The GQ Approach – Laurel June 10

Cloud Computing edged Classic Empire to win the 2017 Preakness. Photo by Laurie Asseo.
The GQ Approach features full-card selections from Pimlico for the live spring racing meet, Post Time 1:10pm EDT including a daily Best Bet, Longshot Play, and multi-race wagers — including the 20 cent Rainbow Pick-6, 50 cent Early and Late Pick-5s, as well as Pick-4s and rolling Doubles, Pick-3s and the Super High-5.
- Rainbow Pick 6: $636
- Super High 5: $2,602
- Late Pick 5: none[/su_box]
- Race 1 – $2 Double 2, 3, 5 w/ 3, 4 ($12)
- Race 3 – 50 cent Pick-3 1, 8, 9 w/3, 4, 6 w/ 4, 5, 9 ($13.50)
- Race 6 – 50 cent Pick-5 1, 2, 7 w/ 8 w/ 1, 4 w/2, 7, 8 w/ 5, 13 ($18)
- Race 9 – $2 Double 2, 8 w/ 5, 13 ($8)
[su_heading size=”21″ align=”left”]Analysis[/su_heading]
- Weather: Partly Cloudy with showers; highs in the mid-70s
- Scheduled turf races: 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th
- Projected track conditions: Main – FAST to GOOD / Turf – FIRM
1st Race Post Time 1:10pm EDT
Race 1 is ON THE TURF
- #2 – Lemon Avocado (2-1): Traffic trouble in debut on Pim turf when sent off 5-2 second choice was distant SHOW finisher; runner-up came back to be the same on Friday in turf sprint
- #4 – Stratosphera (6-1): KY-bred FTS by Get Stormy out of a Brocco mare hails from barn of R. Graham who has sent out a couple making debut in maiden claimers who were “live” (Wee Monie Creek and Doit for Spite)
- #5 – Nightmare (3-1): Was her own worst enemy in latest as she misbehaved pre-race then ran into traffic, yet ran on late to complete Superfecta; has taken to running on turf w/ blinkers
Race 2
- #4 – One Proud Wildcat (9-5): A vet and MTO scratch in May points to unintended layoff; has failed in last three outings as Post Time favorite, all at this level; offered to less than $16k for 4 lb. makes him a lukewarm choice
- #3 – Ready Aim (4-1): … Fire! (ala Loverboy) but I digress, trainer J. Ness seemed hell-bent on making this gelding a turf runner, as he should based on breeding but he wasn’t “Lovin’ every minute of it”; last win came when switching from turf to dirt
- #6 – Old Dude (9-2): 3-year-old has enjoyed time racing against peers (11:3-0-3); first time v. elders; 2 for 4 since trainer C. Gonzalez claim, oddly the two loses came as betting choice
Race 3 is ON THE TURF
- #8 – Kierland (8-5): Amateur female rider race if you were wondering while looking at the jockey names… pressure on Ms. Croce as she rides ML favorite who was runner-up in off the turf event; owns career best turf BRIS# (82) but has had the most opportunities (10)
- #1 – Zeke the Streak (6-1): First turf try in 11th career start; willing to draw a line through latest nightmare trip as 9-5 favorite; Taylor Leatherman gets the riding assignment and my guess is she’s been on this one in the A.M. seeing works at Pim, same venue where her Mom trains
- #9 – Stay Awesome (10-1): Away since a steeplechase try last Oct. which came 13-months after miserable debut at KD; both were against top maiden company (MSW); a threat on the drop along with adding blinkers, losing testicles and a decent trio of works; Lilli-Marie Engels gets the honor to be the pilot
Race 4
- #3 – Ask the Customer (7-2): KY-bred FTS by Bodemeister out of an E Dubai mare cost a cool $260k as a yearling at Kee; though trainer T. Proctor only wins at 10% clip with firsters, he’s 16% with “babies”; nice work pattern at Tam and Del; A. Castrenze only mount on the card
- #6 – No Refunds (3-1): Two races, two runner-up finishes both going 4½ furlongs; distance grows to 5f which should help
- #4 – Pink Notion (9-2): Failed as even money betting choice in second start, but was runner-up after she fell in the Post Parade throwing her jock; the fact she was lightning quick from the gate and lost by just a length after that ordeal is quite amazing
Race 5 is ON THE TURF
- #5 – Colonel Andy (5-1): *** BEST BET *** Must have been ready for that first start of ’18 staying in when off the turf, as 12 of previous 13 were all on turf; the result was a neck loss; gets turf today while stepping up in class but will get a perfect pace scenario as at least five of eight foes are need the lead type
- #4 – Godlovesasinner (7-2): 2018 is has been a good one so far (3:1-2-0) for this gelding though has been favored in all 3; been nothing but early speed in those, but showed ability to come off the pace in ’17; if S. Russell cannot take him back and settle, then he’ll make it 6 vying for early lead
- #9 – Townie (9-2): Trainer scratch on Friday from a softer spot ($16kN2L); makes first start after $16k claim at GP for J. Cibelli; been weakening going 5f v. winners, will new barn change tactics?
Race 6
- #1 – Fleet Gold Digger (8-1): $$$ LONGSHOT $$$ The waters get deeper following restricted allowance win at Pim but this 7-year-old has won 2 of 4 starts at Lrl in the distant past; off the pace running style bodes well in here with plenty of early speed from #4 thru #7
- #2– In Arrears (6-1): Impressive off the pace win in the slop at Pim on Black-Eyed Susan Day in off the turf event going 5f; just 1 for 7 going 6f as that last 1/16th has been an issue
- #7 – Rock and Fellers (5-1): On the bench since end of March following 6+ furlong sprints against much tougher and stopped abruptly as the early pace cooked him; trainer J. Navarro only entry on the card
Race 7 is ON THE TURF
- #8 – Midnight Tea Time (9-5): Makes fourth career start at fourth different venue; been unlucky in last two as he’s been bullied and fortunate to be runner-up in latest while earning a lofty 90 BRIS#; deserving favorite in what looks like a very strong event
- #6 – Peace of Ekati (6-1): Trainer M. Dickinson nearly made a winner out of this colt when 11-1 in second start which followed a dreadful debut on synthetic at TP; will need to take another step forward to prevail here
- #9 – Admiration (12-1): IMHO a Sleeper in here; should improve off that fourth-place finish in second start with blinkers; has maturity edge as he’s the only 4-year-old against 3-year-olds
Race 8
- #1 – Viva Forever (3-1): Goes for the natural Hat Trick while making Lrl debut while not having the cleanest of trips when prevailing in last two; no issue stretching out to two turns as he handled it at Tam
- #4 – Chilly Start (8-1): Been mixing it up at Pen since trainer T. Kreiser claim 5 races back; does have history at Lrl (15:3-4-2) but has yet to win goes two turns (3:0-1-0)
- #3 – Frisky Whiskey (7-2): Couldn’t hold off top pick in here late over a good, sealed Prx surface; that as going 7f; gets favorite distance (4:1-2-1) in an effort to turn the tables on that one
Race 9
- #8 – Mr. Brix (4-1): Exit an off-the-board effort on turf at Bel; prior to that scored against Alw25ks at Prx after twice being runner-up at same level as the speed figures rose; jock J. Navarro makes the trip down I-95 for lone mount on the card
- #2 – Bo Vuk (8-1): Cuts back to sprint after a brief layoff; regardless of distance, he’ll come running at the end and could pass all the leg-weary early speed types as there are plenty of them
- #7 – Glindas Good Karma (9-2): Mth shipper for trainer B. Perkins makes Lrl debut in sixth career outing and first of ’18; was fourth versus similar at Prx in last effort of ’17 as all three ahead of him came back to win their next outing
Race 10 is ON THE TURF
- #12 – Captain Dixie (9-2): Time for this lightly raced 7-year-old to face a softer group than open $25k claimers at Aqu and steeplechase stakes foes; less than two years removed from three fourth-place efforts in graded turf stakes; still has pep in his step based on recent bullet work
- #5 – Liberty Lane (10-1): Third start after trainer J. O’Dwyer claim at Kee for $10k, finally gets to try turf again as his lone try at FG v. $30k crew resulted in 4-length loss to a next out winner; like that S. Russell takes the mount
- #4 – Cruise More (8-1): Second start after turf specialist too winter off; showed nothing against restricted allowance with bug rider aboard, gets J. Toledo in irons who has won on this 10-year-old in years past on Lrl turf versus better
YESTERDAY’S NEWS
- On Saturday June 9th at Laurel had 9 winners from the 12-race card (5 Top Selections; payoff in BOLD) having $2 WIN pay-offs of $7.40 (1st race), $4.40 (2nd), $6.80 (3rd), $5.80 (4th), $5.60 (6th), $9.40 (7th), $3.20 (8th), $5.20 (9th) and $3.20 (10th). Top Selections are 195 for 675 (28.89%). In 2017, Top Selections went 340 for 1,197 (28.40%).
- BEST BET of the Day (70:18-17-8; in 2017 119: 39-25-19) Proud Maid Marian (4th race: 9-2 M/L; 4-1 PT) unseated the rider leaving the starting gate. Enough said.
- LONGSHOT PLAY of the Day (68:9-15-9; in 2017 107: 18-13-15) Peperoncino (9th race: 8-1 M/L; 13-1 PT) three wide between horses the first turn, was four wide the far turn and gave way to finish ninth.