Here's the guy Gary Quill, who had the Ky Derby long shot Golden Soul in his picks.
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For the fourth consecutive year, Black-Eyed Susan Day at Pimlico, was filled with plenty of sunshine and warm hearts as it was the 4th annual People’s Pink Party, featuring the Lady Legends race which pitted eight retired female jockeys against one another. It was the 4th race on the card, won by Mary Russ-Tortora aboard Haywired, in gate to wire fashion.
What a proud moment for the Maryland Jockey Club (MJC) and everyone who had a hand in pulling it off and making such a generous donation as Pimlico made a donation of $27,507 to the Komen Maryland affiliate, equal to the amount wagered to win on Haywired.
The Preakness Day forecast for the Baltimore-metropolitan area calls for most cloudy skies, with …plenty of sunshine, clear skies and a fast track. There are 13 races on the card. The $1,000,000 Preakness Stakes is the 12th race, with approximate Post Time 6:20pm EDT, with 1st race Post Time 10:45am.
Below I offer my opinions on all 13 races, but I’ll start with the Main Event. Here’s how I see the 138th running of the Preakness Stakes playing out, listed in my predicted order of finish. Odds shown are the current betting odds after Friday’s advanced wagering.
1st – # 1 Orb (4-5) sealed the deal as a legitimate threat to become the first Triple Crown winner in 34 years after outing in his final tune-up over the Belmont Park dirt surface on Monday. It was a work that on paper looked to be too fast (4 furlongs in 47), but according to his exercise rider it felt like they went about 3 seconds slower because he did it so easily. The confidence level in this colt is sky high.
2nd – # 4 Departing (11-1) is just one of three in this field that did not run in the Kentucky Derby. Often “new shooters” are a welcomed new edition as fresh prey, but this one has a legitimate shot at winning as prior to his Illinois Derby (his last race) victory, finished a strong 3rd in the Louisiana Derby, just a few lengths behind Mylute. Thus, he’s an improving colt that still has not yet peaked.
3rd – # 6 Oxbow (14-1) appearance on the track in the mornings of Preakness Week were nothing short of indicating the Derby took nothing out of him. Considering he was responsible for being part of one of the fastest early fraction times recorded for the Kentucky Derby
4th – # 5 Mylute (7-1) will require Rosie Napravnik to wait at least another year to fulfill her Preakness victory dream. Even though it seems that the key the his reversal of form appears to have been the removing of “Blinkers”, his late move in deep stretch might find him to run out of real estate, when he comes flying late in deep stretch.
The remainder of runners are predicted to finish as follows…
5th – # 9 Itsmyluckyday (9-1)
6th – # 7 Will Take Charge (12-1)
7th – # 2 Goldencents (7-1)
8th – # 8 Govenor Charlie (11-1)
9th – # 3 Titletown Five (23-1)
Based on my analysis of the Preakness, I’ll play…
$2 EXACTA BOX on # 1 (Orb), # 4 (Departing), # 5 (Mylute), # 6 (Oxbow) cost: $24
$1 TRIFECTA PART-WHEEL #1, #5, #6, #9 with #4 (Departing) in 2nd spot with #1, #5, #6, #9 cost: $20
Frankie Lovato’s JockeyWorld.org racing term of the day is #138… “Groom”
Recapping Pimlico’s Black-Eyed Susan Day selections from Friday’s 13-race card posted 10 winners (5 Top Selections in BOLD type) having $2 WIN pay-offs of $5.20 (1st race), $6.40 (3rd), $6.20 (4th), $3.20 (6th), $3.80 (8th), $4.20 (9th), $6.60 (10th), $9.20 (11th), $3.20 (12th) and $12.00 (13th).
The BEST BET (25 10-4-2) Strike the Moon (R6 #6 2-1 PT; 5-2 M/L) rider was unprepared at the start, losing the irons, was able to get him back on shortly after the break, but in a 6 furlong $100,000 stakes contest, there is no room for error. Realizing the race was lost after a few steps out of the gate, the jock just rode him out with much of an effort,
The LONGSHOT PICK (25 5-1-2) Closing Move (R2 #12 37-1 PT; 15-1 M/L) ran exactly as those inflated betting odds suggested… Failed to menace. Enough said as she finished 11th.
Selections for Pimlico’s Preakness Day card are below. Selections for all races posted were handicapped based on making multi-race wagers such as DOUBLE’s, Pick-3’s and Pick-4’s.
1st race post is 10:45am EDT. Track Condition… Dirt:: FAST Turf: FIRM
1st race – $25,000 Optional Claiming N2X – 1 1/16 miles
#5 – Benny or Local (7-2)
#3 – Jarrod’s Commando (10-1)
#1 – Aussi Austin (3-1)
2nd race – $7,500 Starter Handicap for MD Breds – 1 1/16 miles
#9 – Hello Lover (7-5)
#5 – Who Dat Boy (7-2)
#7 – No Brakes (5-1)
3rd race – $52,000 Allowance N1X – 5 furlongs on TURF
#13 – Lil Mr. B (8-1)
#7 – Relentless Moves (4-1)
#12 – Hesagoldmine (15-1)
4th race – $100,000 Rollicking Stakes for 2 y.o. – 5 furlongs
#6 – Sweet Emma Rose (7-5)
#8 – Knit One Purr Two (15-1)
#4 – No Nay Never (5-2)
5th race – $52,000 Allowance $52,000 N1X – 1 1/16 miles on TURF
#14 – Marataya’s Tune (9-2) *** BEST BET ***
#9 – Nokaze (4-1)
#5 – Moral High Ground (8-1)
6th race – $100,000 Chick Lang Stakes – 6 furlongs
#9 – Undrafted (3-1)
#8 – Clawback (6-1)
#7 – City of Weston (6-1)
7th race – $100,000 James W. Murphy Stakes – 1 mile on TURF
#9 – China Holiday (8-1)
#6 – Shining Cooper (8-1)
#1 – Notacatbutalloma (15-1)
8th race – $100,000 G3 Allaire DuPont Distaff for F&M 3 y.o – 1 1/16 miles
#3 – Moon Philly (7-2)
#5 – Sea Island (6-1)
#6 – Summer Applause (9-5)
9th race – $150,000 G3 Gallorette Handicap – 1 1/16 miles on TURF
#6 – Embarr (8-1) $$$ LONGSHOT $$$
#1 – Hard Not To Like (10-1)
#4 – Samitar (5-2)
10th race – $100,000 G3 Maryland Sprint Handicap – 6 furlongs
#4 – Hardened Wildcat (4-1)
#7 – Candyman E (6-1)
#10 – Sage Valley (5-2)
11th race – $300,000 G2 Dixie Handicap – 1 1/8 miles on TURF
#9 – Swift Warrior (4-1)
#1 – Willcox Inn (6-1)
#5 – Doubles Partner (6-1)
12th race – $1,000,000 G1 Preakness Stakes – 1 3/16 mile (see picks on Page 1)
13th race – $52,000 Allowance N1X for 3 y.o. & up – 1 1/16 miles
#8 – Code West (4-5)
#1 – Bluegrass Springs (10-1)
#2 – Respectful Ed (15-1)
Good Luck!