It’s Black-Eyed Susan day at Pimlico. Here’s who I like in the stakes races. **Pre-scratches**
Race 8 3:05 EST Nine furlongs on the dirt for fillies and mares 3YO and up. A short field of six. 6 Frost Point gets Flavien Prat and will be my top choice. (Prat has no mounts on Saturday, so I will be upgrading my opinion on most of his Friday rides.) I think that 4 Super Quick and 5 Lil Kings Princess will duel with each other on the front end, leaving Frost Point room to make her closing bid.
A: 6 B: 4,5 The play: Win bet on the 6 at 3-1 or better
Race 9 3:36 EST 4 Pizza Bianca is the heavy favorite in the $100K Hilltop Stakes for good reason, and I will not fault anyone who singles her in the horizontals. I believe she’s going to be an underlay that requires a play against in this spot. I’m looking at the other Clement entry, 6 Diamond Hands. Has finished in the money in all three lifetime starts, gets Lasix for the first time, and Irad in the irons today. 8 Vergara had a wide trip last time out under Victor Carrasco on synthetic; Luis Saez is back here and she’s also getting first time Lasix. I’m hoping that bettors look at that eighth-place finish and toss. 2 Lady Puchi is 8-1 on the morning line and gets John Velazquez to ride. Has shown some late kick but is making a big jump in class. Using on the ‘C’ line.
A: 6 B: 4,8 C: 2
Race 10 4:07 EST Let’s throw out 2 Under the Stars’ last race in the Santa Anita Oaks. She stumbled badly and was no factor, finishing outside the money for the first time in her career. If there’s anywhere in the sequence I’m willing to take a stand and single, it’s here. Another Prat mount. The only other horse I’m looking at using at all is 8 Gimmick. Gaffalione is back for the Asmussen trainee. Hasn’t fared well against similar company, but with the right trip this could be the one to pull it off.
A: 2 C: 8 The play: Win bet on the 2 at 9-5 or better
Race 11 4:38 EST The Very One Stakes, a five-furlong sprint on the turf for fillies and mares 3YO and up looks to be WIDE OPEN. You can make decent cases for the 1,3,5,10,11 horses that I would not argue with. HOWEVER, I’m going to spotlight the 2 Honey Pants out of the Christophe Clement barn. Irad gets the ride again, which is a plus. I’m projecting the 3,5,6,10 will send and Honey Pants closes big to take this one. She is the morning line favorite, but I don’t think that will hold until post time. I’m upgrading (again) Prat’s mount 1 Phantom Vision who is 6-1 on the morning line and I think could also close into a hot pace.
A: 2 B: 1 C: 3,5,10,11
Race 12 5:10 EST Luis Saez takes over from Jose Ortiz on the 8 First Captain, who has won four of six lifetime starts. If you’re looking to beat the morning line Pletcher/Irad favorite, you could do worse than this. If I was placing a win bet on a Pletcher horse, I’d look to the 3 Untreated at 4-1 or better. A race where there is some money to potentially be made in the exacta, trifecta, and superfecta as well.
A: 1,8 B: 3,6 C: 10 The play: Win bet on the 8 at 9-2 or better
Race 13 5:44 EST This year’s version of the Black-Eyed Susan is a tough one. My top choice is the 9 Interstatedaydream for Brad Cox. Florent Geroux stays in the irons for the third straight race. Finished third in the Ashland, and at 6-1 on the morning line, it’s an overlay that I can’t pass up. My second choice is the 10 Adare Manor. Jockey John Velazquez is up for a fourth time, winning two of the last three and completing the exacta in the loss by a neck. These two could stalk from right off the pace and finish 1-2.
A: 9,10 B: 7,12 C: 3 The play: 9,10 exacta box
Best of luck today!