Full card write up here. Podcast going over the Late Pick 5. [Links: Spotify and Apple Podcasts] After going over this sequence with the boys, I have a feeling this is going to blow up. Let’s get it!
Race 1 Two entries add blinkers for the first time – 5 Keepurself Alive and 9 So Softly, whereas 12 Shemakescents runs for the first time without blinkers. I actually like trainer Jonathan Wong’s 10 Living With Autism in this spot at a price to blow up the tri/super.
Picks: 9-12-10-8
Race 2 Trainer George Papaprodromou steps 5 Spirit of Makena up in class here off his maiden win. Jockey Drayden Van Dyke stays aboard. This is a tough field of seven with no clear-cut standouts.
Picks: 5-7-6-4
Race 3 Bob Baffert, John Velazquez, 9 Reincarnate. Is it that simple? 3 Russells Hustle just missed on debut against stiffer competition.
Picks: 9-3-10-2
Race 4 First time Lasix today for 3 Sally Stanford. Has the early speed and is a threat to wire the field. Consistently finishes in the superfecta. 4 Smiling Thunder makes the switch to Jonathan Wong’s barn and gets Umberto Rispoli in the irons today; has some nice published works and this spot fits nicely.
Picks: 4-11-3-2
Race 5 Tough race to find a winner. All but 4 The Slap are trying this distance for the first time. 10 Single Track Mind goes the first time for trainer Mark Glatt after making the move Stateside from Ireland.
Picks: 4-10-2-11
Race 6 A couple of nice works for 11 Doinitthehardway since finishing second on debut; draws in here, takes blinkers off, and gets a big jockey upgrade.
Picks: 11-2-3-10
Race 7 A spread race to start the Late Pick 5 sequence. A lot of early speed signed on here, making closer types a strong play. 12 Atomic Drop is tops in that category. 6 Who’s Candy is a new gelding and should be a factor early. 11 In Vronsky Style has finished in the money in three of five lifetime starts and should get first run at the early leaders.
Picks: 12-11-6-1
Race 8 Trainer Bob Baffert tabs John Velazquez to ride 7 Censorship. I don’t know if we need much more analysis.
Picks: 7-8-6-2
Race 9 Another difficult race to handicap. 1 Ah Jeez is 1-for-2 and has shown late kick in both of those efforts.
Picks: 1-2-6-13
Race 10 There are quite a few reasons to like 9 The Big Wam in this spot today. He’s finished in the exacta all four career starts, exiting a key race, and has been progressing nicely in his morning workouts.
Picks: 9-8-7-2
Race 11 It’s the second race off a lengthy layoff for 8 Uncle Jeff. He ran an 80 Beyer last time out and I think we can expect another move forward.
Picks: 8-3-9-7
Best of luck!