Pimlico picks and ponderings June 6, 2021

Horses round the first turn at Pimlico. Photo: Dottie Miller

In which we pick the races from Pimlico each day…

Post time: 12:40 p.m.

Carryovers: Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $938,091 Super High 5 — $0 Late Pick 5 — $0

RACE 1: CLAIMING $10,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

2-6-4-5
A field of six kicks off today’s eight-race card. Looking at FAST and FIRM conditions all day. #2 New Frontier (4-5) moves to the Horacio DePaz barn and plunges in class. He broke his maiden going gate-to-wire in January, but has not shown his customary early speed in his last two starts. Perhaps the easier waters will allow him to flaunt his speed a big more. #6 Lifespan (5-2) sat the trip off a speed duel and got up to break his maiden at fifteenth asking last out. He has the best last-out brisnet figure in the field, an 80. New Frontier earned a 79 in his last race, no one else has a last-out mark better than 67. #4 Zip the Lip (8-1) broke his maiden impressively three back, then showed speed and faded badly in his last two. If New Frontier doesn’t show speed, this one will take full advantage with an easy trip on the front end.

RACE 2: MAIDEN CLAIMING $25,000, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

3-10-2-1
#3 Digital Dream (12-1) got bet in her debut going short, leaving the gate at 7-1. She was very fractious in the gate, and broke very slowly. She closed well, but had no chance with the way things went at the start. Hopefully, she’ll be better behaved in her second start. She’s dropping in class from the $40,000 level. Mike Trombetta and Julian Pimentel are looking to break out of slumps. #10 My Dream Girl (12-1) also had a tough trip last out, and had to close after falling well behind. She’ll also look to break cleanly here. #2 No Down Days (5-2) exits the same race as My Dream Girl, and ran a big race. She battled on the lead while wide, and held in there to lose by just a head. Will be tough on the lead once again.

RACE 3: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $25,000, 3-YEAR-OLD S AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

4-3-1-6
#4 Dilly Dilly Philly (7-5) makes her local debut after spending time in her home state of Pennsylvania. She went gate-to-wire two races back, then earned a career-best figure of 90 in a gutsy effort against Pennsylvania-bred allowance company last out. A big threat to go gate-to-wire again. #3 Annika Gold (9-2) races first off the claim for Michael Gorham, who hits at 23% with that angle. Sheldon Russell gets in the saddle for the first time. She’s shown some mild kick in routes, but it looks like she does her best running around one turn. #1 Le Weekend (9-5) goes third off the layoff for Jamie Ness and Jaime Rodriguez. She’ll be the biggest threat to Dilly Dilly Philly on the front end. Last out, she wore down the leader and got up. Will look to work out a similar trip here.

ANALYSIS

RACE 4: CLAIMING $10,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 ⅛ MILES

8-4-6-2
#8 Military Commander (5-1) has improved sharply in each of his four starts. He broke his maiden for a $10,000 tag in very impressive style last out, going gate-to-wire for a 6 ½ length win. He cleared from post six there, so I’m not too worried about the outside draw, especially with the longer run into the first turn. #4 Watch the Bourbon (3-1) stalked the pace and lost a stretch battle to Lost My Vowcher, who didn’t race so well the other day. Still, this one has been improving at this level and has good tactical speed. May try to keep Military Commander off the inside. #6 Manklin Creek (6-1) broke his maiden routing two back and now stretches back out after a visually dull sprint try last out. He’ll do his best running towards the end.

RACE 5: MAIDEN CLAIMING $25,000, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 FURLONGS (GRASS)

7-10-1-5
#7 Alluring Rumba (6-1) has had some time off since a dull effort at Gulfstream Park on March 25. She’s come close many times before, with six third-place finishes from nine career starts. She’s run figures in the 80s in the past, and will be very tough if she can find that form again. #10 Tea in China (5-2) ran two figures in the mid-70s towards the end of last year. She made her season debut last year, in a race that was washed off the grass. She was a non-factor in that race, but now gets to go back to her preferred surface. #1 Matunuck (4-1) was claimed out of her debut by Claudio Gonzalez. She went off as the slight favorite in a washed-off affair, and made a solid move in the stretch to finish second. Looks to build on that race here.

RACE 6: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

1A-4-2-8
#1A Halite (3-1) came from nowhere to win against conditioned claimers going away last out. He’s a stone-cold closer who has put in tremendous efforts in his first two starts of the year. #4 Good Culture (7-2) also doesn’t have much early speed. He ran a career-best figure of 84 last out at Keeneland, finishing third behind Peter Pan winner Promise Keeper. This is an easier field, but it still may behoove him to be closer to the pace than last time. #2 Air Token (7-2) has early speed and a favorable draw. He could find himself loose on the front end in a race without much apparent early speed.

ANALYSIS

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

3-4-2-1
#3 Market Cap (9-2) tried to make his 3-year-old debut last out, in the Sir Barton Stakes, but he unseated the jockey at the start. Last year, he broke his maiden impressively over a one-turn mile, then finished fourth in the Howard County Stakes around two turns. Interesting to see him cut back to a sprint here. #4 Magic Mule (5-1) broke his maiden two races back, then made a strong bid to get third last out with a career-best figure. Worked a bullet at Timonium last Thursday. #1 Baptize the Boy (5-2) beat a Maryland-bred allowance field three races back, then finished a solid third at the level two back after a rough break. Looks to rebound off a flat try last out.

RACE 8: CLAIMING $16,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

7-1-10-2
#7 Seville Barber (5-2) looks to improve second off the layoff, after a solid third-place finish in his first start of the year. He struggled against better last year, but this should be a field he can beat. #1 Coral Legacy (4-1) was beaten a neck by Seville Barber last out, while also making his first start of the year. He saved ground well off a slow pace, but closed ground to lose by just two lengths. Making big rallies only to just miss was a common theme for him last year. #10 Rum Bobby (6/1) closed to finish fifth in that same race. He broke his maiden in impressive fashion on grass last year, now gets a jockey upgrade to Charlie Marquez.