It’s Preakness week at beautiful Belmont Park! Last week we saw 3 winners which was decent and multiple ITM runs. This week let’s try to get hot again!
Race 1: 2-1-6
#2 PRINCESS PINKY has run 2nd in 4 of 7 lifetime starts. all of which have been at or around this level. This fillies best ever start was in January at Aqueduct at this distance when Manny Franco was up. Manny jumps back up today for Michelle Nevin, these two do very solid numbers together and I expect we can get this one home at 5/1 ML.
Race 2: 2-9-6
Let’s go with some value early in the day here in the form of #2 LA VIDA a 10/1 ML shot. Not only does Manny Franco jumps up here, this filly comes from off the pace which I love because Manny is a fantastic finisher. The number from her one start at Gulfstream back in March came back looking better than a lot of the fields other already started horses as well and there are no world beaters here so we should let it fly early.
Race 3: 6-1/1A-2
#6 PURCHASING POWER I said it last week but this is a race where we just have to go with the chalk. This gelding is coming off another small layoff, he’s run ITM in 5 of 6 lifetimes races and has had some very consistent workouts. Chad Brown and Javier teaming up is an unreal combination and this guy just looks the best overall.
Race 4: 7-2-3
#7 HIGH JINGO is coming off an 11 month layoff but this team does very will with runners coming off a layoff of over 200 days. 6 wins and 3 seconds in 11 starts, and this runner has run over this specific turf once before and only lost by a half length. Irad jumps up today and him and Jason Servis together have been doing very well. Not much pace in this race so if he gets loose on the lead then watch out.
Race 5: 4-5-2
#4 DARK N CLOUDY ran awful in that last race, so let’s throw that out and move on. The step down in class here to a career low suggests to me that this is a complete tune up after what was a very upsetting performance last out. This colts speed figures are the best overall in this group, and Irad jumps back on after some time off him.
Race 6: 3-9-1
#3 SOCIAL CURRENCY (KOR) is shipping in from down south today after just missing in two races at Gulfstream. This guys been ITM in 3 of 4 career races and the extra 1/16th of a mile today could help him as he is a closer and we love that. Irad is up again today and in his best start Irad was up and almost got him home in south Florida. This guy also has better speed figures than most of the field.
Race 7: 6-2-10
#6 SARRASIN (GB) is the one we are going to take a shot with here at 12/1 ML. There really aren’t that many in this field that have gone the distance of this race before, this guy has. He’s gone further than the distance multiple times and comes from off the pace with Joel Rosario up. This guy has only improved since coming off the layoff and I think is ready to go here at a price.
Race 8: 2-3-4
#2 RO BEAR is cutting back in distance here and has been running consistently well. We get the regular rider up who knows this gelding very well and they ran together at this level last time and ran a very strong 3rd. 4 of the last 5 races he’s has bumps throughout the races so a clean trip here could make it so he sees the winner circle for the first time this year.
Race 9: 9-6-4
Last week we had a $121 winner to round out the day so let’s swing! #9 CARALICIOUS got taken off the turf last race and clearly wasn’t interested in the sloppy track. This filly finished 3rd here last fall and just needs to get better positioning rounding the turn and she will be live turning for home. Her speed figured are just as good as the rest of the fields top runners and she’s bred for the turf.