Saturday Big Four Pick 4

Tweet I remember 2006 Whitney Day which ended up in a long night of flip cup against some younger Elmira College fellow alums in the Saratoga Resident's driveway. Good times. They spanked the old guys pretty good, but we hung in there for a bunch of 40-somethings. But even more so, I remember playing the new NY track bet Grand Slam and was alive in the Whitney to three horses, Invasor, Flower Alley and West Virginia. So I was hoping to sit down tonight and throw together a Grand Slam on the big four graded stakes races tomorrow at Toga for old times sake, but unfortunately found out they will be only taking Pick 4 bets on those races and the Slam is only on races 5 through 8. Oh well, there goes that play for nostalgia purposes. Of course Invasor held off a game Sun King that day by a nose and gave me a nice winner, although I was really rootin' hard for West Virginia which had a will pay north of $500....

So we'll play a little Pick 4 on the major races tomorrow just for fun:

Diana (G1): The Diana sees the return of Wait a While coming off a long lay off since January. GoGo ships in from the Left Coast with Rutherienne who hasn't won since April at Keeneland. As I think we can go with singles in the next two legs I think you have to go deep here with Dynaformer (second off shipping over), Criminologist (2 for 2 at the Spa) and Lady Digby no worse than second in her last five races.

Pick 4 first leg: #2 Dyaformer, #6 Criminologist, #7 Rutherienne and #10 Lady Digby

Vanderbilt (G2): Thor's Echo had a nice return in the True North on Belmont Day finishing fourth but less than two lengths back. But the undefeated Bustin Stones with Edgar Prado aboard is the single here with some backup tickets with Abraaj and Thor's Echo.

Pick 4 second leg: #6 Bustin Stones

Go For Wand (G1): It's all Breeders Cup Distaff champ Ginger Punch as she appears to outclass the rest in here. She is the defending champ and should put these away handily.

Pick 4 third leg: #1 Ginger Punch

Whitney (G1): 07 Derby trail horse Notional takes on one of my favorites 05 Whitney champ Commentator who beat old rival Saint Liam in a speed dual. I think Commentator will burn out as he did in the Met Mile as he will be stretching out another furlong here. My main ticket will feature Student Council who should bounce back after rough go of it in the Hollywood Gold Cup. Grasshopper runs well at the Spa, but just doesn't seem to ever get the win, so I'm laying off him. (Updated 9.37am Saturday after looking again at Solar Flare...like his numbers and Larry Jones firing at 34% in graded stakes)

Pick 4 fourth leg: #2 Solar Flare, #3 Notional, #6 Tasteyville, #10 Student Council

Summary:
$2 Main Ticket: 2,6,7,10/6/1/2,3,6,10 Cost: $32
$1 Backup: 1,4/5,6/1/2,6,10 Cost: $12
$1 Backup: 2,5,7,10/1,6/1/2 Cost: $8
$1 Backup: 6,7,10/1,6/1/3 Cost: $6
$1 Backup 5/6/1/2,6,10 Cost: $3

$61 total bets

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