Experts’ Preakness day picks

Our ‘cappers tackle Saturday’s graded stakes

GRADE 3 MARYLAND SPRINT

The Maryland Sprint goes as the eighth of 14 races on the Preakness day card. The morning line favorite is the Gary Capuano-trained Haileysfirstnotion.

Floodlites and Hymn are both scratched.

	John Piassek	Ted Black	Derby Bill Watson	Nick Hahn	Eric Rubin	Gary Quill
First	8. Slam Notion	5. Floodlites	8. Slam Notion	6. Celtic Contender	3. Faust	8. Slam Notion
Second	1. Bring the Smoke	4. Haileysfirstnotion	2. Faster Gator	5. Floodlites	1. Bring the Smoke	2. Faster Gator
Third	3. Faust	2. Faster Gator	1. Bring the Smoke	3. Faust	5. Floodlites	1. Bring the Smoke

GRADE 3 DINNER PARTY

Fort Washington looks to become just the second horse to win the Dinner Party in consecutive years — a task that grew easier with the scratches of Thundering and morning line favorite Dresden Row.

The Dinner Party goes as race 10.

	John Piassek	Ted Black	Derby Bill Watson	Nick Hahn	Eric Rubin	Gary Quill
First	3. Cruise the Nile	3. Cruise the Nile	4. Fort Washington	4. Fort Washington	3. Cruise the Nile	4. Fort Washington
Second	6. Dresden Row	5. A Bourbon for Toby	6. Dresden Row	3. Cruise the Nile	6. Dresden Row	7. Harrow
Third	7. Harrow	7. Harrow	3. Cruise the Nile	6. Dresden Row	4. Fort Washington	6. Dresden Row

GRADE 3 GALLORETTE

All eight remain in the Gallorette for fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles on the turf. The race includes a pair from last month’s Dahlia over strip: Ribaltagaia (6-1) and Mahra’s Love (15-1).

The Gallorette is the 11th race on the card.

	John Piassek	Ted Black	Derby Bill Watson	Nick Hahn	Eric Rubin	Gary Quill
First	5. Austere	3. Accent	5. Austere	3. Accent	1. Mahra’s Love	5. Austere
Second	8. Awesome Czech	5. Austere	7. Child of the Moon	2. Ribaltagaia	4. Warming	8. Awesome Czech
Third	2. Ribaltagaia	7. Child of the Moon	8. Awesome Czech	5. Austere	2. Ribaltagaia	6. Cheetah Lady

JIM MCKAY TURF SPRINT

Isivunguvungu is scratched from the Jim McKay Turf Sprint, which otherwise remains intact. Chasing Liberty is the 3-1 morning line favorite.

The Turf Sprint is race 12.

	John Piassek	Ted Black	Derby Bill Watson	Nick Hahn	Eric Rubin	Gary Quill
First	1. Run Curtis Run	11. Had to Have Him	1. Run Curtis Run	8. Outlaw Kid	3. Jean Valjean	4. Chasing Liberty
Second	8. Outlaw Kid	8. Outlaw Kid	4. Chasing Liberty	3. Jean Valjean	11. Had to Have Him	8. Outlaw Kid
Third	3. Jean Valjean	4. Chasing Liberty	3. Jean Valjean	7. Isivunguvungu	4. Chasing Liberty	3. Jean Valjean

GRADE 1 PREAKNESS STAKES

All 14 remain in the Grade 1 Preakness, which features a local hopeful, two who ran well in the Kentucky Derby, and a bevy of others in an evenly matched contest. Iron Honor is the 9-2 morning line favorite.

The Preakness is race 13.

	John Piassek	Ted Black	Derby Bill Watson	Nick Hahn	Eric Rubin	Gary Quill
First	2. Ocelli	1. Taj Mahal	12. Incredibolt	12. Incredibolt	12. Incredibolt	5. Talkin
Second	1. Taj Mahal	10. Napoleon Solo	1. Taj Mahal	2. Ocelli	2. Ocelli	2. Ocelli
Third	12. Incredibolt	6. Chip Honcho	6. Chip Honcho	1. Taj Mahal	8. Bull by the Horns	1. Taj Mahal

OUR HANDICAPPERS ARE:

• Gary Quill, co-host of Better Betting podcast and former The Racing Biz Maryland handicapper
• Derby Bill Watson, legendary former Colonial Downs on-air analylyst
• Ted Black is the Charles Town correspondent for The Racing Biz.
• Nick Hahn is the host of Off to the Races Radio, powered by The Racing Biz.
• John Piassek, Maryland handicapper for The Racing Biz.
• Eric Rubin is co-host of the Better Betting podcast.

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  Experts’ Preakness day picks