The July 4 NYRA Pick 4

Time to try and attack another Pick Four at Belmont Park on Independence Day. There are three graded Stakes races included in this sequence, as well as a turf race for maidens. Here are the horses we like in the wager:

Race 8- The Grade 2 Dwyer- There are two horses to use in the Pick Four wager in this first race. First is the horse that Calvin Borel got off of Mine That Bird to ride and that is #1 Warrior's Reward. He ran 2nd in the Grade 3 Northern Dancer at Churchill last time out and posted a Beyer of 113 the race before (also at Churchill). #4 Masala is the second horse I like in here. His Sire was the speedy Lion Heart and he was a winner last time out at Belmont on June 13. Both of these horses turned in bullet workouts in their most recent works.

Race 9- The Grade 1 Prioress- I will use the entry of the undefeated #1 Cat Moves and #1a Light Green, who returns to the races after winning the last two and nearly two months off. #6 Gabby's Golden Gal took advantage of the speed-favoring track on Belmont Stakes day to win the Grade 1 Acorn. She also turned in two bullet works in the space of eight days in late June. #8 On The Menu is 3 for 4 at the distance and ran 2nd in the fourth of those four races.

Race 10- The Grade 2 Suburban- This is a very wide-open version of the Suburban with several in here having a legitimate chance to win. #3 It's A Bird is working a two-race win streak, including the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap and the Grade 3 Lone Star Park Handicap. #4 Asiatic Boy just missed in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster at Churchill, closing with a furious rush to miss by a length to Macho Again. #6 Rising Moon should have no problem with the distance, having run 3rd in the slop in the 1 1/2 mile Brooklyn Handicap on June 5. He just worked a bullet on July 1 over at Aqueduct. #8 Cool Coal Man just went all the way on the lead to win an ungraded Stakes against two others at Belmont on May 30.

Race 11- Maiden Special Weight- Let's see, this is a turf race and there is a tough Christophe Clement entry in here, so you get two for the price of one. Therefore, I call that a single with #1 Wild Entry and #1a Grassy.

So, here is the Pick Four play for Belmont Park on Saturday (based on a $1 minimum):

$1 PICK FOUR: 1-4 with 1-6-8 with 3-4-6-8 with 1
TOTAL: $24

Remember, They Are Off accepts no responsibility for any wagers made in connection with these suggestions. They Are Off will return on Monday with more from the world of racing. Have a Happy Fourth Of July. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!