Tag: preakness

Preakness Stakes Saturday Picks — May 20, 2023 | Preakness Day at Pimlico

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Celebration of the 2018 Preakness Stakes winner with a horse adorned in flowers and a crowd of people in formal attire.

Woof, well Friday couldn’t have gone worse in Maryland. That’s what the Conductor gets for leaving New York. We have no choice but to dig our heels in and make Pimlico pay double. There are some nice undercard races prior to the worst Preakness field the Conductor has ever seen. Let’s Ride.

*Gullet Shot of the Day Race 9: 6 Furlongs. F.Skipat Stakes

#6 Gunning (6/1) – This race is loaded with early pace and the Conductor landed on this filly, who will be finishing best. Turning back from a mile, she looks to get a dream trip and Mr. Ductor trusts Prat to time her move correctly. The Pimilico dirt seems to be playing fairer than it has on prior Preakness Saturdays.

Race 10: 5 Furlongs. (Turf) Jim McKay Turf Sprint Stakes

#5 Smokin’ Jay (6/1) – The Conductor thought this gelding had no shot last year in this race and he ran a strong 2nd at 9/1. He gets back to a fast turf surface today and has proven he can pass horses and win at this short 5-furlong distance. He should get a perfect trip sitting behind dueling leaders and he won’t be too far back early. The Conductor sees him going off higher than his morning line and expects him to hit board.

Race 12: 1 Mile. (Turf) James W. Murphy Stakes

#5 Circling the Drain (8/1) – This looks like an open race to the Conductor and he wants a price. This gelding has been running well on dirt and his breeding screams he’ll step forward on the grass. If he does improve, he’ll be getting his picture taken. Mowing is in his blood, let him run. Skip.

Race 13: 1 /8 Mile. G1 Preakness Stakes

#1 National Treasure (4/1) – He’s the only alternative that can beat Mage and the Conductor thinks he will. Mage ran unbelievable in the Derby, but he will regress at off that effort. National Treasure has a big early pace edge over Mage and Mage continues to break poorly. Are you going to bet against a Baffert horse on the lead entering the stretch on a speed favoring track? At a better price to boot. Skip

Preakness

Pimlico: Preakness Day Key Horses

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A horse with a rider approaching the Preakness Stakes venue, with construction equipment in the background.

A Gullet Shot a Day, keeps the landlord away. Speed and the rail were golden yesterday at Pimlico, something to keep an eye on today. We have have them right where we want them heading into Preakness Day. Time to pounce! Skip!

 

Race 9: 6 Furlongs. F.Runhappy Skipat Stakes

#8 French Empire (3/1) – This mare is steadily progressing, running very fast numbers and is now in the Cox barn. She’s working bullets entering today and looks to get a perfect stalking trip with a nice outside draw.

Race 10: 5 Furlongs. (Turf) Turf Sprint100K

#11 Firecrow (10/1) – #4 The Critical Way (5/2) is the most likely winner, but the Ductor thinks this gelding is very dangerous at a price. He has wicked early speed and has been facing graded stakes winners on dirt. Switching to turf here, he’s lightly raced on the lawn, but has proven he can run well on it and the shorter distance today will help his cause as well.

Race 11: 6 Furlongs. G3 Maryland Sprint

#7 Breezy Dust (6/1) – Stepping up in class and shipping in from Parx, this gelding fits on numbers and he has the speed to get the lead early. He’s very dangerous, especially shortening to 6 furlongs today.

#2 Yodel E. A. Who (8/1) – If the closers have a chance today, the Conductor likes this gelding. The pace in this race could heat up and he has a strong late kick. He’ll likely be an overlay without big name connections too.

Race 12: 1 1/16 Mile. (Turf) G2 Dinner Party Stakes

#1 Somelikeithotbrown (4/1) – When this horse is on the lead, he’s tough to pass in the stretch. He looks to get a favorable trip here, without much early pressure. The Chad Brown runners, #3 Kuramata (6/1) and #5 Sacred Life (7/5) will be tough to beat, but over bet. #2 English Bee (8/1) is the only other Contender in the Ductor’s opinion.

Race 13: 1 3/16 Mile. Preaknes-G1 Preakness Stakes

*Gullet Shot of the Day #4 Crowded Trade (10/1) – The Conductor has lost so much sleep trying to figure out how this Preakness plays out with Concert Tour (5/2) and #3 Medina Spirit (9/5) entered. He’s come to the conclusion that they are going to send #5 Midnight Bourbon (5/1) regardless after his heinous ride in the Derby, and that should compromise all 3. Crowded Trade has shown talent his young career and he should sit the perfect trip right behind the speed. Chad has pulled this move before, and the Conductor sees a monster effort upcoming. The Conductor will be using #6 Rombaur (12/1) as a backup, who should sit a similar trip as well.

preakness