Sam Houston Late Friday Pick Four Review

Over the past few years, handicappers have started to notice the product at Sam Houston Race Park, and for good reason. The ultra-low, 12% takeout on multirace exotics provides more value for one’s wagering dollar, and the large fields often boost potential payoffs.

With that in mind, I’ll preview Friday’s late Pick Four sequence. It starts in the sixth of nine races on the program, and I’ll attack it with a $36 ticket, played on TVG. Here’s how I’ve put my play together …

No surprises in the sixth

I’ll start off by keying a popular single in the opening leg. This maiden special weight event drew a field of just six, and I think No. 1 Suppressor will be tough to beat.

Suppressor came back running off the bench a few weeks ago, when he was a close-up third going seven furlongs. That was his first outing in more than three months. I think improvement is logical second off of the layoff and that he’ll be on or near the lead in a race that figures to have a slow early pace. He hits me as a logical favorite, and if he doesn’t win, I lose.

Six deep in the seventh

I have no such strong opinions in the second leg, an optional claiming event for 3-year-old turfers. I’m using half of this 12-horse field, and I think it’s the most wide-open race of the sequence.

No. 4 Dude Perfecta is a tepid top selection, and only because he had a terrible trip last time. The running line that says he rallied while wide doesn’t tell the whole story. He was almost on the outside rail turning for home, while that day’s winner sat a dream trip. Based on that adventurous journey and his authoritative first-out score, I don’t think he’ll be 8-1. However, with the big field that’s signed on, I also don’t think he’ll tick down more than a few points.

No. 1 Iberville, No. 3 Screwball, No. 8 Avenging Warrior, No. 9 Down Cold and No. 11 Federal Hill are on my ticket as well. One can make cases for many runners in this field, and that includes 30-1 long shot Avenging Warrior. His pedigree says he wants to go long on the turf, and he gets the chance to do that here for high-percentage trainer Bret Calhoun.

First-time starters headline the eighth

The eighth is a maiden race for Texas-bred 3-year-old fillies. It’s attracted nine runners, including five making their career debuts, and I don’t like 5-2 morning line favorite No. 2 Turn On The Bling. It’s not like she ran incredible races before going to the sidelines last September, and while she wouldn’t be totally illogical, I prefer others.

No. 9 Eagle Cat is 12-1 on the morning line, but there’s almost no chance we’ll get that price. She was bred by one Asmussen (Keith), is owned by a second Asmussen (Carolyn), is trained by a third Asmussen (Steve) and is ridden by stalwart Stewart Elliott. Her recent works are pretty sharp, and she drew a cushy outside post that should allow horse and rider to work out an ideal trip.

I also think both runners trained by Robertino Diodoro are live. No. 1 Esperanza Rose makes her unveiling here, and judging by the work tab, she’s been prepping in company with No. 6 Mysterious Star. The latter runner comes back off the bench here, and her connections saw fit to run her in a stakes race at Lone Star in her debut last June.

A 30-1 top pick in the ninth?!

This turf route is a puzzling conclusion to the Friday program. As the headline states, I like a 30-1 shot on top, but I’m not sure we’ll get that price come post time. Also, it’s not like I think he’s a cinch, as I’m going four deep.

No. 4 Parrot Head tried much, much tougher company last time out in the Grade 3 John B. Connally Turf Cup. Naturally, that didn’t go well. However, while you have to work a bit to find his prior turf form, it does certainly exist. He won three turf races in a row last summer at three different tracks, and he’s also shown some tactical speed. This should help him, as there isn’t much other early speed signed on. At his likely price, he hits me as a must-use.

I’ll also include No. 3 Johan Zoffani, No. 8 Newport Beach and No. 10 Holy Vow. It’s another race where I’d advise some degree of spreading. With the large field sizes in the last three races, you’ll likely be rewarded pretty handsomely if you connect.