by Jerry Shottenkirk
December 20, 2019
A couple of true warriors get together Saturday at Gulfstream Park for the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector, and leaning one way over the other isn’t so easy. So, in the third leg of the late Pick 4, it might be wise to take both.
The venerable X Y Jet and the highly accomplished Imperial Hint are among those set for the Mr. Prospector, which will be a big test for each of them since it’s at seven furlongs. These two are fantastic at six- and 6.5 furlongs and going seven make it just that much more exciting.
Imperial Hint, because of his New York prowess, is the even-money morning-line favorite, and X Y Jet is 7-5, probably due to the fact he hasn’t raced since his win the Dubai Golden Shaheen. Imperial Hint ran third behind X Y Jet in that one. X Y Jet is a seven-time winner over the Gulfstream strip and Imperial Hint won his only attempt over the Hallandale track.
These two have been sprint superstars for quite a while, and their bankrolls are spectacular for what they do. X Y Jet is 12 of 25 for $3 million in earnings and has overcome many physical roadblocks. He’s only putting in three or four starts per year and has made the most of his appearances. Imperial Hint has won 14 of 23 for just short of $2.2 million.
The Pick 4 this week take a 5x4x2x2 approach for $40. The first two races are the most difficult, as five in the first leg and four in the second leg necessitate paring down in the last two. Imperial Hint and X Y Jet make it easy in the third leg, while Bacana and Mystery Bank are the selections in the finale. The eighth race is wide open and Assertio, Rebelde, Uncaptured King, Kozy Kat and D’archer are worthy for the ticket, and the ninth is about as tough with Volubile, Valdolobo, Sir Seamus and Justcallmenorman selected.
My Suggested Late Pick 4 Ticket
Race 8: #2 Assertiko, #5 Rebelde, #7 Uncaptured King, #8 Kozy Kat, #9 D’archer
Race 9: #2 Volubile, #4 Valdolobo, #5 Sir Seamus, #6 Justcallmenorman
Race 10: #2 Imperial Hint, #3 X Y Jet
Race 11: #4 Bacano, #9 Mystery Bank
50-cent Pick 4 ticket: 2-5-7-8-9 with 2-4-5-6 with 2-3 with 4-9 ($40)