SATURDAY,
MAY 17
PIMLICO
PREAKNESS
DAY
SPOT
PLAYS
Race
8 – Chick Lang Stakes
#6
Keep it Easy
Back in a sensible sprint spot and is
the horse to beat based on his 5 ¼-length win in the Ed Brown Stakes at 6 ½
furlongs at Churchill Downs last fall. He exits a loss in his 3yo debut in an
impossible spot last time in the Fountain of Youth Stakes at 1 1/16 miles
against the likes of eventual Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty. Now, back in a
sprint race for the first time this year and with an 87 Beyer Speed Figure earned
as a 2yo in his back pocket, the 3-year-old version of Keep it Easy will get
his first chance to show his stuff in a sprint and should be tough.
Race
13 – PREAKNESS STAKES
#8
Clever Again
Plus
exactas and trifectas with #2 Journalism and #6 River Thames
#8
Clever Again is a
potential up-and-comer in the 3yo division based on his two big wins this past
season at Oaklawn including a $200,000 stakes win last time in the Hot Springs
Stakes. Clever Again ticks all the boxes for Preakness success. He has early
speed and could be the speed of the speed, and draws a beneficial outside post.
He is the only horse in the field with a speed figure high enough to put him in
the range of Journalism as the horse to beat.
Play
in exactas and trifectas with #2 Journalism and #6 River Thames
#2
Journalism owns the highest speed figures in the Preakness field and exits a
very good effort in defeat when second in the Kentucky Derby. The Preakness
could prove to be his time to shine as a strong and legitimate favorite if he
is ready to rebound with two weeks between races.
#6
River Thames was pointed straight to the Preakness after finishing a close
third in his most recent race when last seen in Keeneland’s Blue Grass Stakes,
and “new shooter” horses like this from the Derby prep season who instead point
for the Preakness have been able to find success in recent years. River Thames’
claim to fame so far was his narrow neck defeat in Gulfstream’s Fountain of
Youth Stakes behind eventual Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty.
SATURDAY,
MAY 17
PIMLICO – PREAKNESS
RACE
1
5
Augusta Melody 9-5
3
Sheriff Ronnie 8-1
4
Freeze the Fire 15-1
RACE
2
6
Miss Ellary 8-1 Upset special
5
Honor Cat 5-2
11
Betula 9-2
RACE
3
1
Last Man Standing 3-2
3
Varney 6-5
5
Task Force 12-1
RACE
4 – Maryland Sprint
6
Booth 7-5 Best bet
3
Celtic Commander 8-1
5
Concrete Glory 2-1
RACE
5
3
Glean 3-1 Best bet exacta box
9
Mischief Maxey 5-1 Best bet exacta box
10
Noquestionaboutit 8-1
RACE
6 – Skipat Stakes
7
Striker Has Dial 5-2
5
Zeitlos 2-1
1
Apple Picker 8-1
RACE
7 – Gallorette Stakes
1
Dana’s Beauty 6-1
9
Way to Be Marie 3-1
2
Queen of the Mud 4-1
RACE
8 – Chick Lang Stakes
6
Keep it Easy 4-1
4
Normandy Coast 12-1
8
One Nine Hundred 7-2
7
Faster Gator 6-1
RACE
9 – Jim McKay Turf Sprint
6
Coppola 2-1
4
Witty 10-1
2
No Nay Hudson 5-2
RACE
10 – Sir Barton Stakes
6
Invictus 9-5
2
Best Friend Rocket 15-1
7
Hymn 4-1
RACE
11 – James W. Murphy Stakes
3
Clock Tower 5-1 Best bet exacta box
7
Reagan’s Wit 5-2 Best bet exacta box
8
Curahee 8-1
RACE
12 – Dinner Party Stakes
6
Balnikhov 9-2
13
Trikari 5-2
2
Crabs N Beer 30-1
10
Fort Washington 5-1
RACE
13 – PREAKNESS STAKES
8
Clever Again 5-1 Upset
special
2
Journalism 8-5 Exacta
and trifecta box
6
River Thames 9-2 Exacta
and trifecta box
4
Heart of Honor 12-1
RACE
14
9
Diamond Gem Aa A 7-5
2
Rb Motherload A 7-2
6
Rb Grandslam A 3-1
