Black-Eyed Susan Stakes and Pimlico Best Bets
We are off to Pimlico and the second jewel of the triple crown, but first, we must celebrate the Fillies in the Black-Eyed Susan! The Friday card from Pimlico is loaded with exceptional betting races capped off by the feature, and unlike Saturday, it looks like we will avoid any weather issues and stay on the turf!
Black-Eyed Susan, Pimlico, Race #13
We have seven new shooters lined up for the Black-Eyed Susan this year, and it’s an interesting field. Each of the eight has something to prove either with class level or distance. Speed generally plays well in this mile-and-an-eighth-long race, so let’s look to the outside in the #8 Recharge, who heads postward for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. She is 3 for 4 in her career, with the lone loss coming last time out to eventually Kentucky Oaks winner Thorpedo Anna, where she set the pace and folded. The key is the race three back, where she drew outside, did not make the lead, and was able to win from a stalking position. Today, she’s got enough speed to get to the top if she would like, but the fact she can settle and pounce makes her very dangerous in this field.
#6 Whocouldaskformo will not be forwardly placed but possesses the best final kick in the field and is dangerous if the pace heats up. She is bred to love the distance and added Luis Saez, who should try to keep her more forward early.
The class of the field is #3 Lemon Muffin who is the only horse to exit the Kentucky Oaks. She gets a massive upgrade to Flavien Prat in the saddle, and a return to her Honeybee effort would make her very tough in this spot.
California shipper #7 Corposo will be forwardly placed. Last time, she ran behind Kinza, who was widely considered the best three-year-old filly in the country at the time. She is another pace player who is dangerous if she can get to the lead.
Picks: 8-6-3-7
Pimlico Best Bets:
$5 Trifecta 6,8 / 3,6,7,8 / 3,6,7,8
$40k Optional Claimer, Pimlico, Race #4
Let’s look for a decent price in our first turf sprint of the day. #7 Rock the Boat is 9/2 on the morning line and set up perfectly for this race. She returned from a long layoff last time out and had boatloads of trouble that started at the break and continued with two checks during the race. With a clean trip, she’s the best horse, and the price is right.
Pimlico Best Bet:
$50 Win #7
$40k Optional Claimer, Pimlico, Race #5
Often, the best plays in horse racing are when a horse gets back to its best distance, and that is the setup for #5 Point Dume here. She wants to be a sprinter and in her last two races she went long. Today she gets back to a 6-furlong distance which she has excelled at in the past. The last two races give us a playable price, 7/2 on the morning line, so let’s take advantage of it.
Pimlico Best Bet:
$50 Win #5
Allaire DuPont Stakes, Pimlico, Race #8
While the price is not wonderful, #8 Shotgun Hottie is the most likely winner on the Friday card. She drops down from four straight grades stakes efforts to take on listed stakes company here. She has the chance to control this race from beginning to end with her tactical speed.
Pimlico Best Bet:
$50 Win #8
