Preakness Stakes - All Stakes Pick 4 Ticket

The Preakness Stakes card will showcase two Pick 4 wagers on Saturday. The first Pick 4 occurs before the major stakes races are run.

The second Pick 4 includes the Preakness Stakes as the final leg. From my perspective, the second Pick 4 certainly looks like a much better wager for the Racebook, because of the depth of the fields, then the first Pick 4.

Here’s the Pick 4 ticket that I plan on playing on Preakness Day:

Race-day: 5/16/2009

Race-time: First Leg at 3:44 pm est.

Preakness Stakes: Late Pick 4

Race 9 - $50,000 Woodlawn Stakes

Distance: 1 mile on turf

Horses (morning lines): 4 – Beacon Hill Road 6/1, 5 – Colonel Rutledge 10/1, 6 – Mr. Keeper 12/1, 8 – Affirmatif 3/5, 10 – Saint Omega 30/1

Analysis: By choosing the four horses above, I’m pretty much saying that I expect the pace of the Woodlawn Stakes to be too fast for one of the favorites. All of the favorites in this race are front runners or pressers, this include the 3 to 5 shot, Affirmatif, who didn’t run faster than Beacon Hill Road in his last race. Beacon Hill Road has proven turf form and will sit off of the speed in the garden spot. Colonel Rutledge is stretching out for Graham Motion, a 26% winning move, and broke his maiden on the lawn. Mr. Keeper is stretching out as well but has shown the ability to close in sprints. Because he’s sired by Lion Hearted, he should relish the mile distance. Affirmatif is 3/5 for a reason. He’s sired by Unbridled’s Song which means he could be a superstar in the making. Saint Omega looks like he has no chance in this race, but he’s a closer in a race full of speed. Anything can happen.

Race 10 – Grade III Maryland Sprint Handicap

Distance: 6 furlongs on dirt

Horses (morning lines): 5 – Ah Day 5/2, 7 – Celtic Innis 10/1, 8 – Ravalo 3/1

Analysis: I’m only going three deep in this race. One of the reasons for that is that I really like Ah Day and thought long and hard about singling the super classy chalk. But Celtic Innis could challenge based on his speed ratings and might surprise. Ravalo will be close to the pace and is insurance should the track come up favoring front runners.

Race 11 – Grade II Dixie Stakes

Distance: 1 1/8 miles on turf

Horses (morning line): 8 – Strike A Deal 5/1

Analysis: This is where my single shows up. Strike A Deal is simply the best horse in this field. The morning line chalk of coupled entrants Proudinsky and Musketetier could be tough to beat but neither horse is as classy as Strike A Deal. Monba, the Todd Pletcher trained horse, has never raced on turf. Lauro will be compromised by his outside post. Kiss The Kid is more of a Grade III animal and Parading’s best race was on Keeneland’s Polytrack. Strike A Deal makes the most sense as a single on the ticket.

Race 12 – Grade I Preakness Stakes

Distance: 1 3/16th miles on dirt

Horses (morning line): 2 – Mine That Bird 6/1, 3 – Musket Man 8/1, 5 – Friesan Fire 6/1, 9 – Pioneerof The Nile 5/1, 13 – Rachel Alexandra 8/5