Pimlico Friday

Weather looks good and these fields are super deep. Dirt should be fast and races should stay on turf. Always a tough handicapping choice on Preakness weekend whether to play in form Mid-Atlantic based horses or invaders from the big circuits many coming off long layoffs. Will be prices out there. I’ll be heading to the OTB and playing $1,000 Friday.  Good luck!

Race 1  #2 Midnight Mass 5-1ml was sent off as fav in lifetime start number one and came with a nice late run to get second at 5.5 furlongs in a 10k maiden claimer. Connections stepped her up for 25k next out at mile and she showed speed contesting the pace and faded. Drops back down and cuts back to 6 furlongs. Also beware ##13 is she draws in.  $20 Win #1  and $5 DD 2,7,13/8,9,14 Cost $45

Race 2  #8 Family Tree 6-1ml was disappointing last out against tougher but was never comfortable and contested early then faded. Looks to get a softer pace against weaker opposition and should be right there at the end. $20 Win #8

Race 3  #8 Fleeterthan 3-1ml is the best of the day. She should set pace and romp or stalk a weak front runner and pounce. I just can’t see her losing this race. Anything over 2-1 looks like a gift to me.  $100 Win #8  Singling to start a .50pk 4  8/1,4,5,9/4,5,6,7,8,11/5,8,9,14,16 Cost $60

Race 4  #4 Belmullet 15-1ml deserves a look first time on turf. Well bred for turf sprinting and not in for the tag. Wouldn’t surprise me. $20 Win #4  $1 tri box 1-4-5-9 Cost $24

Race 5  #7 Olive Kat 12-1ml showed a ton of ability as a 2yr old dirt sprinter. Comes back as a 3 yr old and will be overlooked in this one due to the presence of some super trainers. Her numbers as 2 yr old fit snuggly and if she doesn’t need a race and takes the progressive step up she can win. $50 Win #7

Race 6  #9 Makes Mo Cents 20-1 Bomb! Has ability and tried turf last out split the field lagging back and running late. This is a large field size and race really has the look to produce a crazy result. Hoping to catch something. $20 Win #9   .50tri box 5-8-9-14-16 Cost $30

Race 7  #8 Majestic Won 15-1ml should be forwardly placed stalking cheap speed and get first run on the big fav in here. Wide open race if #3 Chalon needs a race 1 since Breeders Cup.   $20 Win #8

Race 8  #9 Sue’s Fortune 30-1 Bomb! New York bred shows up in here off the break and was a fast 2yr old with only loss coming against Jaywalk in Grade 1 Frizette at a mile. Already a Grade II winner last year and been training lights out. There really isn’t a reason to ship in from Belmont for this unless trainer thinks she can win. Can’t see getting 30-1 or more but anything over 15-1 looks juicy. Bad morning line here. There are a ton of other fast ones showing up so its really wide open. $50 Win #9 and starting a .50 pk 4  2,4,5,9,11,12/1,2,5,11,12/2,13/4,6,8 Cost $90

Race 9  #1 Primela 20-1ml raced ok vs better than these last out in a Grade II at the trip. Was 10-1 that day so no reason she should be 20-1 in here. Chad Brown has two horses in here so you know his 3yr fillies will get hammered at the windows deservedly so since he most likely will win but the #1 deserves a shot.  $50 Win #1 and .50 tri box 1,2,5,11,12 Cost $30

Race 10  Pletcher looks to have a great chance between his two very good route horses #2 and #13. #2 Rally Cry gets the better draw and should be forwardly placed early. Distance will be a question with that but not with the #13 You’re to Blame. I’m playing a $10 exacta 2,13/2,4,13 as #4 Carlino will be rolling late and could grab 2.   Cost $40

Race 11  The Grade II Black Eyed Susan stakes. Good looking evenly matched field in here. #8 Point of Honor 5/2ml looks the part of a future star and I really like the other favs in here also. Used all three favs in the pk 4 but just making a flat win bet in this race and hoping for 5/2.  $100 Win #8

Race 12  #9 Completed Pass 8-1ml showed he liked turf last out and is a super fast sprinter. I like his outside draw in here and has stalked and pounced before in his career so doesn’t need the lead in a race that has many front end types. $50 Win #9  I do think #2 will run late for 2 passing the fading speed so I’ll use him underneath in an $10 Exacta 3,8,9/2 Cost $30   $1 pk 3  2,3,8,9/6/3,4,8,11,12 Cost $20

Race 13 #6 Golden Award 5/2ml looks to get a very soft front running trip at this distance. She is stepping way up against some good graded fillies and mares but the pace on paper just isn’t there. Total lone pace play for me $50 Win #6 

Race 14  #8 Along Came Mizzy 30-1 Bomb! Has shown much in 3 lifetime starts but I think she wants turf routes.  This a weak 25k maiden claimer so why not this one? $20 Win #8 and .50 tri box 3,4,8,11,12 Cost $30

Some of my win bets are scratched-- replacing them with below 

Race 8  $50 Win #12  12-1ml 

Race 9  $50 Win #12  Orra Moor  10-1ml

Lots of scratches in Race 12 also-- my #9 will most likely go of as fav now-- and should win easy as the two other speed balls scratched    Race 12 updated exotics are  $10 ex box 2-9 Cost $20   And $1 pk 3  2,9/6/all   cost $28

Tailed on this pick, what a great win just in time. Great start for the day. Thanks

thanks    if I can get the current 3-1 price on the 8 in race 3 I will be going $200 on the win

Nice hit

Awesome another winner...thanks again

Gents....admittedly a novice pony guy here. I tailed. Thank you. I have a question. I put in an exacta box for race 11 of horses 4/8/6, is this not a winner ? If someone could explain. Thanks

The 3 got 2nd so you just missed. The 4 got third 

Thx for the clarification ATL. 

Can we concur the favs and inside position was factoring in most races. All run well but outside position was wanting. I had my share of (4) 4th place horses. As my mate said" Johnny, at least they were willing".That was 8 thru 10 when I got to the OTB!! Did hit Race 11 cuz nobody was gonna beat the 8!!!! Good luck to all tomorrow!!!!

Oh ya, lot of Hall of Fame Jockeys showing their stuff today!!

No action today?