AMERICAN TURF CLUB LEAD-PICK-5 AQUEDUCT-11-21-13

By: JOE GIRARDI

               The pick 5 in my opinion has super-ceded the pick 4 as the best bet at the racetrack. NYRA introduced their pick 5 wager starting with the Fall Championship meeting at Belmont back in September. It’s a 50 cent increment with only a 15% takeout and the pool is solid each day. I play the pick 5 every day and obviously the amount of the wager varies and how to attack each pick 5 is different on a daily basis. On a recent visit to Aqueduct racetrack I arrived in plenty of time to play that days pick 5 which consists of the first five races of the day.

               On Thursday November 21^st, the weather was clear and the track was fast, a good day for wagering at the Big A. The first race was a starter allowance/optional claiming race. A field of six horses went postward with #6 Alpaca Fina going off as the 1-2 favorite after finishing third in a stakes race. The only other horse that I thought should be used on a smaller level was another David Jacobson trainee who was making just her second start and the first in his barn. Alpaca Fina, stalked the longshot leader, took over into the lane and drew away to score by more than six lengths, With Delite #1 did do any running and checked in last of six.

               Moving on to the second leg, there was a field of eight horses going postward in a $12.5k claiming race. There was four horses that I was interested in, the 2-3-7-8. I would use all four horses on the first two tickets and then I pressed the 7 and 8. As the race unfolded, Pin Number, who had some backclass to call on finally made the early lead, took some pressure into the lane and held on to score by a nose over the 1 who I didn’t have the ticket. Pin Number was sent off at 24.5-1 paying $51 to win, a great price in the pick 5 especially after the 1-2 shot won the first.

               Moving on to race 3, I only had one horse open. Rodinia, #2 was dropping in class for the top barn of Jason Servis. Somehow she was sent off as the second choice in the race to a David Jacobson trainee. Rodinia, despite stumbling at the start got a solid stalking trip behind the leaders, moved wide into the lane and rolled on by for the easiest kind of win scoring by more than five lengths. She paid $5.60 to win and the early pick 3 paid $310.50.

               As we moved on to race 4 we had a 3x3 to close out the pick 5. In the fourth race we had 2-7-12. A field of nine went to the gate, the #2, Theatre Star got a good trip racing inside as the slight favorite when sent off at 2-1. She moved out into the lane, split rivals and ran down the leader, #10, Elissa Town. She paid $6.50 to win as the slight choice.

               I had three horses to close it out in a seven horse field with only six betting entrants. I had the favorite, a shipper from Indiana Downs who was making a first start for the David Jacobson barn, the second choice entry and the third choice in the race as well. I felt I had the race covered going in and after the race there was never an anxious moment as #3, Moments Notiz, stalked the pace, took over into the lane and spurted away to score easily by almost seven lengths in a solid time of 1:09:2. The slight favorite in the race paying $4.60 to win but the pick 5 returned handsomely as $4,180 for $2. I had the pick for $2 on three separate tickets.

First ticket 50 cents         Second ticket $1              Third ticket 50 cents

1. 1, 6                       1- 6                                      1- 1,6

2. 2,3,7,8                 2- 2,3,7,8                            2- 7,8

3. 2                            3- 2                                      3- 2

4. 2,7,12                   4- 2,7,12                             4- 2,7,12

5. 1,3,8                     5- 1,3,8                               5- 1,3,8

$36                               $36                                      $18

               The total of the three tickets came to $90 total, with the first two tickets costing $36 each and $18 for the third. After collecting the pick for $2 I collected $4,180, making that a profit of over $4,000. Obviously it isn’t going to be as easy each day as this is the hardest game around but when it all comes together it is great. The parlay on all five races for $2 would have returned only $1,654 but with a solid pick 5 pool and a low takeout you got $4,180. The pick 5 is a great play and can be attacked many ways depending on each days races. Good luck at the windows!