Woodbine Racetrack presents a $50,000 guaranteed pool for its early Pick-4 on Monday evening, and WEG’s track announcer, Ken Middleton, has scanned through Races 4 through 7 to come up with a plan of attack for

constructing a ticket.

To view the entries for Woodbine's Monday, December 13 card of live racing, click here.

Here are Middleton’s thoughts on a Pick-4 ticket for tonight:

Race 4

A wide-open group of four-year-olds and younger clash in a wide-open edition of the non-winners of 2 races or $15,000 lifetime, and I’ve gone six deep to kick things off.

#2 LONGN WINDING ROAD has racked up 12 wins this year, but he did that winning in the Maritimes versus much easier company. He grabbed small shares in the Ontario Autumn Stakes from tougher posts. Tonight’s post relief might help. #3 MY PERFECT HEART is camera-shy, but a capable contender if he puts his mind to it. He has shown solid speed in the past. He’ll need things to go his way to spring the surprise. #5 THE BEST TOY broke his maiden in his latest outing after springing loose in the late stages of the mile. He’ll have to crank up his speed to handle tonight’s class hike. #7 SAMOURAI DUHARAS has missed three weeks of racing while battling sickness, but if he returns healthy and fit he can handle this group. He’s show big speed in many of his recent assignments. #10 IRON TRAIN was put away earlier this summer and has come back with a pair of average-looking qualifiers for trainer Ben Wallace, who has paid him up to the Valedictory Series. Wallace is well-known for having his starters cracking tight in off-the-shelf situations.

Race 5

The second leg of tonight’s Pick-4 features a group of conditioned trotters, and I’ve identified the following four horses as “must use” horses on your tickets:

#1 HOMER JAY drew an inside post and got some class relief in his latest outing, and those two factors helped him secure a 1:55.1 victory as the 2-1 favourite. He moves up the class ladder tonight, but gets to do so from another excellent starting spot. He’s capable of making a round trip to victory lane. #3 FAMOUS MARK has been picking up small shares in recent weeks versus tougher company, but he gets an inside post and some class relief to work with tonight for the always dangerous duo of trainer Ben Baillargeon and driver Mario Baillargeon. #4 MOTOR INN gets a heaping helping of post position relief to work with in his third start since moving to the barn of trainer Kevin O’Reilly. The gelding raced very well in both of his local starts, and I think he’s a major danger despite his 2-for-28 record this season. #7 SAND WYNDHAM went a long way on the lead two starts ago before getting picked off in the final strides by a pair of foes, and he was fast-closing fourth in his follow-up attempt. The versatile son of Pegasus Spur can be a major player if he gets some good racing luck.

Race 6

The third leg of tonight’s Pick-4 figures to be a challenging one, as well. A group of 10 will line-up on the starting gate in this conditioned event, and I’ll use the following six horses on my ticket:

#1 JUSTLIKEITHOUGHT has been a 'close but no cigar' type in recent weeks, and his 2-for-28 record indicates that’s been the case throughout the entire season. The Indiana Downs’ shipper gets a good post to work from and picks up veteran driver Rick Zeron. #2 OUR CAM KILLEAN has been hot and cold in recent weeks. He rallied from just off-the-pace to win his latest after going home empty handed in his previous outing. #3 COMPETITION CAM gets some post relief to work with tonight as he looks to put forth an improved effort for trainer Shawn Robinson. #4 SMOKIN HOT went a long way on the lead last time before getting picked off the final strides by a tripped out Our Cam Killean. He’s been close in recent weeks, and one of these days he’ll catch a break and get his picture taken. #5 ROCKNROLL JACKPOT has grabbed a pair of fourth-place finishes since joining forces with trainer Merv Chupp. The gelding has great on-the-board numbers this year, and he can bolster his stats with another top effort in here. #7 VAGABOND ANGUS cruised to an easy win when sent off as the favourite three starts ago, but he has tanked in a pair of follow-up attempts. He can bounce back for the always dangerous tandem of trainer Richard Moreau and driver Sylvain Filion.

Race 7

Three-year-old pacers will cap off tonight’s Pick-4 wager, and I’m going to single #6 CRUNCH TIME. The son of Bettors Delight went home empty handed when asked to do the first-over work two starts ago, but in his latest effort he was buried at the pylons for most of the mile before finding some late daylight to work with en route to finishing fourth. He picked up five rivals from the top of the stretch to the finish after being locked in for most of the mile. That effort might boost his confidence coming into this tilt.

Pick-4 Ticket Summary

Race 4: 2-3-5-7-10

Race 5: 1-3-4-7

Race 6: 1-2-3-4-5-7

Race 7: 6

Cost: $120, or you can pay one-fifth of the price ($24) by playing a 20-cent ticket.

(WEG)