The road to Tampa Bay Downs’ $8,338 Pick 6 Jackpot carryover pool this Friday, Feb. 23, will go through the 50-cent Late Pick 4 that shapes up this way:
TAM 6th race (2:56 p.m. EST) -- HOLLYWOOD CLOSEUP’S first try on conventional dirt wasn’t bad. He was unhurried to the far turn, advanced steadily while wide to mid-stretch and flattened out. He gets in light-weighted again, gets a better post and should get a livelier pace to rally into. TUCKER ROAD is 0-for-9 on conventional dirt but he dueled a long way when third last out and exited three consecutive main-track routes that produced two winners each late last year.
TAM 7th race (3:27 p.m. EST) -- MR EXTENSION steps up off the claim but is a must use as a value play in his third start this year. He stalked odds-on favorite Yes I’m A Beast (9-23, $244k), came under a drive near the top of the stretch and did well to hold second. His performance was upgraded when the winner came back with a wire-to-wire score in an $8,000 starter allowance. BUFF HELLO, the beaten favorite in four of his last five starts, class drops after a vet-voided claim, sheds 10 pounds and draws a good post to use his tactical speed from, but he’s too risky of a solo play in the Pick 4. ROGER McQUEEN was claimed for the seventh time since last February and looms an upset possibility on his best effort for a barn that won with 2 of 3 claims at the current meet. IMTAKINITTOTHEBANK broke through with a well-deserved victory after he dueled and just missed in two prior 6F sprints, one against MR EXTENSION and the other from post 10 against next-out, class-rising repeater Fly Fly Away.
TAM 8h race (4:03 p.m. EST) -- Good recent form and six-figure bankrolls abound in this 6-1/2F starter allowance that drew eight entrants with a combined 42-for-176 record on a fast track. Hit the ‘ALL’ button.
TAM 9th race (4:40 p.m. EST) -- I’M STILL BRAVE gained late but settled for second best behind 3-to-5 Victory Line at 5-1/2F on a day that featured five wire-to-wire winners. BACK TO REALITY ranged up 4-wide for the stretch drive, raced a bit headstrong in the lane as the beaten favorite, now adds blinkers for his second start off the claim.
Suggested 50-Cent Ticket
TAM 6th Race: 2, 4
TAM 7th Race: 1, 3, 5, 8
TAM 8th Race: ALL
TAM 9th Race: 1, 7
Cost for 50-cent ticket: $64
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