PIMLICO PICKS AND ANALYSIS: MAY 31

Rombauer
Rombauer won the 146th Preakness Stakes. Photo by Cynthia Longo.

Pimlico has an eight-race card on tap for this Memorial Day. Post time is 12:40 p.m., and the races are off the turf.

Carryovers: Jackpot Pick 6, $833,252

RACE 1

5-3-4-2

Top choice #5 Hoss Kitten (5-2) just missed against similar last time, gets journeyman Forest Boyce in the irons today… #3 My Queen Michelle (1-1) gets major class relief as she drops from open $12,500 company to this conditioned $5,000 group; she hasn’t shown much in recent tries, which makes even money a bit hard to stomach… #4 Postino’s Secret (7-2) doesn’t win much (just four times in 46 starts) but should be running at the end…

RACE 2 – Off the turf

2-6-7-4

Top choice #2 Closertotheheart (8-5) has some decent tries in the bank, which could be enough in this off-the-turf contest… #6 Magic Election (20-1) gets blinkers off today, gave an improved account of herself last time… She may have gotten cooked up close to a sharp pace last time, but #7 Potion (10-1) has some races that compete with these…

RACE 3

8-6-4-1

There could be a lively pace in this six-furlong sprint, which would be good news for #8 Keeping the Peace (6-1). He tried turf last time without success but gets back to preferred surface here with a pace scenario to his liking… If one of the early sorts stays around to the end, it’ll probably be #6 Company Clown (9-5), who won nicely against never-three company last out and makes his third start off a break… #4 Talented Dr. B (7-2) has been in good form and makes second start off a nearly-three-month break…

RACE 4 – Off the turf

7-3-9-1

Top choice #7 Corrado (4-1) ships in for Shug McGaughey after a middling try on debut at Gulfstream. Seven of Shug’s nine starters at the meet have finished in the money… Good try last out for #3 Momza (3-1) on the turf at Gulfstream, and his earlier efforts say he can bring that good form back to the main track today… #9 Great Idea (12-1) is a full brother to ’20 Maryland Million Ladies winner Epic Idea; she closed nicely after a bad start in her debut…

RACE 5

2-7-1-4

Enjoy the chalk as #2 Ronomes (7-5) looks solid in here off two good tries versus similar… #7 Slip Slidin (4-1) ran a good race last time out to be second despite a troubled trip; she was trying hard down the lane while chasing a 4-5 favorite… #1 Egg Nog (2-1) has been in the money last two versus similar without being much of a threat to win…

RACE 6 – Off the turf

4-7-3-6

#4 Mischief’s Model (15-1) has some decent tries in the bank and makes her second start off a 3 1/2-month break… #7 Can the Queen (6-1) galloped in an off-the-turf allowance three back and gave a credible account of herself last out on the turf in The Very One in her season bow… #3 Italian Dressing (20-1) seems to be gradually moving in the right direction…

RACE 7

4-1-3-2

That was a big effort last time by #4 Workin On a Dream (9-2), who battled back in the lane to post a 29-1 upset. Chances are, in this compact field, that he’ll be loose on the lead once again and could again but tough to reel in… #1 Just Whistle (8-1) had some very good efforts in ’20, including a stakes win, and will need to get back to that better form today… #3 Hanalei’s Houdini (5-2) rallied to lead Workin On a Dream two back but couldn’t hold that rival off late and may be looking at a similar scenario today. He makes his first start in the Kieron Magee barn after getting claimed from a poor effort in last…

RACE 8 – Off the turf

3-10-6-7

Top choice #3 Celestial Diva (6-1) ran a decent race in her debut when fifth against better and will look to recapture that form on the drop-down today… In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king — so says the old aphorism — and in the land of slow maidens, the first-time starter rates a look. Thus, #10 False Ruling (15-1) merits consideration despite a spotty work tab. The five-year-old, making her debut today, did fire a bullet move May 3… #6 Bellsinthewood (5-1) is slated to try the main track for the first time and has been facing better…

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