| « 04/12/2024 | 04/14/2024 » |
Sat April 13th, 2024 |
Download as PDF |
Howard's Late Pick 4
Hawthorne Race 5
Post Time 4:50 PM CST
Late Pick 4 ticket: 1,2,9 / 3,8,10 / 2,4,9,10 / 2,10 ($36)
Race 5: 2 - 9 - 1
#2 Schmoozin (7-2) will hope that the rail horse Snoozer will set a fast early pace or be pushed by the outside runner. Schmoozin is a nice closer who won going 5f last time and now gets an extra ⅛ of a mile. If he simply replicates his last or runs back to many of his 2023 efforts, he’s a winner. I’d love to hear track announcer call a Schmoozin v. Snoozer throwdown in the stretch, that would be a lot of fun!
Race 6: 8 - 10 - 3
Trained by leading conditioner Larry Rivelli, #8 Whole Lotta Lute (3-1) was acting up a bit before they sprung the latch but still ran a credible yet distant 2nd to talented Block runner Good Apple, who came back and won again last weekend. Whole Lotta Lute was bet down, so he’s well meant, although is already a 4yo, which is a bit of a negative for me. But if he breaks, I think he’ll be tough to run down based on his competition. His 3-1 ML might feel like stealing money after this race is run, we’ll see.
Race 7: 4 - 2 - 9
I’m hoping #4 Madelyn Belle (9-2), another Rivelli runner, can either outbreak or kindly sit in behind her main speed rival, Lily’s Woofy, to her outside. Madelyn won last time off the layoff, and although she has to stretch out a bit, she was able to do that just fine last year. The Illinois-bred is up against open company in this optional allowance affair, but I don’t think it’s too much to ask. I love the guts and heart this 4yo filly showed in her last.
Race 8: 10 - 2 - 3
Trainer Louis Roussel has two horses in the finale, a two-turn open company Mdn Sp Wt. I like his horse that breaks further outside the most, #10 Cascade Cruiser (7-2), ridden today by talented young rider Alexis Centeno. He’s raced credibly against very tough company at the Fairgrounds, puts blinkers on, and has a nice work over the local Cicero surface. I’d like to see Centeno use a little speed out of the gate to gain position going into the first turn, then pass them all late. I think there’s talent here and today might be the day the Catalina Cruiser 3yo gelding shows it.