Preakness $1,000,000 Guarantee Pick-5
By Matt Pappis —-
PIMLICO
Race 9) Grade III Maryland Sprint
Whitmore (5): Coming into this 3rd off the layoff on a 4 race win streak and is much the one to beat.
A.P. Indian (4): Ran like a horse that needed one last out getting run down by Awesome Slew in the Commonwealth, going to have to really run to beat Whitmore.
Holy Boss (6): The other horse in the race with back class good enough to win this, however all those races came in 2015 and 2016; he is past his prime but still good enough to fill out the exotics.
Race 10) Grade III Gallorette Stakes
Zipessa (2): Ran one of the worst races of her career when coming off the layoff and it seemed that she just didn’t take to the soft going; with the lack of speed in here she should be able to sit right on the lead and kick away turning for home.
On Leave (6): She was the talk of the town going into the Queen Elizabeth this past fall and didn’t fire. She comes in fresh and should run a big race for the McGaughey barn.
Elysea’s World (7): Has always showed promise but could not close the deal vs Dickinson in her last two. Since those races, Dickinson has come back to win over Lady Eli who would be 1/5 in this race.
Race 11) Sir Barton Stakes
Watch Me Whip (6): The connections had high hopes for this horse after breaking his maiden in super impressive at Keeneland. He is the one in the race I’m most interested in watching run, as we know what the rest of them are already.
Society Beau (4): Beat the highly regarded Eastport in his last effort at Keeneland. He is improving with each and every start and will get the set up here to come running. This is a class test but you are getting a square price.
True Timber (7): Comes out of the deepest race in the group and will be forwardly placed with an aggressive rider.
Hedge Fund (2): Beaten a head in his last in the Illinois Derby by Multiplier who will be in the Preakness later this afternoon. I am not convinced he has to win at a short price.
Race 12) Grade II Longines Dixie
Catapult (8): This horse has had some issues staying on the track but when he is healthy he is as good as anyone in this race. He should sit a great stalking trip with the best turf rider in the country.
Blacktype (7): Had a very weird trip in the Grade I Makers Mile and should be primed for a big effort second off the layoff.
Ring Weekend (10): He finally gets some pace to run after in this spot after playing merry go round his past two races in California.
Race 13) Grade I Preakness
Always Dreaming (4): The Derby winner proved on the first Saturday in May he was better than this crop of three year olds. I see him getting a similar trip, with the inside post he should be able to hug the rail and kick away when they turn for home. The only other speed to the race is Conquest Mo Money and Johnny V is too smart to get into a duel with him.
Gunnevera (6): He did not do much running in the Derby but he looks much better on the track headed into this race. He is a late runner and will come running late to fill out the exotics.
Classic Empire (5): The one “true” contender that can beat Always Dreaming but he will be vastly over bet based on his trip in the Derby. He has not gotten much fast from 2-to-3 and I don’t personally see him winning, but he’s hard to ignore in the tri.
Looking at Lee (9): Has past two races have shown that he really turned the corner as a racehorse and is moving in the right direction. If it does get hot up front he is a horse you know will come running.
We are against Cloud Computing, which has quickly become the “Wise Guy” horse. Chad Brown is 3% with three-year-old dirt males going longer than a mile in graded stakes
Pick 5 ( Race 9-13)
4,5/2,6,7/ 2,4,6,7,9,10 /2,4,7,8,9,10/ 4 = $108