RACE 1: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

4-6-7-5

All eyes will be on #6 Verifire (2-5) in the opener, and not without reason. He smoked the field on debut on the Virginia Derby day undercard, running an impressive brisnet figure of 93. Brad Cox returns this $1,000,000 purchase to the Mid-Atlantic for his first try against winners. While he certainly merits respect, #4 Saxton (4-1) isn’t too far behind him on the brisnet scale. That one ran a 91 and a 92 in his first two starts of the season, and has worked well here at Pimlico since a flat effort in a stakes-quality field last out. While Verifire is probably the most likely winner, he’s not that much better that he should be a much higher price. #7 Blo By’em (10-1) finally broke through at seventh asking last out, rallying from well off the pace to win at 19-1. He has a great closing kick, but he has a problem changing leads. Even so, he should be able to rally for a share at a good number.

RACE 2: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3-6-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE (GRASS)

1-12-10-3 (DIRT: 10-12-4-1)

#1 Protective Custody (15-1) came up completely empty in two dirt starts to start her career, but should run much better on grass. She’s a half-sister to Limited Liability, who won the Nashville Gold Cup at Kentucky Downs last year and has hit the board in numerous graded stakes. John Velazquez gets the call for the first time on this Shug McGaughey trainee, who is 19% in recent times going dirt to grass. #12 Software (7-2) showed some good late kick first off a 10-month layoff at Keeneland last out. She’s loaded with grass pedigree, as four of her siblings have won stakes on grass (including Dataman, who won at Laurel Park on May 3). She also gets Flavien Prat in the saddle. #10 My Brazilian Girl (5-2) has already taken some big swings in her career; she’s been in stakes company three times, and more than held her own when fourth at 44-1 in the Orchid Stakes last out. She gets a new trainer and rider in Keri Brion and Irad Ortiz, respectively, and has by far the best route figures of anyone in the race, having run at least a 79 in each of her last four races.

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

9-2-6-10

#9 Point Dume (7-2) led all the way in his last two dirt starts, and almost wired the field on the lawn last out. He has lots of speed in a race where many of them like to come from way out of it, and he could end up very lonely on the front end. #2 Cadet Corps (4-1) won his last two dirt route starts going away with stalk-and-pounce trips. He has great tactical speed, a key attribute for a race like this. Paco Lopez should be able to work out a great trip with him. #6 Stronsino (5-2) has a big figure edge on these, having run at least a 94 in each of his last three starts. However, he’s looked dominant on paper in his last four races, going off at even-money or less every time, and he’s only won once. He merits respect in here, but don’t take too short a price.

RACE 4: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 FURLONGS (GRASS)

1-10-8-2 (DIRT: 7-9-3-1)

#1 Island d’Lite (5-1) lacked running room for most of the stretch run last out, and by the time he got clear, it was too late. He finished second to Cactus, who returned to win a starter optional claiming race here last Saturday as the favorite. Horses exiting Island d’Lite’s race finished second, third, and fifth behind Cactus last Saturday. This one should improve second off a six-month break. #10 Zip Line to Heaven (7-2) found his best self towards the end of last year, with back-to-back figures in the 80s. This one hasn’t raced since December, but he won his first start off of similar layoffs in 2023 and 2024, so we know the time off won’t be a problem. #8 Bourbon Boss (3-1) cruised on the lead last out against non-winners of two claimers, and has an excellent chance to wire this field on a track where speed’s been holding in grass sprints.

RACE 5: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

7-4-2-5

#7 Privman (6-5) went off as the even-money favorite on debut last June at Los Alamitos, finished second with an 83 to a horse who was second in the Best Pal Stakes next out, but hasn’t won since. This one got back on the worktab in late March, and now returns here for Bob Baffert. Baffert tried a similar maneuver last year on Preakness weekend with Mirahmadi, and it didn’t work. Luckily for him, this one is facing a much easier bunch. His biggest competition, #4 Ennis Town (8-5), is also making his 3-year-old debut. He was second at Aqueduct and Keeneland last year, with big figures both times, and now adds blinkers first off the bench for Mike Trombetta. Watch the board with both of these. Among horses who have raced this year, #2 Firmantown (6-1) looks the best. He wired a $25,000 field last out, but was disqualified for gate interference. He has blazing early speed, and if either of the top two are rusty, he could easily wire these.

RACE 6: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 FURLONGS (GRASS)

3-2-10-5 (DIRT: 5-12-13-1)

#3 Tidewater (7-2), whose full brother, Beltane, is also in this race, had a fantastic year last year, including a strong second-place effort at this level to cap the campaign. He was flat first off an 8 1/2-month layoff last out, but switches back to grass and drops in class. He showed improvement second off the layoff last year, so you can expect similar in this spot. #2 Tall Order (6-1) got up to beat first-level foes last out, oncluding Benny Havens, who won here last weekend. He has great late speed and will be tough if he works out a trip. #10 Had to Have Him (10-1) hasn’t raced this year, but won on the Black-Eyed Susan day undercard last year over Tidewater and consistently ran in the upper-80s towards the end of last season.

RACE 7: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE (GRASS)

7-2-10-5 (DIRT: 8-9-11-6)

#7 Army Officer (2-1) ran an 88 and a 92 on grass at this time last year, and went off favored in the Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga, suggesting a promising future. However, he went sour towards the end of fhe season; and made a promising movs and faded in his 2025 debut at Turfway Park last out. The ability’s there somewhere; if he channels it here, he’s tough to beat. #2 Blame the Tux (6-1) chased a gate-to-wire in his season debut last out, but has run better on or near the pace and will be tough if he trips out. #10 St. John’s (9-2) was second to future stakes winner Desvio on Preakness day last year, and just missed going 2 1/8 miles at Middleburg last out. He’s run well at this level before, and should also get a nice trip.

RACE 8: ALLAIRE DUPONT DISTAFF STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/8 MILES

1-3-6-7

The first stakes race of the weekend is named for the legendary mid-Atlantic owner and breeder, best-known for campaigning the great Kelso. #1 Dazzling Move (4-1) won a two-turn stakes race earlier this year, capturing the Royal Delta Stakes at Gulfstream Park at 1 1/16 miles. She was flat in the Madison Stakes last time out, which was her first start outside of Florida since Saffie Joseph took over training duties. Joseph has a bit of a reputation for not being able to win outside of Florida (except for rare talents), so i’m a tad wary. Still, this one’s recently proven around two turns, and has great early pace figures. If Jose Ortiz is aggressive, she could go all the way. #3 Candied (8-5) faced better competition throughout last year, finishing grade 1-placed four times, including in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff to Thorpedo Anna and Raging Sea. She showed nothing first off the layoff in the Doubledogdare Stakes at Keeneland last out, but might have needed the race and has worked well since. She’s the one to beat, but she won’t provide any value. #6 Peignoir (8-1) went gate-to-wire in an off-the-grass event at Keeneland last out with first-time blinkers. She’s gone 2-for-4 on off tracks, in case there’s moisture today, and also has lots of early speed. If Dazzling Move isn’t aggressive early, this one will be delighted.

RACE 9: HILLTOP STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 1 MILE (GRASS)

8-3-1-6 (DIRT: 5-2-4-3)

RACE 10: MISS PREAKNESS STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 6 FURLONGS

10-7-6-5

This race has a ton of early speed. If everyone goes, it would set up nicely for #10 Mila Rose (10-1). She’s 2-for-2 lifetime after starting her career with stalk-and-pounce wins at Turfway Park and Keeneland. She’s in improving form and has sjown a great late kick. #7 Delray (15-1) wore down the leaders to win from just off the pace at Aqueduct last out, and has a similar running style as Mila Rose. Her only subpar effort as of late came three starts back when she tried to go to the lead and got caught late, but you figure that Frankie Pennington, who has ridden her to victory twice, will know better. Sometimes, when there’s a lot of early speed on paper, the jockeys panic, aren’t that aggressive, and someone ends up stealing it on the lead. If that happens here, #6 Stunner (4-1), who wired the Tempted Stakes at Aqueduct last November and has finished second in stakes races three times since then, is the most likely one to do it. She has great middle speed as well, so if she’s allowed to set relatively mild fractions, she’s gone.

RACE 11: THE VERY ONE STAKES, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 FURLONGS (GRASS)

9-12-2-14 (DIRT: 3-7-5-8)