MLK Day Horse Racing: Mike Dennis starts out the Late Pick 4 at Santa Anita
For more Mike Dennis, and the second half of today's Late Pick 4, check him out at In the Money Media. Also follow @blinkersoff420 and @InTheMoneyMedia for all great horse racing content.
Santa Anita Late Pick 4
@blinkersoff420
January 18, 2021
After losing sleep and having reoccurring dreams of JK & PTF yelling “step your game up” at me the time is here to revenge my poor start writing on the site. In the four-race sequence two days ago I hit my single ($6) and missed everything else in the sequence. It happens though and today is another day.
Tip the cap to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr today and just be nice to people, including friends and family that drive you crazy. The late pick 4 is the sequence today that I will be launching winners at. Below is the write up and like always do your own handicapping. If you pull something from this article which contributes to winning some coin, then a smile will be on my face but when it comes down to it you have to get dirty in this game to have success. Dig in then dig deeper to find that horse which can change your whole day.
Race 6 – Clm 25000(25-22.5) – 6 Furlongs – Dirt – 4^
Ride or Die, DMX said, and it is the approach to the late pick 4 I will be taking. #2, Littlebitamedal went about a mile wide around the turn to the stretch last out at Los Al, and still looked like a winner until he lugged in a little from probably being tired and going a mile wide. With the inside post draw the trip I envision is to let the speed go bananas, stay nice and tight on the rail, make a move, and explode down the stretch to bring the riches to us all. Easier said than done for sure but Gonzalez reads the PP’s. On paper the speed looks to be there, on paper though a marriage certificate looks great as well. I will single away to get the pick 4 party started.
2 – 7 – 5
Race 7 – F – The Megahertz Grade III, $100k – One Mile – Turf – 4^
If my math is correct using two horses in a 6-horse field means I have 1/3rd of a chance to move on in the pick 4. Also, a 2/3rd chance of losing. Thank you to Pasco County (FL) Education for teaching me that 20 years ago. Only if they worked on my grammar a bit more.
#4, Mucho Unusual speaks for herself. Tim Yakteen looks to have the mare ready and you can not ask for a better horse for the course & distance. No reason to break down #4, the price is short (9-5 ML), and she will likely be a popular single with a body of work which speaks for herself, especially in this field.
#5, Ippodamia’s Girl will bring the Unsolved Mysteries angle into play. The mare last raced Nov 2019 at Santa Anita but the early TimeformUS pace # caught my eye at 118. You can have all the pace advantage in the world but if you have not won at the distance prior after a few attempts it means nothing to me. Speed is great, but ability to keep a lead and finish a winner is more exciting. Also, I am wearing my Richard Baltas is my homie t-shirt today and with an 8-1 ML she will be used to possibly spring an upset.
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