Free Picks For Mountaineer - 7/6/20

Race 4 - Maiden Special Weight ($40,000)

Eight 3-year-old colt and geldings will go five and one-half furlongs in this one. I believe that three horses could potentially win this event. I am going with #5 U S S Costly who will look to get back on track after turning in an awful sophomore race on June 15 as he got into a rush and flattened out after being unable to gain ground following going five-wide at the quarter pole. The Kentucky gelding turned in an impressive debut finishing second at this distance two starts back. where Luis Colon, who has over a 20% win rate and a 50% WPS in each of the last four years gets the ride on U S S Costly this time. This very well could be #4 White Drill’s swan song at this level as he has come ever so close on several occasions this season. While White Drill -- who has six cashes in seven outings this year -- showed improvement in his second go-around at Mountaineer where he finished an extremely distant third after pressuring the pace early and wearing out at the end of the six-furlong race. The Florida gelding, who appears to be very comfortable going this distance, should be able to get to the front of the pack early as there is not much speed in this field. #7 AllAboutbiz was outdueled in the lane and finished six furlongs behind Anywhere Road.

Picks: I like an exacta box of #5, #4. I also like a show bet on #4.

Race 6- $4,000 Claiming (Purse - $6,900)

Six geldings will go one mile in this event. #6 Lundgvist is taking a huge drop in class after wilting in the backstretch against $15,000 claimers in his first start following a 3-month layoff. The 5-year-old gelding, who has good early pace speed, gets the outside post and runs well on the dirt -- recording two top 3 finishes in three starts -- as well as at this distance on June 28. Lundqvist gets a 10-pound weight advantage with apprentice jockey Marielis Cosme getting the ride. #3 Thorny Issue had a very nice trip after a three-month layoff, finishing second against this level of competition and at this distance. Expect Thorny Issue, along with Lundqvist, to attempt to set the pace of race. The 6-year-old California gelding has registered five top 3 finishes in 10 career events at Mountaineer. #1 Quality Matters has been pretty consistent over his last four races and finished fourth in his debut at Mountaineer, the last time out. #5 Dubull should also be considered when filling out your ticket.

Picks: I like a win bet on the #6. I also like an exacta bet of #6, #3. Additionally, I will take a trifecta box of #6, #3, #1, #5.

Race 8 - Claiming $4,000 (Purse -$6,900)

This five-furlong filly and mare race is slated to have eight runners, however, only four have raced this year. Which is why I’m going with the #8 Arch Legacy to finally breakthrough in 2020. Arch Legacy is coming off her third second-place finish this meet in his last outing as the defeated favorite at this level and distance. The 6-year-old mare has finished in the money in four of her six starts at Mountaineer, including one win.#5 Wild Type finished in a dead heat for second with Arch Legacy the last time out on June 14. Wild Type has now finished in the money in five straight outings, all at Mountaineer, and has cashed in 11 of 18 her starts overall. #2 Myheartsinthecity and #6 Starnilla are candidates to consider when filling out the rest of your ticket.

Picks: I like a win bet on the #8 and a show bet on the #5. I also like an exacta box of #8, #5.