Spot Play Hot Plays for Oct. 4 at Batavia Downs

By Kevin Oklobzija

Spot Play Hot Plays for Wednesday, Oct. 4 at Batavia Downs

Race 3

No. 6 Hey Kobe (6-1 morning line). There’s enough speed in here to ensure an honest early pace, and the outer flow also should develop fairly early. That’s why I think Hey Kobe is certainly playable in the Pick 5 and Pick 4, as well as in exactas. She was flying from the back of the bus in her last start, and now she’s had her acclimating mile at Batavia.

Race 5

No. 4 Gorgeous View (5/2 morning line). I don’t make the favorite my SPHP very often, unless I think you can take a stand. I think that’s the case here. Easily defeated many of these last week, and his toughest competitors tonight are fillies. And don’t worry about the driver change from Drew Monti. As co-owner along with his grandfather of the 1 (Make Mine Ideal), Drew is obligated to drive her. Thus, Billy Davis Jr. gets the drive with Gorgeous View, and the regular in Southern Ontario is more than capable.

Race 12

No. 5 Bands Ariston (5-1 morning line). This is nothing but a three-horse race, and it could be down to two if my selection goes off stride again (he has twice in the past five starts). The 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 simply can’t trot fast enough. So I’ll play exacta boxes 5-1/1-5 and 5-8/8-5. I don’t want to box all three because I see little value on the 1-8/8-1 lineup.

Recapping the weekend SPHPs

Friday

Race 2 Littlebitofabrat and Mc Rusty exacta box. Winner. Both were taking a significant drop in class. Littlebitofabrat cut the mile. Mc Rusty closed in the lane for second, albeit six lengths back. Slightly more than double your money on the box ($8.20).

Race 5 Northern Matador. Finished second. Got the 2-hole trip behind Kahoku but was outkicked in the lane by Empire Earl. Finished second.

Saturday

Race 2 Great Tune. One my more awful selections. Was in perfect second-over position passing the three-quarter marker in an eventful race but had absolutely no late pace.

Race 3 Lucky King. Second. Endured a long first-over grind and beat everybody except the front-runner, Major Trick.

Race 6 Bahama Bay. Winner. The drop in class, plus the rail, was indeed all he needed. Fought off a gallant first-over bid by Button Fly and had plenty left in the lane. Paid just $3.20 but the $1 Pick 4 wasn’t bad ($62) since the sequence was very logical.