Favorites fell in 3 of 4 races in the Pimlico Late Pick 4 last week, creating a $331 payout. This week's sequence appears more difficult and could pay more, hinging largely on the first leg. 

RACE 5 (2:40PM ET) // CLAIMING // 6 FURLONGS (DIRT)

NOVA BOY, a proven sprinter at the $12,500 level, drops in class for a high-percentage claim barn. The likely strategy is to take him as a solo play, or spread out trying to beat him. I'll us EXTRA MEDIUM, who rallied for two wins and a second in his last three starts for $5,000, as a backup longshot to the favorite. Parx invader FIFTY has three wins in his last five starts and can use his speed well in this spot, but I'll exclude him on the ticket because the four rivals he beat last out are a combined 1-42 this year.

RACE 6 (3:12PM ET) // MAIDEN CLAIMING // 1 1/16 MILES (TURF)

CRANSTON'S NETWORK, second as the favorite in his first two starts sprinting, switches to the grass and stretches out for his new connections. His sire, Orb, won the Kentucky Derby and his dam, Interrogate was 28/8-7-4 with $297,000 in earnings. PRINCE OF CAPS, 3-wide most of the way for $50,000 on the Belmont turf, drew alongside the leaders late on the final turn but lacked stretch kick. STROLLED ON BY rallied into a fast pace, then gave way chasing faster splits when last seen routing on the turf last fall. He had a useful turf-to-dirt sprint at this level in his seasonal debut.

RACE 7 (3:44PM ET) // OPTIONAL CLAIMING // 6 FURLONGS (DIRT)

This field is a combined 131/40-23-23 with average earning of $197,000. ZIGGY MON and STOLL SMOKIN come off wins at this level, BUSTOFF starts off a layoff with a 9-26 record, while VALUED NOTION and AIR TOKEN ran 1-2 in a restricted stakes race. It adds up to an 'ALL' punch.

RACE 8 (4:16PM ET) // OPTIONAL CLAIMING // 1 1/16 MILES (DIRT)

SHANGHAIED ASTORIA rallied in a main-track marathon to break his maiden, gets plenty of pace to rally into and offers value in his first start for Gonzalez. INK buried a weak maiden field at the distance but looked good doing it, earning a spot next to his stablemate on the ticket.

PIMLICO LATE PICK 4 TICKET

Race 5: 5,7
Race 6: 5, 9, 12
Race 7: ALL
Race 8: 4, 5
Cost for 50-cent ticket: $42