This year’s Ohio Derby at Thistledown racetrack was held on June 24, 2023. Two Phil’s was the favorite with Bishops Bay a close contender. With two favorites in a race, it can be difficult to make any money with exactas and trifectas, unless you put down a very large wager. This is when a pick 4 is a good option. I took a look at the 3 races before the Ohio derby and put in a $12 pick 4. But I made the mistake of picking both Two Phil’s and Bishops Bay in the final race. Two Phil’s was the stronger horse and easily finished ahead of Bishops Bay. Instead, I put my single in the second race of the pick 4 and went with the #8 Big Truck. The #9 horse Romantic Cowboy at 5 to 1 won the race with Big Truck coming up late to get 3rd.
Time Form was the only one who picked Romantic Cowboy as a possible contender. But they didn’t have the #4 in the next race. In fact, no one had the #4 in their top 3. The only reason I had him was because I thought that was a wide-open race and selected 4 horses in that leg of the pick 4. I had considered picking 3 horses in the second race, but the price of the pick 4 would have been $36. When that happens, I start looking for horses to remove so I can lower the price of the wager. Singling Two Phil’s would have brought the wager down to $18. But I didn’t want to go into the last race with such a heavy favorite.
Instead, I decided to go with Big Truck in the second leg because all of the free pick websites had him as the most likely winner. My other picks in that race were the #2 and #6, but I wasn’t very confident in those selections. At least I didn’t throw out the #9, which would have made losing the pick 4 even more disappointing. The payout was $129.85, which is pretty good considering how low the odds were on Two Phil’s. I only had 3 of 4 correct, but it is always interesting to when you go back and look at the results and try to determine where your decision process went astray. It may help you see something next time that will lead to a winning pick 4.