5/20: Hi Ho Pimlico! (Black-Eyed Susan Day)
 

Susie-Preakness Weekend arrives and brings with it a similar weather scenario as Oaks-Derby a fortnight ago. A clear and beautiful Preakness Saturday is in the offing, but rain appears highly likely today at Old Hilltop, so be prepared to adjust accordingly. With the turf already well watered, expect yielding conditions at the least. First post is at 12 noon, so I will try to get changes made while on the air this morning. Card is very bettable, so I certainly hope things aren't badly impacted by off turf decisions or slop. Will do my best to get Preakness Day card opinions up as early as this afternoon.. Enjoy the second of the great Spring Classic Weekends!


PIMLICO RACE COURSE


POST-LATE SCRATCHES (12:12pm)


4th: OC/N2X, F&M-3+, 6f (.50 P3, Super)

Most Likely: #3 Tough Talkin Lady 7-2 6th
Best Value: #9 SCR
Exotics Use: #1 Snap Happy 5-1 WON ($6.60)
Super Add: #5 Veronica's Lake 4-1 2nd


5th: Jim McKay Turf Sprint, 3+, 5f-T (.50 P4, .50 P3, Super)

One of the many tough turf dashes of the weekend. Note Sneaking Uponyou's effort 3 back at Gulfstream versus Bridgetown and Little Nick. What prices would they be in here? '10 Miracle Wood hero Gattopardo is cross-entered in Saturday's MD Sprint Handicap, and likely runs here only if it comes off the lawn..

Most Likely: #6 Ben's Cat 4-1 WON ($5.60)
Next Best: #7 Blue Sailor 7-2 5th
Best Value: #9 Super Chunky 10-1 3rd
Super Add: #4 Southern Region 8-1 4th


6th: ALW/N1X, F&M-3+, 6f (.50 P3, Super)

Interesting group. Note Trombetta's #4 Elusive Pearl romped as speed in debut over Laurel slop..

Best Value: #1 Terra Rolla 6-1 2nd
Next Best: #3 Frock's Valley Girl 7-2 9th
Exotics Use: #10 Valiant Star 8-1 3rd
Super Add: #4 Elusive Pearl 4-1 6th


7th: OC/N1X, 3+, 6f (.50 P3, Super)

Chance to see the likes of Abby Fuller, Barbara Jo Rubin and Patsy Cooksey back in action as 'Lady Legends' take to the irons in here for Breast Cancer; #10 (AE) Norjac (4-5) obviously becomes part of the win picture should he get in..

Most Likely: #4 Stone in Love 5-2 (Abby Fuller) 2nd
Best Value: #6 Rock in Bid 9-2 (Patsey Cooksey) 4th
Exotics Use: #8 Anjunothat 5-1 (Barbara Jo Rubin) 5th
Super Add: #5 Mass Destruction 9-5 (Mary Wiley) WON ($7.40)


8th: OC/N2X, 3+, 5f-T (.50 P3, Super)

5-2 ML favorite #12 Notonthesamepage has SCR'D which opens this race up further..

Best Value: #14 Beer Stein 10-1 8th
Next Best: #4 True to Tradition 2-1 WON ($8.60)
Exotics Use: #1 Lucky Romeo 10-1 2nd
Super Add: #5 Ballymoy 8-1 7th


<$75 P4 Play:

5: 6-7-9
6: 1-3-4-10
7: 4-5-6-8
8: 1-4-14

3x4x4x3 = 144 x .50 = $72


9th: 26th Miss Preakness, 3yo-F, 6f (.50 P5, .50 P3, Super)

Heavyweight sprintin' fillies invade this standard from Ward and Pletcher and loom seriously, but locals Wolfendale, Trombetta and Keefe all look like they counter with live missies. Darn good edition of this which likely earns G3 status back for '12 with purse enhancement..

Original Best Value Top Tab #8 Fast Tip has SCR'D..

Next Best: #9 Final Mesa 6-5 4th
Best Value: #1 Bold Affair 8-1 3rd
Exotics Use: #6 Strike the Moon 7-2 2nd
Super Add: #10 R Holiday Mood 5-1 WON ($11.20)


10th: 87th Black-Eyed Susan (G2), 3yo-F, 9f (.50 P4, .50 P3, Super)

Black-Eyed Susan-Preakness Double available..

Most Likely: #2 Hot Summer 5-2: Merits nod given ability to set pace or stalk.. 3rd
Best Value: #5 Buster's Ready 8-1: Wintered in NY and getting good; Won't be 8-1.. 2nd
Next Best: #1 Royal Delta 3-1: Mott hasn't had easiest time with her as sophomore.. WON ($5.60)
Super Add: #4 Wyomia 9-5: Time to have her was when she delivered at Tampa.. 5th


11th: 12th Very One, F&M-3+, 5f-T (.50 P3, Super)

Best Value: #7 Suzzona 4-1 WON ($9.80)
Next Best: #6 Rose Catherine 1-1 3rd
Exotics Use: #9 Supreme 6-1 2nd
Super Add: #1 What She Said 20-1 4th


12th: MD-S/HCP, F&<-3+, 8.5f (Super Hi-5, Super)

Most Likely: #4 Universal Language 3-1 2nd
Best Value: #9 Franklin's Philly 8-1 5th
Next Best: #3 Silver Partner 7-2 WON ($6.20)
Super Add: #1 Favored Lady 7-2 4th


13th: 38th Hilltop, 3yo-F, 8.5f-T (Super Hi-5, Super)

Terrific betting race with at least 6 that merit look at variety of prices..

Best Value: #5 Blushandbashful 10-1 3rd
Next Best: #2 Excited 5-2 WON ($5.60)
Exotics Use: #7 Anandi 5-1 7th
Super Add: #10 Ms Silver Oak 8-1 6th


<$75 P4 Play:

10: 1-2-5
11: 6-7-9
12: 1-3-4-9
13: 2-5-7-10

3x3x4x4 = 144 x .50 = $72

.50 P4 Paid $92.50


<$50 P5 Play:

9: 1-9
10: 1-2-5
11: 6-7
12: 1-3-4-9
13: 2-5

2x3x2x4x2 = 96 x .50 = $48


Good luck!
Steve

Thanks Steve.

Good luck Steve!

Good luck Steve!

Thanks guys.. Knock 'em dead today!

Fast Tip is #8 - do we think it's her that's scratched (ugh) or Final Mesa?

Sorry it's the 8 the Pimlico webmaster just emailed me back.
"Fast Tip is 8. He is scratched". - from web guy

Cool thanks. . . I really liked her.

Sd mentioned on ATR and anticipated.. further LATE CHANGES at Pimlico...

NOTE: Beer Stein DOES get in the 8th.. And Sneaking Uponyou is SCR'D from the 5th~!

Steve. After the scratch of Fast Tip do you feel strongly enough to single Final Mesa in the P5? I've been there all along but value your opinion.

I want to use Bold Affair, at least a little defensively.. Good luck!

Ward's been ice cold recently, but to me, if he can't get Final Mesa to win today, he should pack it up and go overseas full-time. She's the fastest horse at every call of the race by a good margin and she's proven she doesn't even need the lead necessarily. Obviously the layoff is a concern, so it makes sense to have a few backups, but she looks like the kind of horse you really have to single in a Pick 5 sequence.

****ing Lovely... Poof goes my P5...:zz:

Pack it up, Ward. At least now I can toss Flashpoint completely tomorrow.

I stand corrected I only blew out 9 out of 10 tickets on my P5. Of Course I need A out with a 2x2x2x3. Nice Catch of the Super Steve