Race 10

The Late Pick 4 at Woodbine on Saturday, with a guaranteed $300,000 pool, kicks off with the card’s richest race, the $1 million Queen’s Plate for 3-year-olds foaled in Canada. At 1 ¼ miles on a synthetic surface, the race goes through Avie’s Flatter (14) and Skywire (10), both of whom are open stakes winners. AGrade 3 winner that was most recently a close sixth in the Grade 2 American Turf at Churchill Downs, Avie’s Flatter is the class-based top choice followed by Skywire and Desert Ride (1), winner of the Woodbine Oaks. Let’s use all three in the Pick 4.

Race 11

Time to single one, using only Ready and Perfect (3). Third in her debut May 18, she returned to just fall short when second in a turf sprint after an adventurous trip. Beyond the strength of those two races, this filly offers appeal from a pedigree perspective, being by More than Ready out of Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly And Mare Turf winner Perfect Shirl.

Race 12

A first-level allowance at a mile on turf comes next, a race in which the strategy is to go three deep in the Pick 4, playing Viewfinder (9), Split My Pants (4), and Deep Freeze (6). Viewfinder has been competitive in three starts at this level, recording a second and two thirds. Split My Pants checked in ahead of Viewfinder when second in a June 2 race, though second has proven a common finishing position for him over the past two years at Woodbine. And Deep Freeze is an eight-time winner that faces tougher after winning and being claimed when racing for a $20,000 price June 14.

Race 13

Last up is another grass allowance, this one going 6 ½ furlongs for second-level types. Here, 6-1 shot Magic Spell (10) rates on top in a contentious race, seemingly poised for a top effort in thethird start of her current form cycle and having back class as a filly that was stakes placed last year at 3. In addition to Magic Spell, also worthy of inclusion in the Pick 4 is Sanity (3), a filly who seems at her best in long grass sprints, and Gold Lace (6), a mare on a three-race win streak but potentially disadvantaged by being out of action since December.

The Ticket

 Although the late Pick 4 at Woodbine on Saturday can be played in as little as 20-cent denominations, I’ll give it a whirl on 50-cent tickets. A 50-cent Late 4 Ticket of the horses noted in this analysis – 1,10,14 with 3 with 4,6,9 with 3,6,10 – costs $13.50.