Track announcer Matt Dinerman here to preview Saturday’s Late Pick 4 at Golden Gate Fields! The Late Pick 4 is a 50-cent minimum bet, and this Saturday Golden Gate is guaranteeing $100,000 in the pool. The feature event on the card goes as Race 8, the $200,000 Grade 3 San Francisco Mile, a one-mile turf route for older colts and geldings. A dozen runners have been signed up to compete in the Winter/Spring meet’s biggest race.

Without further ado…let’s get to the analysis.

Race 6: We kick off the Late Pick 4 sequence with a field of 9 starter allowance filly and mare routers going one-mile and a sixteenth on the turf. My top selection is #8 Queen Of Troy, coming off a second place finish at this condition. Last time out she ran on the tapeta, but this gal is bred to love turf; she is by Street Cry out of the Grade I winning turf mare Nereid. I’ll also use #3 Starring Role, who broke her maiden over this turf course by 6 lengths and makes her second start off a layoff, as well as #2 Loves the Crowd, who hasn’t been seen in 9 months but did some good work over this course last year. Three deep to kick things off.

Race 7: A competitive field of allowance sprinters take their talents to the tapeta and sprint six-furlongs. #3 Hekili Storm only lost by a length in his first start off a 14-month break last month. He looked loaded turning for home but didn’t have the necessary punch down the lane to win. With a race under his belt, he has a right to improve and could spring a mild upset. #6 Regal Born is in the same situation as our top pick; he only lost by a short margin at this condition coming off a vacation and may have more finish in the second start in his form cycle. #5 Karma King has been razor sharp in winning his last two races against claiming company and is now protected by high percentage trainer John Martin. I only see that as a sign of confidence. On top of that, the horse who ran second in his last start (Midnight Bolt) came back to defeat a salty group of runners last week. Three deep again.

Race 8: The San Francisco Mile drew a strong field. We’re using a pair of Southern California shippers. The top pick is #1 Editore, who won The Berkeley Handicap (G3) last fall. He cuts back in distance after a couple of third place efforts against Grade 2 company at Santa Anita and should be dead fit for this race. He likes to sit off and make one run, but the good news for him is it appears there will be some pace to chase. We’re also using #3 Syntax, an Irish-bred who finished a very good fourth in The Frank Kilroe Mile. The aforementioned race was his first start off a 9 and a half-month break and his debut for new conditioner Phil D’Amato. Facing a bit easier for the new barn, the stars align for him to run a big one.

Race 9: Nine maiden 12.5k claimers to sprint five and a half furlongs in the nightcap. #4 That’s My Gal dropped in class last time out and came with a nice down the lane to finish second at this level. She fits in well with this group and is one to beat. #2 Chazelle ran fourth in her career debut and came back to run second in her most recent afternoon appearance. Third start in the form cycle, she may be ready to run a career best race with top GGF rider Juan Hernandez signed on to ride. #3 Marina Del Mar is the speed of the speed and will try to take them as far as she can for as long as she can. Coming off a ten and a half month break on March 10, the daughter of Marino Marini set the pace before weakening in the final furlong. Cutting back a half-furlong should only help her. The “speed and fade” angle is also in play here.

Matt’s 50-Cent Late Pick 4 ($27)

R6: 2,3,8
R7: 3,5,6
R8: 1,3
R9: 2,3,4

GOOD LUCK!