Maryland racing analyst Gabby Gaudet has thoughts on a Pick 3 and a longshot on this afternoon’s card at Pimlico!
PICK THREE
Pimlico has a 50-cent All-Stakes Pick 3 beginning with race 8, which is the Primonetta Stakes. Post time for the eighth is 4:26 p.m.
MJC analyst Gabby Gaudet will share her longshot and exotic plays with The Racing Biz each Saturday. Photo courtesy of the Maryland Jockey Club.
Gabby’s Selections
- Race 8 — 2, 3, 4, 8
- Race 9 – 1, 4, 5, 6
- Race 10 — 2, 4, 7
- Wager cost: $24 ($0.50 unit)
Gabby says….
“These three stakes are all interesting races with plenty of ways to go and some live longshots. The first is the Primonetta, a six-furlong race for older fillies and mares, and I have four of these. #2 I’m Mom’s Favorite is the horse for the course, with two wins from two starts here, including last year’s Miss Preakness. Her recent form isn’t as good, but I think that being back here might help to wake her up. The speedy #3 Winning Image likes to win — 12 from 26 starts — and I think she might be able to outsprint everyone from the gate. If she gets loose on the lead, she’ll be tough to run down. #4 Do Somethin is the ‘now’ horse, having won three straight at Laurel. She’s won 10 of 19, she can rate off the pace and then make a move, and she’s my top selection here. I’m a little concerned about the last race for #8 She’s Ordained; she was the 3-10 favorite and should have galloped, but she didn’t even win, and I don’t feel like she had any great excuses. I’m not tossing her, though, because her best efforts are certainly competitive here.
“The ninth is a one-mile turf stake, the Henry S. Clark, that’s been used as a prep for the Grade 2 Dixie on Preakness day. I really like #1 Roadhog. He’s just a really strong, really consistent horse who never seems to run a bad race. Trainer Elizabeth Merryman does a good job getting horses ready off the layoff. Breaking from the rail might be a minor problem, but I think this horse has the tactical speed to work out a trip. I thought #4 Under Control’s last race, when he closed from far back to be third at Gulfstream in an allowance/optional claimer, was really good against a biased course, and he’s been keeping good company. I think #6 Nutello is either going to run lights out — or he’s a toss. I thought his effort in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer, his first in North America, was excellent, but his last two were awful. He’ll appreciate the class relief, and I think you can’t leave him out of your multi-race tickets — but I also couldn’t back him to win at 5-2.
“In the 10th, the Federico Tesio — the last local prep for the Grade 1 Preakness — I think you have to respect #2 Oliver Zip. He’s returning quickly, having run just two weeks ago, and that, coupled with his first try around two turns, gives me pause. But I thought he ran great to be second in the Grade 3 Bayshore, and he showed, for the first time, the ability to rate off the pace. I think #4 Joint Custody is a horse who keeps surprising, keeps running better than you expect him to. In his last, the Private Terms, he rated off the pace nicely and moved to a clear lead. But then it looked to me like he got a little bit distracted, like maybe he jumped a shadow or something. He was a solid second, though, and trainer Jerry Robb liked what he saw enough to bring him here. I thought the Private Terms was absolutely a fantastic race for #7 Kid Cruz, and a repeat of that effort would probably win this. When he closed, he absolutely kicked into a new gear and just seemed to be floating over the track. He’s had minor physical issues since, but I don’t think they’re here unless the horse is right, so those don’t worry me.
LONGSHOT PLAY
“In the ninth, the Henry S. Clark, my longshot play is #5 Super Chunky. I love him in this spot. I don’t fault his last at Tampa, which, at 1 1/8 miles, was probably too long for him. I think the one-mile distance of today’s race will be perfect for him, he’s got plenty of speed to get into a good position, and at 15-1, I think he’s worth a shot here.
“Good luck!”
(Featured image, of Ben’s Cat, by Laurie Asseo.)
