Welcome to the short meet at Pimlico and my first write-up for the Daily Gallop. Let’s get some winners!
Race 1
2 (Halfinthewrapper) – Lovely wide open race to start the pick five. A lot of speed in this first race, but I think the Halfinthewrapper will be the speed of the speed. After the collapse in her last allowance race, she’s back at the level she belongs. If she gets the lead, she’s gonna run away with it.
6 (Fille d’Esprit) – 4 year old exits a key race and is fresh off a claim from a high percentage trainer. She’s 2 for 3 in her career facing horses who have never won more than three races.
5 (Lovely Lady Lexi) – If you think the pace will wear down the frontrunners, then Lovely Lady Lexi is for you. Last race she won from 11 lengths off the pace and this is her first race off a claim from a high percentage barn.
Race 2
3 (Zola B) – Improving horse who had some trouble in her last race. Despite the trouble, closed strong in her July 30th race. Gets the 23% jockey/trainer duo of Russell/O’Dwyer.
1 (Amplio Esquema) – Just missed in her last race as she closed with a strong rally to miss it by a nose. I like the move up in class with the bug boy on top.
7 (Beckon) – Meet the most-likely favorite who has finished second in six of her last eight races. Look for her to try to go wire-to-wire here. Retains top jockey Centeno here, but do you really want to back a horse at even-money that’s always the bridesmaid, never the bride?
Race 3
4 (Proper Attire) – This is a 2 year old race, so for those playing horizontals, go as deep as your pockets allow. I was impressed with Proper Attire’s last race. Showed good speed in the last race and won by five lengths. The place horse was second by four lengths. Impressive win and I’ll keep my eye on her to see if she improves this race.
7 (Tiz Ferguson) – Toss the last turf race and now you have a horse with improving numbers on the dirt. Cuts back in distance and gets the high percentage Glaser/Lynch J/T duo. Should sit right behind Proper Attire and get the first crack at her around the turn.
3 (Sky Proposal) – Tried the turf and did well despite being bumped at the 5/16 pole. Showed grit by continuing to close. Returns to the dirt, shortens up and gets the McCarthy/Breen high percentage J/T duo.
Race 4
7 (Dreaming of Carats) – The favorite adds blinkers and returns the turf, so expect speed from the gate. Owns some of the top Beyers in this field.
11 (Zip Line to Heaven) – Main threat to Dreaming of Carats if she gets in. Ran a good race on August 3. The slow starts and off the pace style may not be suited to winning a 5F race, but she did show some speed on the dirt last time out that may transfer over to this race.
1 (Hair of the Dog) – Longshot that shows good turf Beyers once you remove the effort on dirt. Tends to fade late, so cutting back in distance should help.
3 (Hushed Hijinks) – Toss the last race on dirt and this horse looks pretty impressive. With McCarthy on board, will attempt her first sprint on the turf.
Race 5
1 (Ortinola) – Another competitive race where any horse can win. I’ll put Ortinola on top. Has been in the money in all three attempts at this distance on the dirt and has raced and won at Pimlico in her only start here.
8 (Simmard Shenanigan) – In these types of races, I look for a longer shot with a chance, and Simmard Shenanigan fits the bill. At 8-1 ML, she gets Centeno aboard which signals a serious intent with this horse. Out of four races at this distance on the dirt, she’s placed three times and showed once. Has encountered trouble last two starts, but latest start nearly matches her highest lifetime Beyer. If she’s ever gonna win, this may be the spot.
7 (Woke up) – Woke Up woke up when dropped in class last out and won in convincing fashion as the 2/5 favorite. Stretching out to two turns when the majority of her recent races have been sprints.
Race 6
2 (Helms Deep) – Another competitive two year old race. Look for improvement from this second time starter sired by Verrazano. Should like the move to the turf and if he avoids the trouble he faced in the last trip, could be the winner.
1 (Gallant George) – Gallant George is sired by Orb and should like the turf. He responded nicely when switched to the turf and I will look for her to build on that experience in this 5F sprint.
5 (San Antone) – Has a habit of fading off the end. Gelded and move to the turf are latest attempts to find a winning solution for this horse.
Race 7
1 (Market Analysis) – This horse is a candidate to be singled in a lot of pick four and five plays. First time gelded horse owns Beyer numbers that are higher than any other recent effort in this field. Won his first race, so he can run well off the layoff. Gets the Russell/O’Dwyer J/T high percentage combo.
4 (Karan’s Notion) – Has tried to run on the turf in last 3 or 4 races, but wet conditions forced a run on the dirt, in which he did well. A competitive horse in most of his races, this horse will be sent early and try to hang on late.
7 (Seven on the Rocks) – DQ’d from first place finish in last start, Seven on the Rocks enters this race in top form. He has a versatile running style that will allow Perez to go early or sit off the pace. Ran competitively in similar conditions on July 23rd and looks to be in his top form.
Race 8
10 (King Alan) – I’ll go with experience in this race with a lot of 2 year old first time starters. Sired by Gemologist, this horse stumbled in his first start but recovered to show. He was well backed in his debut and expect the same again today.
9 (Lamarkable) Good workout tab for this Trombetta trained first time starter. Trainer wins 17% of his first time starters
6 (Lugamo) – 12-1 morning line should get some action. Sanchez-Solomon trains this horse and has trained 4 winners in 5 starts for first-time starters. Consistent workout tab as well.
Race 9
12 (Clear Vision) – Returned from layoff to win in come from behind fashion, he looks fit for this race. In the past, has run well in his second time off the layoff and if he improves from the last performance, he’ll be tough to beat.
2 (Nick Papagiorgio) – Versatile horse that runs well on both turf and dirt, he has won 6 of last 8 starts. Horse doesn’t win by much win he wins, but he is a grinder and expect him to try and grind out a wire-to-wire win on the turf.
9 (Gunnison) – This is his third race off a layoff and a return to the optional claiming level. There is some concern that Gunnison is available to be claimed in this optional claiming race.
Race 10
3 (Positive Force) – I can’t see much difference between this horse and Patriotic Punch, but I choose the 3 because McCarthy left the 7 to be on this horse. Available for a claim, this horse has placed in each of its last three races. I see this horse trying to get to the front and win wire-to-wire.
7 (Patriotic Punch) – Took 12 tries, but finally broke her maiden last time out in convincing fashion. Utilized a closing style last time after encountering trouble in the break, but these horses will be better than ones she’s faced in the past, making a come from behind vidctory that more difficult.
4 (Lookin for Candy) – If Positive Force throws a dud, I’m looking at Lookin for Candy to try and steal it. Nice bullet workout on Sept 21st too indicates she’s fit.