AMERICAN TURF Preakness Day Full
Card Selections
Pimlico, Saturday, May 18, 2019
Race 5
#8 Empire of War
Pletcher turfer was a stakes
winner on grass as a 2yo in New York, beating a field that included the likes
of subsequent stakes winner A Thread of Blue. Ran fast as a 2yo and now will be
better as a 3yo. Will benefit from getting the prep race under his belt last
time at Aqueduct. Ready to roll now for second off the layoff, and is versatile
from a pace standpoint as a horse that can go to the lead or stalk off the pace.
Race 13 – Preakness
#7 Alwaysmining
Plus
play exacta box w/#2 Bourbon War
#7 Alwaysmining is the rare Maryland wonder horse with an
actual strong chance to win the Preakness after sweeping the Laurel 3yo series
with wins in the Miracle Wood in February, the Private Terms in March and the
Federico Tesio in April by 11 lengths. Never faced a field this tough, but no
horse has been close to him all year and he has no weakness from a pace perspective
as a horse that should press or stalk the pace. Speed figures stack up against
this field, and if there are any standouts in the 3-year-old division this
year, they’re not entered in this race.
Play in exacta box with #2 Bourbon War, who exits a
fourth-place finish in the Florida Derby in a race he had no chance in with
absolutely no pace to help set-up his late run. Ran well in the Fountain of
Youth for second behind Code of Honor, and then was flattered with that rival
came back to finish third in the Kentucky Derby. Irad Ortiz aboard and blinkers
on to help keep him a little closer to the pace.
RACE 1
1 –
#2 Friendly Fire 4-1
2 –
#6 Fernwood Drive 7-2
3 –
#1 Shelly Island 12-1
RACE 2
1 –
#8 Nigel’s Destiny 6-1
2 –
#5 Liquid Aloha 4-1
3 –
#6 Sir Brahms 9-2
RACE 3 – Sir Barton
1 –
#4 Top Line Growth 9-5
2 –
#3 King for a Day 7-5
3 –
#1 Trifor Gold 10-1
RACE 4
1 –
#12 Salt Pond 8-1
2 –
#9 Hip Hop 9-2
3 –
#14 Kitty’s Right 6-1
RACE 5 – James W Murphy
1 –
#8 Empire of War 8-1
2 –
#2 Current 4-1
1 –
#6 War Film 9-2
RACE 6 – Maryland Sprint
1 –
#4 Lewisfield 9-5 Best bet
2 –
#7 Proforma 3-1
3 –
#1 New York Central 6-1
RACE 7 – Searching Stakes
1 –
#2 Homeland Security 9-2
2 –
#5 Ickymasho 8-5
3 –
#4 Coachwhip 8-1
RACE 8
1 –
#1 Articulator 5-2
2 –
#9 Overdeliver 3-1
3 –
#8 I’m an Ocala Dude 4-1
RACE 9 – The Very One
1 –
#2 Dare to Be 6-1
2 –
#6 Jo Jo Air 3-1
3 –
#8 Misericordia 4-1
4 –
#4 Souper Echo 9-2
RACE 10 – Gallorette
1 –
#2 Inflexibility 3-1
2 –
#4 Mitchell Road 6-1
3 –
#3 Thewayiam 10-1
4 –
#6 Hogan’s Holiday 15-1
RACE 11 – Chick Lang
1 –
#8 Preamble 5-2
2 –
#3 Malpais 3-1
3 –
#6 Gladiator King 6-1
RACE 12 – Dixie
1 –
#11 Inspector Lynley 7-2
2 –
#12 Catholic Boy 3-1
3 –
#3 Admission Office 12-1
4 –
#2 Just Story 10-1
RACE 13 – Preakness Stakes
1 –
#7 Alwaysmining 8-1
2 –
#2 Bourbon War 12-1
3 –
#4 Improbable 5-2
4 –
#12 Anothertwistofate 6-1
RACE 14
1 –
#2 Enqueteur 4-1
2 –
#1 Shackled Romance 6-1
3 –
#2 Glory Song 7-2
4 –
#8 Firecrow 4-1
