Gulfstream Park West’s Pick 4 on Saturday could come down to the 8th race – the 2nd of the sequence – which might be make-or-break point early on.

The race looks like it could come down to a Todd Pletcher-trained up-and-comer in Robusto and the hard-trying veteran in Express Jet. A 3rd horse – Fearless Dragon – is in good form, has done well locally and will get his share of support. However, for purposes of whittling down, this race is being kept to two horses on the ticket. Two other races on the card appear be of the spread-out variety, and throwing in a 3rd horse in this one would beef up the cost of the ticket, which is already at $40.

Robusto meets his toughest test to date and takes on older horses. The Bernardini-sired colt tried the turf in his 1st four starts but success came the 1st time in was on the main track. He romped in a race, one that came off the turf, and when it was all said-and-done, Robusto was 13 lengths to the good. Today he stays on the main track and gets a pop at seven furlongs.

Express Jet is a 5-year-old Kantharos runner that doesn’t have many bad ones on his form. The Bernardo Campos runner has been on the board in 20 of 30 races and has been very close in this last two. He’s won at the distance and can be a factor from the beginning of this one.

The finale is also trimmed down to two runners in J C’s Proud Kitten and Faithful Sue. J C’s Proud Kitten makes her 2nd start and the Kitten’s Joy miss should not find it difficult to adapt to the turf. Faithful Sue was claimed Yvon Belseour last time, and the Factum filly has been 2nd in two of her three races. The time might be right for her in this one.

Here’s the Suggested Late Pick 4 ticket:

Race 7: #1 Shiny Copper Penny, #6 Dynamic Dancer, #7 Gotta Curlin, #8 Atila, #9 Scorpious (1-6-7-8-9)
Race 8: #3 Robusto, #8 Express Jet (3-8)
Race 9: #4 Lassell, #5 Warren’s Joe T., #9 Telling Tony, #11 Conscious Decision. (4-5-9-11)
Race 10: #4 J C’s Proud Kitten, #7 Faithful Sue (4-7)
Ticket Cost: $40.00 for 50-cents