• John Piassek
• September 23, 2022

In which we pick the races from Pimlico each day…

Post time: 12:40 p.m

Carryovers: Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $2,355 Super High 5 — $0

Late Pick 5 — $0

Check out our other handicapping here!

RACE 1: CLAIMING $25,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 FURLONGS (GRASS)

4-8-3-9 (DIRT: 1-3-2-5)

On this second day of fall, we’ll race under sunny skies in mid-60s temperatures. Nine races are on the slate. #4 Expect Ours (7-2) ran a gutsy race on the lead at Colonial Downs last out. She dueled early on and held on gamely in the stretch, ultimately fading to fifth. She made her first start off a year-long layoff at Louisiana Downs back in June, and went gate-to-wire to earn a brisnet figure of 74. In fact, she’s run in the 70s in all three starts this year. She’s going to try and take them as far as she can as fast as she can. #8 Bound for Broadway (8-1) goes third off the layoff for Mike Trombetta. She was flat in each of her two races this year but showed promise towards the end of last season. #3 Speed Salsa (5-2) has gobbled up ground late in her last two races at Monmouth Park. Her late pace figures are the best in the field, and she’ll hope for a fast pace to close into to bolster her cause further.

RACE 2: STARTER ALLOWANCE $5,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

3-6-1-4

#3 Krackenwagen (1-1) cruised to a gate-to-wire victory at this level last out. He has the best early pace figures in the field and should be able to cross over to the rail and the lead. From there, he can work out the trip he wants. #6 Ghost Stalker (3-1) was no match for Krackenwagen at this condition on July 31, but he outkicked the others and got up for second. He got cut off in the midst of making a move at Charles Town last out and will hope to avoid that kind of severe trouble today. #1 Lost My Vowcher (5-1) was claimed out of his last start by Claudio Gonzalez. He was no match for next-out winner Assembly Point at Timonium last out, and faded after a wide trip two starts back, but consistently ran in the upper-70s and low-80s earlier in the season. He has a chance if he can recover that form.

RACE 3: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 FURLONGS (GRASS)

5-6-8-1A (DIRT: 1A-6-5-3)

#5 Zyramid (2-1) set the pace second off the layoff at Delaware Park last out and got caught on the wire by the solid Argentinian sprinter About Today. This one’s dropping in class from the n/w2x allowance level and will be hard-sent for the lead. #6 Etched in Stone (8-1) improved sharply in his second start of the Colonial season with a half-length defeat after rallying from behind. He’s getting a class test here, but he has great closing speed and can surprise if the pace is fast enough. #8 Balistico (5-2) has run between an 80 and an 82 in his last three starts and will sit a good trip just off the lead. He chased Premiere Choice last out, who snuck away to a very loose lead and left no one any hope of catching him. I don’t think that will happen here.

RACE 4: CLAIMING $25,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

6-2-5-3

#6 Rockinhippiechick (5-2) ran a big race at Timonium last out. She dueled on the outside with Red Queen, an Anthony Farrior trainee who was well-bet. Rockinhippiechick dueled Red Queen into a 17-length defeat, but hung on late and finished third by a length behind Chica Rabiosa and stakes winner Music Amore. Now she’s facing a field without much early speed, and with the right tactics, she could go gate-to-wire. #2 Watch Your Tone (8-1) won two in a row at Laurel earlier in the year but showed little against better last out. She’s looking for a rebound against a softer field and can rally for a share at a price. #5 Sweet Talia (4-1) cleared her n/w2L condition going away two races back, running a figure of 79 that’s a bit of an outlier from the rest of her form. She’ll try to duplicate it here.

RACE 5: MAIDEN CLAIMING $30,000, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, 5 FURLONGS (GRASS)

1-12-2-5 (DIRT: 1-11-12-4)

#1 Crimson Rocket (3-1) outfinished his dueling partner in his local debut two starts back and held on for second. He returns to grass here and will show speed from the inside. He’s racing for his third trainer in five starts; Kieron Magee took him off the claim last time. #12 Hindenberg (4-1) finished third that day and is in steadily improving form. He’s also going first off the claim, as Brian Brooks, who shared the training title at Timonium, claimed him last out. Angel Cruz gets aboard for the first time. #2 Bashdaflash (9-5) improved dramatically when switched to grass last out, finishing third with a figure of 66 against better. He has room to improve but his figures are not so much better than those of the rest that he’s worth a bet at low odds.

RACE 6: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

7-2-9-1

The form of #7 River Dog (10-1) is obscured by his disastrous last race, in which he faced way better horses than these, including recent Lite the Fuse winner Sibelius. Earlier in the year, he won two in a row at Aqueduct and Belmont Park, running figures in the 90s both times, and ran a determined race on the lead against a tough field in the Mr. Prospector Stakes at Monmouth. He should bounce back in this race at a good number. #2 Quick Tempo (6-1) was last seen in the Lite the Fuse, when he raced on the outside on a track that was favoring inside horse. Unsurprisingly, he backed up. Prior to that, he ran some big races on the lead earlier this season, including two gate-to-wire wins. He has a great post, so as long as he breaks well, he can cross and clear to the front and the rail. #9 Mojovation (4-1) goes third off a brief break for Jamie Ness and has faced better in his last two starts. He’ll do his best running towards the end.

RACE 7: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

6-1-4-7

This race is a real litmus test for #6 Margie’s Heaven (8-5). She faded on the lead in each of her last two races but takes a big drop in class here. She was a very impressive winner against n/w2x types a few races back, so she shouldn’t have any problem with these if she runs anywhere close to her best. #1 Proper Attire (3-1) races for the first time since July 30 and will also be a pace factor from the inside. #4 Miss Old Bay (6-1) drew off to win second off the layoff two races back and will rate just off the pace. Her only bad race in her semi-recent lines came three starts back, when she was caught wide in her first start in 7 1/2 months.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

5-6-10-7 (DIRT: 9-11-3-2)

#5 Kendama (6-1) was stakes-placed twice at the Colonial meet and was second behind odds-on choice Alex Joon in his other race that season. He’s the only one in the field to have run at least an 87 in each of his last two starts. #6 Never Explain (7-2) showed little in his last two starts but did win a first-level race on this track on Black-Eyed Susan day. He adds blinkers for Shug McGaughey and Forest Boyce. #10 Saranac (8-1) closed well for third in his first start in Maryland two starts ago, then shipped up to Saratoga next out and didn’t do much after a wide trip. Although it was not as visually impressive a race as his one two starts back, he matched his figure with an 86.

RACE 9: CLAIMING $10,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/8 MILES

3-7-6-5

#3 Aftermath (5-2) has closed well in his last few starts but keeps getting stuck behind slow paces. He’ll hope for a more honest setup here. Angel Cruz gets aboard for the first time. #7 Angeli Blu (2-1) just got up to win a n/w2L race at Monmouth last out. He’s one of three in here who has never lost at today’s condition, but he has good tactical speed, consistent figures in the 70s, and races first off the claim for Claudio Gonzalez. #6 Jack Gave Back (9-2) has hit the board in his last eight dirt races and will be rolling from off the pace.