FRIDAY, MAY 19
PIMLICO – BLACK EYED SUSAN DAY
SPOT PLAYS
Race 13 – Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
#9 Faiza
Plus exacta box w/ #15 Forte
#9 Faiza is the country’s top 3-year-old filly, but she did not
compete in the Kentucky Oaks due to trainer Bob Baffert’s suspension at
Churchill Downs. Now she shows up in this easier spot and is ready to strut her
stuff. Owns a dominant 5-for-5 record in SoCal with two-turn graded stakes wins
in the Starlet, Las Virgenes, Santa Ysabel, and Santa Anita Oaks. Owns the
perfect pace-pressing running style with the right amount of tactical speed to
fit Pimlico perfectly.
Play in exacta and trifecta boxes w/ #6 Miracle, who has a
tendency to settle for second but also has enough ability where she could also
finish second in a spot like this with jockey Irad Ortiz getting onboard for
trainer Todd Pletcher. Loaded with early speed and finished within a length of
eventual Kentucky Oaks champion Pretty Mischeivous when second in the Rachel
Alexandra Stakes. A bad start cost her any chance last time in the Gulfstream
Oaks, so toss that race out and give her a chance to rebound, at least for the
exotics.
Play in exacta and trifecta boxes with #3 Hoosier Philly, who comes
in off back-to-back flops which cost her to miss the Kentucky Oaks after at one
point last winter being considered possible for the Kentucky Derby vs. the
boys. Perhaps she didn’t like Fair Grounds, or perhaps they’ve ironed out
whatever went wrong for her. She’s one of the few in this field that has shown
the ability at one point in her career to be able to compete on the level of Faiza,
but she needs a total turnaround.
Race 14
#6 Certain
This is the nightcap horse to finish off your late daily
doubles. Tired last time at a mile but now cuts back in distance back into a sprint
and was knocking on the door in these kinds of races at Gulfstream this winter.
Takes the big maiden drop down in versus maiden claimers and goes out for
low-volume, high percentage trainer with Gaffalione up for the mount.
FRIDAY, MAY 19
PIMLICO – BLACK EYED SUSAN DAY
RACE 1
13 Battle of Normandy 5-2
5 Evan Harlan 7-2
6 Juulstone 10-1
RACE 2
6 Holy Synchronicity 6-1 Upset Special
7 Cees Get Degrees 2-1
5 Going to the Lead 6-1
RACE 3
1 Up For It 7-2
12 Lady Wildcat 3-1
2 Watch This Birdie 4-1
3 Two Sides of Love 10-1
RACE 4 – Allaire Dupont Distaff
2 Interstate Daydream 1-1
6 Falconet 5-2
1 La De Vida 7-2
RACE 5
5 Above the Limit 3-1 Best Bet exacta and trifecta boxes
6 American Starlet 5-2
1 Respectively 10-1
RACE 6
1 Royal Whisper 2-1 Best Bet exacta and trifeca boxes
7 Liquidator 9-2
6 Freccia D’Argento 9-2
RACE 7
5 Shadow Sphinx 5-2 Value exacta box
14 Encourage 12-1
4 Chulainn 4-1
RACE 8
3 Heldish 10-1 Live Longshot
2 Fort Warren 7-5
6 Johnnyz From Albany 5-2
RACE 9 – The Very One
2 Train to Artemus 3-1
9 Her World 7-2
8 Spicy Marg 9-2
RACE 10 – Miss Preakness
6 Maple Leaf Mel 8-5
2 Key of Life 1-1
4 Afternoon Tea 8-1
RACE 11 – Hilltop Stakes
1 Breath Away 2-1
11 Well Into 5-1
7 Hang the Moon 12-1
RACE 12 – Pimlico Special
2 Rattle N Roll 9-5 Best Bet exacta and trifecta boxes
5 Law Professor 5-2
3 Clapton 6-1
RACE 13 – BLACK-EYED SUSAN STAKES
9 Faiza 7-5 Best Bet
6 Miracle 10-1
3 Hoosier Philly 10-1
4 Merlazza 6-1
RACE 14
6 Certain 9-2 Late Daily Double key horse
2 Covert Kat 4-1
10 S. Muffin 7-5
4 Mission Man 10-1
