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5.18.2024:

Links to All Our Preakness 149 Coverage

By Jeremy Plonk

NEW SATURDAY MORNING: Jeff Siegel's Pimlico full-card analysis 1/ST Preakness Wager Guide | free access to 20 analysts, stats, trends, full-card 1/ST BET AI Picks, videos & more Eddie Olczyk: Preakness Video Previews | Race Set-Up, Mystik Dan's Chances, Value Play Jeff Siegel: Pimlico Black-Eyed Susan Friday Full-Card Picks & Analysis Scott Shapiro: Exacta-Thon Best Bets Pimlico Friday & Saturday Scott Shapiro: Pimlico Black-Eyed Susan-Preakness Doubles | Friday & Saturday Frank Carulli: Pimlico Late Pick 4 Analysis | Friday, May 17, 2024 1/ST Call Video Podcast Stakes Previews with Jeff Siegel & Jeremy Plonk Jon White: Preakness Picks & Look at Some Derby Figs Jeremy Plonk: Race of the Week Dinner Party Stakes at Pimlico Jeremy Plonk: 5 Impacts of Muth's Preakness Scratch Jeremy Plonk: Preakness Post Draw Reaction & Betting Menu Jeremy Plonk: Black-Eyed Susan Stakes Meet the Contenders

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5.18.2024:

1/ST POST: Why Play Today? Saturday, May 18, 2024

By Xpressbet

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5.18.2024:

Jeff Siegel: Pimlico's Preakness Day Saturday Full-Card Picks and Analysis

By Jeff Siegel

Specifically designed for the rolling exotic player, Jeff Siegel’s “What You Need to Know” isolates those horses that should be included in daily doubles, pick-3s, pick-4s, pick-5s, and the pick-6. The selections are posted at 6:00 a.m. and updated later in the morning to reflect late scratches and changes (approximately 10:30 a.m.). For additional commentary, follow us on twitter @jsiegelracing. Grade Descriptions: Grade A=Highest degree of confidence; Grade B=Solid Play. Grade C=Least preferred or pass; Grade X=probable winner but likely at odds too short to play. ______________________________________________________________________________ RACE 1: Post: 10:30 ET Grade: C+ Main Ticket: 4-Master of Malice; 9-Lieutenant General; 10-Gift Exchange Backups/savers: 1-Irish Heartbeat. Forecast: Master of Malic finished a distant second in his only start last June at Delaware (he was six lengths clear of the rest) before being stopped on. He finally makes it back to the races for a barn that has superior stats with layoff runners, and if the son of Palace Music returns as well as he left he’ll rate a decent long shot chance (8-1 on the morning line) in this wide open abbreviated turf sprint for straight maidens. With More than Ready on the bottom side of his pedigree, he’s got a right to move up on grass. Lieutenant General displayed good speed at Keeneland in a hot race before weakening to finish a distant fourth last month; this group is considerably easier and the shortening up from seven furlongs to five eighth certainly shouldn’t hurt the W. Ward-trained gelding. Gift Exchange is a first timer by Hard Spun drawn on the far outside. He’ll probably need the race, but the work tab at Fair Hill looks sneaky good, so at 5-1 on the morning line he’s worth tossing in somewhere. ______________________________________________________________________________ RACE 2: Post: 11:05 ET Grade: C+ Main Ticket: 4-Breakwater; 8-Chelonian; 5-St. John’s Backups/savers: 7-Rakia; 2-Porquerolles. Forecast: Breakwater can best be described as a one-paced plodder, but most in this two-turn first level allowance are, too. He’s a solid fit on numbers, picks up turf master F. Prat, and may be able to tag the speed close home in a wide open guessing game of a race. Chelonian was scratched yesterday and appears to have found a better spot in this moderate affair. The J. Ness-trained gelding is a first-off-the-claim play for a stable that excels with this angle (33%), so a considerable amount of improvement is more than likely. The son of Gun Runner should be within striking range throughout. St. John’s had a couple of runs over the jumps, and neither went well. Back on the flat last time out, the son of Hard Spun turned in a solid third place finish and if he can turn in two alike he should at least get a piece of it again today. ______________________________________________________________________________ RACE 3: Post: 11:41 ET Grade: B+ Main Ticket: 1-Mirahmadi Backups/savers: none. Forecast: Mirahmadi is a maiden in a winner’s race (not sure why) but actually holds a distinct class edge, having finished a close second in the Del Mar Futurity-G1 in his last appearance last September. The B. Baffert-trained colt trained extremely well at Santa Anita (his home base) before shipping East, and this first time Lasix user will have no difficulty with this group if he runs back to his juvenile form. At 7/5 on the morning line and likely to go lower, the son of Into Mischief looks very much like a short-priced rolling exotic single. ______________________________________________________________________________ RACE 4: Post: 12:16 ET Grade: B Main Ticket: 4-Apple Picker; 3-Disco Ebo. Backups/savers: Forecast: Apple Picker exits a pair of much tougher graded stakes – two runs back she won the Barbara Fritchie S.-G3 at Laurel - and is dropped into a listed spot today against a field she should very much beat. Listed at 7/5 on the morning line, the daughter of Connect has won two of three previous starts at this six furlong distance, so this shortened trip shouldn’t bother her at all. Disco Ebo is a win machine, having taken half of her 22 career starts with speed figures that compare fairly well with our top pick. She does her best work on the lead but might have some company early on, and she couldn’t handle our top selection two races back, though at this six furlong distance the veteran mare may put up more resistance., ______________________________________________________________________________ RACE 5: Post: 12:51 ET Grade: B- Main Ticket: 6-Barbtourage; 2-Marian Cross (GB). Backups/savers: 7-Rye Smile; 8-Up for It. Forecast: Barbtourage stopped to a walk in her recent comeback at Keeneland but she shows a bullet workout since and retains Johnny V., so we’re going to draw a line through that last race and give the daughter of Into Mischief another chance, especially at five furlongs in her first try on grass. Marian Cross (GB) is back sprinting where she’s probably most comfortable and based on her promising fifth place finish (beaten less than two lengths) in her debut at this trip at Gulfstream Park the G. Motion-trained filly may be the most dangerous of the off-the-pace types. ______________________________________________________________________________ RACE 6: Post: 1:28 ET Grade: B Main Ticket: 6-Frost Free; 1-Mr Skylight; 7-Catahoula Moon. Backups/savers: none. Forecast: Frost Free couldn’t handle Valentine Candy in the Bachelor S. at Oaklawn Park last month (he earned a career top speed figure in defeat) but few around can cope with that son of Justify’s late kick. This is an easier spot, so the son of Frosted should be able to return to winning form in this year’s renewal of the Chick Lang S.-G3 for sophomore sprinters. There are other speed types in this six furlong dash, but on paper he’s the quickest of the quick. Mr Skylight has gradually improving numbers, and while he’s not as fast as Frost Free quite yet he’s getting close. With a clean trip from the rail, the son of Practical Joke should be able to make a run for it. Catahoula Moon, first or second in seven of 11 career starts, is another that needs a slight forward move to challenge our top pick but if there’s a pace meltdown he’s the most likely in the field to benefit. ______________________________________________________________________________ RACE 7: Post: 2:08 ET Grade: B+ Main Ticket: 7-Fluffy Socks Backups/savers: 3-Blissful; 1-Sweet Dani Girl Forecast: Fluffy Socks has been facing many of the best older distaff grass runners in North America throughout most of her career and should thoroughly enjoy this class relief with the drop into the Gallorette S.-G3. She’s a perfect one-for-one over the Pimlico lawn (she won the Selima S. four years ago) and with good racing luck and anything close to her best race the veteran mare should justify her 6/5 morning line price. ______________________________________________________________________________ RACE 8: Post: 4:49 ET Grade: B- Main ticket: 6-Prince of Jericho; 1-Coastal Mission Backups/savers: 3-Super Chow. Forecast: Prince of Jericho dropped a tough photo finish to Coastal Mission in the Frank Whitely S. at Laurel last time out but there is a four pound shift in weights in his favor plus the cozy outside draw while ‘Mission must leave from the rail. Truthfully, they’re very difficult to separate so rather than split hairs we’ll include both on our ticket. ______________________________________________________________________________ RACE 9: Post: 3:30 ET Grade: B Main ticket: 10-Abrumar Backups/savers: 4-Turning Point; 12-Fulmineo. Forecast: Abrumar was forced to race wide without cover every step of the way when understandably fading off the board in the American Turf S.-G2 two weeks ago at Churchill Downs. He’s back on short rest, makes a major switch to I. Ortiz, Jr., and should drop over into the second flight, save ground, and then kick home when set down. He’s won two races while on the pace but we truly believe he’ll be most effective if held up early. At 5-1 on the morning line, he's a win play and major push in the various exotics. ______________________________________________________________________________ RACE 10: Post: 4:10 ET Grade: B+ Main ticket: 5-Corporate Power Backups/savers: 8-Tuscan Sky. Forecast: Corporate Power is improving with each start, as you would expect a son of Curlin to do, and after finishing a strong second in a tough allowance race at Aqueduct in the slop he’ll add blinkers today and should continue to improve with distance, experience, and maturity. With a win today, he could earn a start in the Belmont Stakes-G1 at Saratoga in three weeks. ______________________________________________________________________________ RACE 11: Post: 4:53 ET Grade: B- Main ticket: 8-Boat’s a Rockin; 2-Carotari; 1-Grooms All Bizness Backups/savers: 11-Witty; 12-Beer Can Man. Forecast: Here’s an extremely difficult edition of the Jim McKay Turf Sprint, a wide open grass grab bag in which nothing would surprise. Best advice is to include as many as your budget allows in rolling exotic play. Boat’s a Rockin turned in a career best performance when second at 44-1 in the Turf Sprint Championship at Aqueduct in November and makes his first start since with a light work tab that may (or may not) have him totally cranked up. The veteran gelding has won 11 of 24 career starts, has speed figures that are sufficient, and the style that can be effective on the lead or from a stalking position. He’s 6-1 on the morning line, and that seems about right. Carotari (a perfect two-for-two over the Pimlico lawn) and Grooms All Bizness (a mid-pack runner from the rail who should benefit from a ground-saving trip) are two of several others that have a decent look at good prices and are worth including on the main ticket. ______________________________________________________________________________ RACE 12: Post: 5:52 ET Grade: B Main ticket: 5-Running Bee; 10-Emmanuel; 9-Beatbox. Backups/savers: 3-Balnikhov (Ire). Forecast: Running Bee is fresh from a confidence building overnight win at Keeneland and moves back into stakes competition in peak form for trainer Chad Brown. The son of English Channel projects to enjoy an ideal second flight, stalking journey and then have every chance to seal the deal in the final furlong. It’s a tough, competitive affair but he’s 9/2 on the morning line and that’s a price worth taking if you can get it. Emmanuel has plenty of back class and was a close third (beaten a half-length) in last year’s edition of this race, the Dinner Party S.-G3, and a repeat of that performance might make him the winner. Beatbox can really turn it on late, so with some help up front he’ll be quite dangerous in the final furlong. You can toss out his last race at Fair Grounds; he was very wide throughout without cover and never really had much chance. ______________________________________________________________________________ RACE 13: Post: 7:01 ET Grade: A- Main ticket: 5-Mystik Dan Backups/savers: 9-Imagination; 8-Tuscan Gold. Forecast: Though he’s never won back-to-back races, and the 14-day turnaround from his Kentucky Derby score is less than ideal, Mystik Dan is the pick, especially if the track turns up wet. Yes, he benefitted from a ground-saving trip at Churchill Downs but he was the only one among the first seven up front not to wave the white flag when then pressure was turned on at the quarter pole, so we’ll give him full credit for the victory and expect that he’ll come back and do it again. Drawn beautifully in the four post with three non-speed types inside, the son of Goldencents projects to effortlessly draft into an ideal second flight, ground-saving journey, just as he did in Louisville. We’re expecting that the end result will be pretty much the same. ______________________________________________________________________________ RACE 14: Post: 7:43 ET Grade: B Main ticket: 2-Sheriff Ronnie Backups/savers: 5-Frightland; 1-Armando R Forecast: Sheriff Ronnie has won four of his last five starts from either a pace setting or stalking position, so no matter what the pace flow turns out to be the J. Ness-trained gelding should be able to adapt. He’s also two-for-three over a wet track, should that come into play. He’s listed at 4-1 on the morning line but we doubt we’ll get it.

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5.18.2024:

Jeff Siegel: What You Need to Know - Santa Anita | Saturday, May 18, 2024

By Jeff Siegel

Specifically designed for the rolling exotic player, Jeff Siegel’s “What You Need to Know” isolates those horses that should be included in daily doubles, pick-3s, pick-4s, pick-5s, and the pick-6. The selections are posted at 6:00 a.m. and updated later in the morning to reflect late scratches and changes (approximately 10:30 a.m.). For additional commentary, follow us on twitter @jsiegelracing. Grade Descriptions: Grade A=Highest degree of confidence; Grade B=Solid Play. Grade C=Least preferred or pass; Grade X=probable winner but likely at odds too short to play. View Jeff Siegel’s Prime Plays Video ______________________________________________________________________________ RACE 1: Post: 1:00 PT Grade: X Main Ticket: 1-Miss Rockette Backups/savers: 5-Ms Bo J. Forecast: Miss Rockette was extremely well-meant in her debut at Oaklawn Park last month but couldn’t quite stay the trip when after opening up a three length lead in mid-stretch, gave way late to finish second in a hot race while winding up seven clear of the rest. It was a winning race in defeat, so a similar effort today should be more than good enough to earn the B. Baffert-trained filly a diploma. The daughter of Into Mischief shortens up a half furlong, lands the good rail, and seems likely to employ gate-to-wire tactics at a very short price. ______________________________________________________________________________ RACE 2: Post: 1:30 PT Grade: B- Main Ticket: 6-Aventapp; 8-Teen Drama. Backups/savers: 4-Inner Beauty. Forecast: Aventapp exits a pair of tougher races and is realistically spotted in this $25,000 claiming turf dash for fillies and mares. The M. Glatt-trained mare employs an effective stalking strategy, and after a couple of months of freshening should be primed for a major effort. Teen Drama is a two time winner over the local lawn and like our top pick should enjoy this easier task after failing to make an impression in a pair of recent starter allowance events. She can dictate her trip from her comfortable outside draw. ______________________________________________________________________________ RACE 3: Post: 2:00 PT Grade: C+ Main Ticket: 4-Instinct D’ Oro; 7-Square D’ Oro Backups/savers: 3-Aloha Chrome. Forecast: Instinct D’ Oro, one of two speed-and-fade types from the H. Palma barn, had an outing in a maiden $50,000 dash in his debut last month, received no action (45-1), and after flashing some early speed faded readily. However, the race turned out to be extremely fast for the level and this is a considerably easier spot, so he’ll almost certainly stick around longer with the possibility that he may get brave if he can shake loose early. Square D’ Oro, the other Palma, also is dropping to the bottom after a pair of outings in which he displayed some speed before packing it in. It will be interesting to see if he bothers his stablemate during the early going, or whether he’ll respond better to patient handling and a stalking strategy. ______________________________________________________________________________ RACE 4: Post: 2:30 PT Grade: B- Main Ticket: 6-Magic Account; 4-Western Power; 5-Getemdusty. Backups/savers: none. Forecast: Magic Account has been knocking on the door and looks ready to graduate in this split of the third race. Nosed out in his comeback two runs back and then finishing a solid second while four lengths clear of the rest last time out, the H. Palma-trained gelding has produced a forward move in each of his three starts and with another bit of improvement today could be set to earn his diploma. Western Powerhas enough speed to keep our top pick within range, and at this lower level the son of Liam’s Map should remain a factor much of the way. The race he exits is considerably stronger than the one he’s in today, so improvement is highly likely. Getemdusty may be the most dangerous of the closers and if the speed types do each other in the S. Miyadi-trained son of Boisterous could find himself in the right place at the right time. ______________________________________________________________________________ RACE 5: Post: 3:05 PT Grade: C+ Main Ticket: 8-Dr. Soulfire; 9-Pinehurst. Backups/savers: 1-Vorpal; 7- Sky Cloud. Forecast: Dr. Soulfire drops to his lowest level ever in this restricted (nw-2) $25,000 claiming turf sprint and may have found his friends. He has a previous win over this course and distance and numbers that fit, and while he lacks tactical speed this extended sprint distance should complement his style. Additionally, he’s reunited with “win” rider U. Rispoli. Pinehurst graduated over the local lawn last time out with a comfortable pace stalking trip from a favorable outside draw. He lands the outside again, and with a similar journey today the P. D’Amato-trained gelding should have every chance for a repeat score. ______________________________________________________________________________ RACE 6: Post: 3:38 PT Grade: B- Main Ticket: 7-Bolt d’Vine ; 1-Well Funded. Backups/savers: 2-Apple Fest; 6-Tahini. Forecast: Bolt d’Vine hadn’t shown all that much prior to her most recent gate drill (5f, :59.4hg), which caught the eye and actually was quite good. She debuts in a moderate maiden special weight dirt sprint and really won’t have to be a world beater to be highly competitive. We’ll consider a small gamble at or near her morning line of 4-1. Well Funded shortens up and ran reasonably well when second over this track and distance in her debut in January. It wasn’t much of a race, but this one isn’t, either. ______________________________________________________________________________ RACE 7: Post: 4:39 PT Grade: B+ Main Ticket: 2-The Wild Grazer; 4-Getthemoney. Backups/savers: none. Forecast: The Wild Grazer returned off a long layoff to score handsomely with a career top number in a lesser allowance affair over this tricky Hillside course in late March and a repeat of that effort today should be good enough to win this year’s edition of the Mizdirection S. for older fillies and mares. The lightly raced Irish-bred filly likes to settle early and blast home, and despite the fact that the pace projects to be creepy crawly the J. Mullins-trained import has the turn of foot to outkick the leaders close home. Getthemoney, a strong third in the Monrovia S.-G3 under these conditions, has rising numbers, excellent tactical speed, and plenty of room for further improvement. She’s back with “win” rider J. Hernandez and projects to enjoy an ideal trip, either as a presser or a pacesetter. She’s the one to fear most. ______________________________________________________________________________ RACE 8: Post: 5:09 PT Grade: B+ Main ticket: 7-Winterfell Backups/savers: 2-Fame; 5-Wise Counsel; 8-Pony Express. Forecast: Winterfell shows the classic two-sprints-and-a-stretch-out pattern and a superior workout (5f, :59h) since raced plus, as a son of Arrogate, he should really enjoy this stretch out in distance. The B. Baffert barn has superior stats with the sprint-to-route angle (28%) and with top rider J. Hernandez staying aboard, anything close to his morning line of 4-1 will offer a solid wager. We’ll use him in the win pool and as a strong push in the various rolling exotics. ______________________________________________________________________________ RACE 9: Post: 5:39 PT Grade: B+ Main ticket: 8-Vegas Burner; 7-Mischelof (Chi). Backups/savers: 2-Precision Strike. Forecast: Vegas Burner has been earning very fast speed figure lately and may prove to be a timely claim by S. Knapp after demolishing maiden $50,000 claiming sprinters in his most recent outing last month. He’s unproven around two turns, so this stretch out to a middle distanance presents something of a challenge, but if the son of American Pharoah grabs control early as expected and doesn’t pull or get rank he’s very likely to take this field gate to wire. Mischelof (Chi) has solid recent form but is just 1-for-19 in his career and probably isn’t one to trust. He’s a one-paced grinder but based on his runner-up effort at this level last month he should be capable of clunking up for a piece, and if our top pick makes any mistakes he’ll be in a good position to pick him up. ______________________________________________________________________________ RACE 10: Post: 6:09 PT Grade: B+ Main ticket: 4-Pippa Philipa Backups/savers: 8-Runamileinmyshoes; 2-Miz Clubcali. Forecast: Let’s go with a good price chance in the nightcap, a mile grass affair for older maiden fillies and mares. Pippa Philipa stretches out after the prerequisite two sprint tighteners and has a pedigree (with Curlin on the bottom) to suggest this two turn trip will be well within her scope. She finished fifth, beaten eight lengths, in her most recent start but the winner won by seven, so she was actually lapped on the others at the wire. Also, she broke poorly, fell far back, was given too much to do but still closed resolutely to finish much closer than she had a right to. We liked her gallop out, too. The M. McCarthy-trained sophomore will get the patient ride she needs with the switch to M. Smith, so at or near her morning line of 12-1, she’ll offer a nice gamble.

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5.18.2024:

Al Cimaglia: Hoosier Park Late Pick 4 Analysis | Saturday, May 18, 2024

By Al Cimaglia

Hoosier Park has a 12-race card to wrap-up harness action for the week. The 0.50 Late Pick 4 starts in Race 9, and it will be my focus. Comments and selections below are based on a fast track. Race 9 (9:48 PM EST) 2-Shooting In Place (7/2)-Not sure if this 3-year-old is the best in here but not going to use a 2/5 shot (1) Sabonis to start off this sequence. These are 3-year-old colts that have raced only 7 or 8 times. Trace Tetrick gets the drive tonight on the Quevedo pupil, and the colt is a perfect 5 for 5 this year. Should offer more value than the program chalk and both have done similar work thus far. Race 10 (10:06 PM EST) 5-Quixote (3-1)-Finished 2nd at this level in a decent try considering had missed a start and it was a quick mile. Has had trouble finishing off races but the Haynes barn has been clicking over the past 30 days and will respect. Will look for a smooth steer and for Brandon Bates to get every drop out of this 4-year-old. 7-JK Victory (5/2)-Came off a nice win, moved up to this class and put in a no try mile from post 8. Gets a positive driver change in Tetrick and will overlook the last start. Could be sitting on a much better try and hopefully the price will be better than the morning line. Race 11 (10:24 PM EST) 1-Babe's Darla (9/2)-Beat similar in the beginning of April, came off cover to roll by and got a sharp steer. Should be a player at a square price if can get away in good shape when the wings fold. 3-Splash Of Pink (6-1)-Fits with this group and finally gets an inside post draw. Atlee Bender should work an efficient trip and be in position at the head of the lane to finish best of all. Will fade the 7/5 chalk # 7 and look for some value in this leg. Race 12 (10:42 PM EST) 5-Dixie Dream (9/2)-Stayed inside and almost caught the leader. Should follow the same plan here and might be closer to the front turning for the wire. 6-Skwyway Brittney (4-1)-Left hard to get on the engine in last and the trip took its toll. Faded down the lane last time but tonight faces a bit easier and should be a player. 10-LA Rockin Shania (20-1)-Will swing for a price with this team Tetrick entry. The inside pair could have enough gate speed to help this one get a decent early seat. Will look for an efficient trip and to be rolling down the lane. $1,00 Late Pick 4 2/5,7/1,3/5,6,10 Total Bet=$12 Check me out on Twitter!

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5.17.2024:

Links to All of Our Preakness Weekend Coverage

By Xpressbet

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5.17.2024:

1/ST POST: Why Play Today? Friday, May 17, 2024

By Xpressbet

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5.17.2024:

Jeff Siegel: Pimlico Black-Eyed Susan Friday Full-Card Picks | What You Need to Know

By Jeff Siegel

Specifically designed for the rolling exotic player, Jeff Siegel’s “What You Need to Know” isolates those horses that should be included in daily doubles, pick-3s, pick-4s, pick-5s, and the pick-6. The selections are posted at 6:00 a.m. and updated later in the morning to reflect late scratches and changes (approximately 10:30 a.m.). For additional commentary, follow us on twitter @jsiegelracing. Grade Descriptions: Grade A=Highest degree of confidence; Grade B=Solid Play. Grade C=Least preferred or pass; Grade X=probable winner but likely at odds too short to play. ______________________________________________________________________________ RACE 1: Post: 11:30 ET Grade: B+ Main Ticket: 3-Castle Island Backups/savers: 1-Under the Radar; 7-Irish Warlock. Forecast: Castle Island missed as the 9/5 favorite when second in a similar two-turn allowance event last month but was nearly four lengths clear of the rest while earning a career top speed figure. He’s got further improvement in him for high percentage connections and projects to be on or near the lead throughout. He’s a solid top pick at 2-1 on the morning line. ______________________________________________________________________________ RACE 2: Post: 12:01 ET Grade: C+ Main Ticket: 7-Tidewater. Backups/savers: 12-Fun Notion; 10-One Whirlwind Ride. Forecast: Tidewater was below his top form when a non-threatening fourth as the favorite in a similar grass dash at Laurel last month but it’s possible he needed the race in his first outing since early December. He’s a perfect one-for-one over the local lawn and should produce a forward move and be heard from late. In a race in which the usual suspects take turns, rolling exotic players can take a stand and use him as a single, spread deeply, or simply sit it out. ______________________________________________________________________________ RACE 3: Post: 12:32 ET Grade: C+ Main Ticket: 9-Car Ride; 5-Nielson; 8-Kake’s Arrow Backups/savers: 2-Irish Hero. Forecast: Car Ride lacks tactical speed but in two stats has shown he can produce a decent late kick, and in a race begging to be won from behind the son of Candy Ride looks well-spotted to graduate. Nielson was a washout in California for B. Baffert but will find this bunch considerably easier. If he can run at all, the son of Curlin should be able to show it against this modest bunch. Kake’s Arrow is a fit on figures with room to improve. He’ll be forwardly placed and may be first over if and when the faint-hearted Irish Hero goes into his fading act. ______________________________________________________________________________ RACE 4: Post: 1:02 ET Grade: B+ Main Ticket: 1-Swill; 3-Childers. Backups/savers: 5-Dr. Oseran. Forecast: Swill is a first-off-the-claim play for J. Ness (33%) and almost certainly will produce a forward move for his new connections. He’s fast on figures, is guaranteed a ground-saving trip from the rail and is making his first start on grass (should like it). The son of Munnings seems pretty solid. Childers has plenty of early speed when he’s permitted to use it but actually might be most comfortable when held up a bit in the early stages. He was a solid runner-up in a similar grass dash at Laurel Park last month in an effort that produced a career top speed figure. ______________________________________________________________________________ RACE 5: Post: 1:33 ET Grade: B+ Main Ticket: 5-Point Dume; 10-Golden Candy. Backups/savers: none., Forecast: Point Dume is a first-time gelding for a high percentage outfit, turns back to a sprint and makes a significant drop in class. The son of Into Mischief earned a career top speed figure in his most recent sprint three runs back in a performance that is good enough to beat this field. Golden Candy, a pro’s pro, returns to his win (and claim) level and always has been thoroughly genuine and consistent (11 wins, 12 seconds, in 39 career starts). He's a perfect one-for-one over the Pimlico main track and is drawn comfortably outside, where his second flight, stalking style can be most effective. ______________________________________________________________________________ RACE 6: Post: 2:04 ET Grade: B+ Main Ticket: 10-Cinder Block; 14-Mr. Flowers. Backups/savers: 1-Forceful; 2-Cobblestone Bridge. Forecast: Cinder Block was given a run in his debut when finishing a non-threatening third at Keeneland and today should get serious with that bit of experience behind him. The G. Motion barn has solid stats with the second time starter angle, and with a healthy work tab since raced the son of Blame can be expected to step forward big time. The one to fear most is another second timer, Mr Flowers, who changed hands for $75,000 about a year ago in New York and finally makes it back to the races while being protected in maiden special weight company for trainer H. De Paz. The gelded son of Nyquist was a solid runner-up in his debut while earning a number that makes him a major player, his extreme outside draw notwithstanding, ______________________________________________________________________________ RACE 7: Post: 2:34 ET Grade: B+ Main Ticket: 6-Paper Mansion Backups/savers: 4-Surya. Forecast: Paper Mansion seeks her seventh consecutive win with solid numbers for the level for her high percentage barn and seems set for another major effort. Effective at any distance or surface but primarily a need-the-lead type, the veteran mare shortens to a mile but catches a field without much early zip, so we’re expecting the J. Ness-trained 5-year-old to continue her winning ways at odds somewhat shorter than her generous morning line of 5/2. ______________________________________________________________________________ RACE 8: Post: 3:05 PT Grade: B+ Main ticket: 8-Shotgun Hottie Backups/savers: 1-Julia Shining; 4-Musical Mischief. Forecast: Shotgun Hottie exits a series of much tougher graded stakes events and should find this class drop into listed company well to her liking. She projects to enjoy a cozy, stalking trip from her outside draw and then have every chance to regain her winning form with anything close to her best effort. She’ll be the main push in the various rolling exotics and in the win pool, as well. ______________________________________________________________________________ RACE 9: Post: 3:36 ET Grade: B+ Main ticket: She Feels Pretty Backups/savers: 4-Waves of Mischief; 2-Royal Wintour. Forecast: She Feels Pretty makes her sophomore debut in this listed middle distance turf event for fillies and with a Grade-1 win (Natalma S.) and a narrow third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf-G1 last fall the daughter of Karakontie should simply outclass this field. The barn has powerful stats with comebackers and the work tab looks sufficient to have her fit and ready, so her 7/5 morning line looks well-deserved. ______________________________________________________________________________ RACE 10: Post: 4:07 ET Grade: B Main ticket: 4-Launch; 1-Mystic Lake Backups/savers: 3-Youalmosthadme. Forecast: Launch arrives from South Florida with an excellent winter resume (three wins and a second in four starts including a score in the recent Any Limit S.) and she really won’t need much more to continue her sharp form in this year’s renewal of the Miss Preakness S.-G3. The daughter of Omaha Beach is tough on the lead or from a stalking position, so L. Saez can play the break and choose his strategy. She wasn’t all that much in Ireland last year but clearly has vastly improved. Mystic Lake must leave cleanly from the rail to have her best chance but if she does the daughter of Mo Town will have a reasonable look, especially if she can shake loose early. ______________________________________________________________________________ RACE 11: Post: 4:38 ET Grade: B- Main ticket: 1-Queen of the Mud (Ire); 8-All That Magic; 4-Kaufymaker. Backups/savers: none. Forecast: Queen of the Mud (Ire) is lightly raced and untested against a seasoned group like this, but she’s pretty fast on figures and has shown the ability to win on the lead or with a second flight, stalking trip. Away since last October, the daughter Irish-bred filly is being ambitiously placed in this year’s renewal of The Very One S. in what we’ll take as a sign of confidence from a trainer who doesn’t make a habit of overmatching his stock. She must be doing extremely well. All That Magic is a genuine and consistent turf sprinter and can be effective on the front end or from a pressing position. She’s won six of 11 career starts and is fast enough on figures to be a major player in this highly contentious affair in her first start since November. The work tab is brief but sharp, so we’ll assume she’s cranked and ready. Kaufymaker is yet another comebacker with strong credentials to win off the bench. The W. Ward-trained mare has run well fresh in the past, is fast enough on figs to win, and sports a work tab that should have her tight enough. ______________________________________________________________________________ RACE 12: Post: 5:10 ET Grade: A- Main ticket: 2-Kingsbarns Backups/savers: 5-Red Route One. Forecast: Kingsbarns is perfect in two starts with rising speed figures in 2024 and five-for-seven overall. A convincing winner of the Ben Ali-S.-G3 at Keeneland last month, the son of Uncle Mo appears set to produce another career top performance in this year’s edition of the Pimlico Special over the same mile and three-sixteenths distance that he just won at. The T. Pletcher-trained colt catches a field without much speed, so he projects to be comfortably placed on or near the front end throughout. ______________________________________________________________________________ RACE 13: Post: 5:44 ET Grade: B+ Main ticket: 7-Corposo; 5-Gun Song. Backups/savers: none. Forecast: California shipper Corposo finished a distant third in a strong edition of the Santa Anita Oaks-G1 last month and invades Maryland for trainer P. Eurton with an excellent chance to regain her winning form in the Black-Eyed Susan S.-G2 that quite frankly didn’t come up particularly strong. The daughter of. Vino Rosso is bred on both sides to handle this nine furlong trip and in a race that projects to have moderate early splits she should be within striking range throughout, ready to pounce. Gun Song earned a big figure when winning an allowance race impressively two races back but then pressed the pace before fading in the subsequent Gulfstream Park Oaks-G2 in what we’d call a backward move. The daughter of Gun Runner will have every chance to bounce back, and if she does the M. Hennig-trained sophomore will be a strong factor throughout,. ______________________________________________________________________________ RACE 14: Post: 6:23 ET Grade: B+ Main ticket: 4-Wonderful Justice (GB); 10-The Addison Pour. Backups/savers: none. Forecast: Wonderful Justice (GB) is fast on figures, retains F. Prat, and has enough tactical speed to settle in the second flight and then have dead aim when asked for his best at the head of the lane in this second level allowance turf miler for older horses. He’s a four-year-old son of Justify with just seven career starts, so there’s plenty of room for improvement and development for trainer B. Cox. The Addison Pour was somewhat unlucky to have drawn the extreme outside post, but as one who is best described as a devout deep closer the son of Tonalist likely will simply drop back early, lag, and then try to pick up the pieces from the quarter pole home. It won’t be an easy task, but the veteran gelding knows where the wire is and with some help up from could produce a dangerous late kick.

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