Horse Betting World

Aqueduct Pick Four Preview – February 12

By Joey Adams

Once again this Saturday, Aqueduct rolls out its $250,000 Guaranteed Late Pick Four. Since its introduction nationwide, the Pick Four has become one of the most popular wagers on the betting menu. While selecting four consecutive winners is never an easy feat, those lucky enough to do so are often rewarded with large payoffs. As proof, the Late Pick Four on the last two Saturday cards at Aqueduct have returned $4,111 and $19,389!

Let’s take a closer look at this Saturday’s sequence.

1-SURFACTANT could be a single on many tickets to kick off the sequence in Race 7. A runner-up in two starts at Hollywood Park, he earned a pair of Beyer Speed Figures better than any of his rivals have ever run. He has been training well at Turfway Park since joining the barn of Mike Maker, who elects to ship him north to face New York-bred company.

Toss a ring around the rest if you’re looking to beat the chalk – 5-SOUND OF DRUMS, 7-MR. HOOPS, 8-INDY TUNE, and 10-GREELEY’S LAW appear best of the rest.

Race 8 is a bottom-level “beaten claimer” at six furlongs, with no standout. If going alone with Surfactant in the previous race, the bettor has the opportunity to “go deep” in this race. Those that should be considered are: 4-RUN TO GRAND AVE., 6-ONZAIN, 7-DAKOTA ROADHOUSE, 8-AUDITORIUM and 9-MIND BOGGLING.

Three-year-old fillies take the stage in the day’s feature race (Race 9), the $65,000 Dearly Precious Stakes. 1-BREATHOFFRESHHEIR figures to go favored after turning in a career-best effort in his first start over the inner track. That was a similar stake, and her running time was the fastest of eight six-furlong races that day. 4-WILD ABOUT SONNY is unbeaten in two starts, most recently winning a N1X allowance at Gulfstream Park when she sat the perfect trip. She did work very well at Belmont Park following her journey north. 5-FULL MOON BLUES makes her first start since late November, and judging from her works she’ll come out running today. She was an easy winner of the local Tempted-G3 two starts back, giving her a class edge on these. 3-COAX LIBERTY is the most experienced runner in the field, and she is graded stakes-placed. Her best may not be good enough to win, but if would have her in the hunt turning for home. Rick Violette is having a stellar meet, but his 6-OVERSEAS MARKET would need a career-best effort today. She’s run well in all three starts, but has yet to cross the wire first – her only win came via disqualification.

As expected, the Late Pick Four ends with a cheap ($7,500N2L) claiming affair that looks like a real head-scratcher. 6-BAWANA JAKE probably rates the edge based on recent form against better, but he is taking his third consecutive class drop. 7-EX PAT had a rough trip against better in a key race, and could be tough with a repeat of his effort two-back. If the track is playing to speed, 10-ZONE BREAKER would be one to consider, although there is other speed in the race to keep him company. 3-Z BUG, 9-BLUE SANDS, and 12-INTREPID would not be total shocks.

LATE PICK FOUR TICKETS: ($1.00 wagers)

($36.00) … 1 / 6-8-9 / 1 / All
($20.00) … 1 / All / 1 / 6-7
($36.00) … 1 / 6-8-9 / 4-5 / 3-6-7-9-10-12
($12.00) … 1 / 6-8-9 / 3-6 / 6-7
($8.00) ….. 1 / 4-7 / 1 / 3-9-10-12
($24.00) … 1 / 4-7 / 4-5 / 3-6-7-9-10-12
($24.00) … 5-7-8-10 / 6-8-9 / 1 / 6-7