 3,4,7,10 with 7 $20.00

A's with One C

$0.50 P4: 1,5 with 1 with 3 with 7 $1.00

$0.50 P4: 3 with 3,4,5,6,7,8,9 with 3 with 7 $3.50

$0.50 P4: 3 with 1 with 1,2,8,9,11 with 7 $2.50

$0.50 P4: 3 with 1 with 3 with 1,2,4,5,6 $2.50

Total: $30.50

Post Time for Race 6 is 10:27 EDT / 7:27 PDT.  Good luck to all.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo