Handicapping the 145th Preakness Stakes; Full Card Selections

By Rick Francis —-

Once the middle jewel of racing’s Triple Crown, the 145th running of the Preakness Stakes is now the final stop for 2020’s sophomore class. A field of eleven are slated to load into the Pimlico starting gate including Kentucky Derby winner Authentic who with a victory can solidify his status as the top three-year-old in racing. Twelve stakes contests fill the race card making for a great day of racing.

PIMLICO

Post Time: (11:00)/10:00/ 9:00/ 8:00

Race 1) 2, 4, 1, 3 Hi-5 add 7

Race 2) 3, 8, 4, 7

Race 3) 6, 1, 4, 3

Race 4) 12, 10, 2, 3, Hi-5 add 5

Race 5) 6 Furlongs. Miss Preakness S. Grade III. Purse $150,000 FOR FILLIES, THREE-YEARS-OLD

5) Mundaye Call (Cox/Geroux); contested early pace cost this Into Mischief filly late last out in the Grade 3 Eight Belles; furlong cutback today keeps up front ot the line.

1) Ain’t No Elmers (Calhoun/Saez); out of Goldencents, filly’s last two have shown the improvement needed to factor as she demonstrated winning last out at Churchill sitting just off the pace then pulling clear.

2) Wicked Whisper (Asmussen/Bravo); hard closing effort last out came up less than a length short in the G3 Charles Town Oaks.

3) Fly On Angel (Gonzalez/Cruz); winner of the CT Oaks was her second straight so take nothing from her as she will factor big time here.

Race 6) 1&1/16th Mile. (Turf) Dinner Party S. Grade II. Purse $250,000 FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS AND UPWARD

SELECTIONS: 7,2,3,6

7) Factor This (Cox/Geroux); multiple graded stakes winner was on the cusp of his first G1 score but was caught late to finish second in the Turf Classic at Churchill; goes gate-to-wire here.

2) Somelikeithotbrown (Maker/Lopez); Big Brown colt returns a route that’ll have this G2 Baruch champion threatening the top pick.

3) Hembree (Maker/Centeno); 6-year-old’s current form is solid having shown that form in each of his last two facing pricey overnight company.

6) Doctor Mounty (McGaughey/Boyce); exits a win at Laurel; strong work tab in prep for this.

Race 7) 6 Furlongs. DE FRANCIS MEMORIAL DASH S.. Grade III.

5) Landeskog (Cox/Geroux); makes his second start in the Cox barn where his first attempt was a wire job at Ellis; expect a similar effort today.

4) Laki (Dilodovico/Karamanos); exits three straight runner-up finishes; make it four.

7) Stan the Man (Terranova/Velazquez); last two starts have been solid efforts, placing two back in the Grade 2 True North and winning the Tale of the Cat at Saratoga.

2) Krsto Skye (David/Pimentel); game in defeat last out in the G3 Smile Sprint at Gulfstream; 8-year-old City Zip gelding makes his 60th career start and is in some of his best form.

Race 8) 10, 1, 8, 7

Race 9) 8, 11, 10, 6

Race 10) 1&1/8th Mile. MITCHELL BLACK-EYED SUSAN S. FILLIES, THREE-YEARS-OLD Grade II.

11) Perfect Alibi (Casse/Lopez); though winless in her three 2020 starts , Sky Mesa filly has been squaring off against the best of her sophomore class; a Grade 1 winner in the Spinaway as a juvenile, her back class makes her a formidable foe.

5) Bonny South (Cox/Geroux); FG Oaks winner closed rapidly to place in the Alabama; distance turnback today makes her a win threat.

8) Hopeful Growth (Margolis/McCarthy); Monmouth Oakes winner faded late to finish mid-pack in the Kentucky Oaks; great trainer spot.

9) Miss Marissa (Ryerson/Centeno); filly out of He’s Had Enough is rounding into her best form winning her last two.

Race 11) 1&3/16ths Mile. Preakness S. Grade I. Purse $1,000,000 FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS.

7) Ny Traffic (Saffie/Karamanos); he’s finished behind the morning line favorite in last two, but if there’s one that pull off the upset it’s this hard knocking colt out of Cross Traffic; you’re going to value in an across the board play.

9) Authentic (Baffert/Velazquez); son of Into Mischief and 2020’s Kentucky Derby champion is going to stick with a game plan that’s seen him win 5-of-6 career starts and that’s go t the front and catch me if you can; expect less than even money here.

4) Swiss Skydiver (McPeek/Albarado); brings her best each time out no matter the field; one thing this filly out of Daredevil has demonstrated is a keen ability to rebound from a place effort to win, she finished second last out in the Kentucky Oaks.

3) Art Collector (Drury/Hernandez, B.); Bernardini colt has won five straight, a definite exotic player.

2) Mr. Big News (Calhoun/Saez); whereas Swiss Skydiver has shown to recover from minor board efforts, this Giant’s Causeway colt has shown the “bounce” after a money finish.

Race 12) 1&1/16th Mile. UAE President Cup S. Grade I. Purse $100,000 FOR ARABIAN FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD

SELECTIONS: 5,8,12,7