Preakness Day Picks at Pimlico

Preakness Day Picks at Pimlico
by Bob Hill, TSV staff writer

Here are picks for the four listed and five graded stakes races carded at Pimlico for Preakness Day 2023. The weather forecast is for intermittent showers on Saturday so the possibility of wet going has to be considered. Good luck to all.

Race 4 – The Sir Barton Stakes for 3yos at 1-1/16 miles

4 – Arabian Lion (2-5) Probably would be second choice in Preakness
6 – Denington (5-1) McPeek veteran will be running late
3 – Tapit’s Conqquest (4-1) Cox entry was good in Risen Star but bombed in LA Derby

Race 6 – Chick Lang Stakes G3 for 3yos at 6 furlongs

7 – Prince of Jericho (9-2) Best closer in a field full of speed horses
2 – Ryvit (7-2) Keith Asmussen aboard for dad going for four in a row
1 – Havnameltdown (8-5) Baffert speedball last seen getting second in Dubai
3 – Frosted Departure (8-1) McPeek runner cutting back in distance
5 – Super Chow (3-1) Gulfstream speedster for Delgado 5-5 at distance could win this

Race 7 – Gallorette Stakes for F-M 3yos and up at 1-1/16 miles on turf

1 – Whitebeam (3-1) Juddmonte filly makes second U.S. start in wide open race
7 – Princess Theorem (9-2) Walsh is always tough on these big racing days
2 – Sopran Basilea (4-1) First N.A. start for Motion a weak angle for class tested entry
5 – Vergara (7-2) Another from Motion barn just missed in G2 last out
4 – Eminent Victor (4-1) Second Chad Brown entry returns from six months off
6 – Bipartisanship (8-1) Motion’s third entry could fill out vertical tickets

Race 8 — Dinner Party (G3) for 3yos and up at 1-1/8 miles on turf

3 – Easter (10-1) Upset special for Graham Motion at great odds
7 – Emmanuel (7-2) Throw out last race and this Pletcher 4yo fits right in this bunch
1 – Atone (9-5) ML fave for Mike Maker is the class of this field and would be no surprise
4 – Hurricane Dream (7-2) Good tune-up last out for this G3 affair

Race 9 – The Skipat for F-M 3yos and up at 6 forlongs

3 – I’m the Boss of Me (4-1) Speed of the speed is 6f specialist
6 – Gunning (6-1) McPeek son of Gun Runner will be closing into fast fractions
8 – Cheetara (12-1) Outran her odds last time out
2 – Beguine (3-1) ML favorite returns from stint on the bench

Race 10 – Turf Sprint for 3yos and up at 5 furlongs on turf

10 – Coppola (6-1) Improving type for Dale Romans must be at his best
1 – Nothing Better (3-1) Local connections are good at this distance and surface
3 – Artemus City Limits (5-2) Maker ML fave very accomplished and always dangerous
5 – Smokin’ Jay (6-1) Lots of pieces for Hunger Games namesake
13 – Beer Can Man (8-1) Too bad he’s drawn so wide but still one to consider

Race 11 – Maryland Sprint Stakes (G3) for 3yos and up at 6 furlongs

8 – Straight No Chaser (3-1) If he runs back to his last race he’ll be a winner
2 – Prevalence (8-1) Gets blinkers for first time hoping for wakeup call
7 – Nakatomi (5-2) Does his best running late for Wesley Ward
10 – Wondrwherecraigis (4-1) Solid competitor from Laurel Park has a shot

Race 12 – JW Murphy Stakes for 3yos at 1 mile on the turf

9 – Nagirroc (9-5) Deserving favorite for G. Motion outclasses this bunch
1 – Funtastic Again (3-1) Moves from synth to turf with real shot at this
7 – Kingfish Stevens (8-1) Class test for good turf connections
8 – Wonderful Justice (8-1) Last one was a tough trip so due to improve with better

Race 13 – The Preakness (G1) for 3yos at 1-3/16 miles

There’s not been a Triple Crown race in the past three decades to come up as soft as this version of the Preakness. The big owner/trainer combos seem intent on downgrading the second leg of the Triple Crown to pretty tepid fodder. It’s true that the Derby winner is here, but minus him the rest of this field has many negative angles and few positive ones.

3 – Mage (8-5) Derby champ will go off at 1-5 or 2-5 at best. I’d like him in a full field.
5 – Red Route One (10-1) Son of Gun Runner has only one poor showing in last five
6 – Perform (15-1) His win in the Tesio was visually impressive
4 – Coffeewithchris (20-1) Sentimental pick for local connections
1 – National Treasure (4-1) Trained by Baffert so his odds will be depressed
7 – Blazing Sevens (6-1) If he somehow rediscovers last year’s form he could be tough
2 – Chase the Chaos (50-1) Won his way here in the El Camino Real on synthetics