Equidaily Racing Journal

Coast-to-coast

www.equidaily.com

Saturday, May 21, 2011
Picks and plays for some of the day's major stakes
by Seth Merrow


Turf selections/wagers are turf only

Best Bets

Belmont: Race 6... exacta box, Seattle Mission/Boat/Strret Game, sub Power Dreams if scratch.
Belmont: Race 10... exacta box, Hangover Kid/Russian Ally/City Strut/More Than Lucky.
Pimlico: Race 12... WPS Mr Commons.
Pimlico: Race 12... $1 exacta box, Animal Kingdom, Midnight Interlude, Mucho Macho Man, Mr Commons, Astrology.
Hollywood: Race 8... WP Goodbye Charlie.


Belmont: Shuvee Hcp G2 $150K

Awesome Maria...Has lived up to her name in two 2011 starts -- but did she just 'freak' over the GP surface? We'll find out today.
Absinthe Minded...If Beyers figs are to be believed this is the exacta horse.
Happy Week.

Wager: $5 exacta Awesome Maria over Absinthe Minded.
...$2 exacta Awesome Maria over Happy Week.


Pimlico: Dupont Distaff G3 $100K

Payton d'Oro...Came from Oaklawn to win the Black-Eyed Susan here last year. Minnor upset possibility.
Life At Ten...She's the one to beat on her best - but is she ready to give that?
Decelerator...More of a sprinter but might be interesting on the stretchout.
Super Espresso.

Wager: $5 WP on Payton d'Oro.
...$5 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$1 tri box top four.


Pimlico: Chick Lang $100K

Escort...Pletcher filly should appreciate the return to dirt.
Vengeful Wildcat...Lightly-raced but typically hits the exacta.
Ghost Is Clear...Like the top pick might be better on dirt.
Diski Dance.

Wager: $5 WP on Escort.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$1 tri box top four.


Pimlico: Murphy $100K

Joes Blazing Aaron...2-2 on turf.
Batter Up...Also 2-2 on turf.
Master Dunker...Should be heard from in the lane.
Lil Bit O'Fun.
Chinglish.

Wager: $5 WP on Joes Blazing Aaron.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four, sub next if scratch.
...$1 tri box top four, sub next if scratch.


Pimlico: Md Sprint Hcp G3 $100K

Immortal Eyes...Seems like one of these shippers from a lower-level circuit always manages to come through on the big-day undercard. This guy could be the one today.
Nathan's HQ...Always in the hunt.
Ventana...In from SoCal for Baffert.
China.

Wager: $5 WP on Immortal Eyes.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$1 tri box top four.


Pimlico: Gallorette Hcp G3 $100K

Dyna Waltz...Augustin/Sheppard runner back on turf.
Shared Account...BC F/M Turf winner is clearly the one to beat. Ran well in this race last year.
No Explaining...Has some closing punch.
Desert Sage.

Wager: $5 WP on Dyna Waltz.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$1 tri box top four.


Pimlico: Schaefer Mem G3 $100K

Icabad Crane...Won in the 2008 Tesio and subsequently third in the Preakness in two previous tries at this track.
Apart...Ran well - albeit without winning - in the older series at FG this winter.
Colizeo...Consistent stakes performer for Pletcher. Could become more dangerous as the lone speed if cross-entered Eighttofasttocatch scratches.
Eighttofasttocatch.
Researcher.

Wager: $5 WP on Icabad Crane.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four, sub next if scratch.
...$1 tri box top four, sub next if scratch.


Pimlico: Dixie G2 $200K

Paddy O'Prado...Top 3YO turfer last year makes 4YO debut. Layoff is the concern but sports a steady string of works.
Grand Rapport...Got good last year with move to turf and could be even better with some 3YO to 4YO maturity.
Slews Answer...No telling how good he might be at this point.
Baryshnikov.

Wager: $5 WP on Paddy O'Prado.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$1 tri box top four.


Pimlico: Preakness G1 $1mil

Animal Kingdom...Still has to prove the last wasn't a fluke on dirt - but looked the real deal. He could be a good one getting good at the right time.
Midnight Interlude...We like Baffert's confidence coming back in two weeks off of the Derby flop. Expect a rebound.
Mucho Macho Man...Hard-knocker alway shows up.
Mr Commons...Don't ignore this SoCal invader from Shirreffs.
Astrology...Disappointed as we had him on Derby Futures - but the late start makes this his third of 2011 and he wouldn't be a surprise to move forward today.

Wager: $5 WP on Animal Kingdom.
...$3 WPS on Mr Commons.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top five.
...$1 tri box top five.


Arlington: Hanshin G3 $100K

Workin for Hops...Turf runner has run well in limited synthetic tries.
Cool Bullet...Looks like a good fit here.
Country Flavor...Defending champ in this race.
Akhmatova.

Wager: $5 WP on Workin for Hops.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$1 tri box top four.


Hollywood: Milady Hcp G2 $150K

St Trinians...Third start of the season and back on the HOL surface she's run well on before.
Ultra Blend...Has won four of last five.
Washington Bridge...Back in from a decent try at KEE. 2-2 on this track.
Tanda.

Wager: $5 WP on St Trinians.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$1 tri box top four.


Hollywood: Railbird G3 $100K

Pedaltothemetal...Lightly-raced but improving.
Orientatious...Debut effort signalled she might compete with these.
Spectacular Sky...Got some experience against winners last time.
Big Tiz.

Wager: $5 WP on Pedaltothemetal.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$1 tri box top four.


If we are interested in both halves of an entry -- in event of a scratch -- it is noted that way [in other words, both halves are named]. If only one-half of the entry is named, then we prefer that half and will move to our next pick listed [rather than the other half of the entry] in event of a scratch.

Coast-to-coast Archives...Picks, plays and results from previous weeks

equidaily.com

Note: Pages on this site are labelled with the equidaily.com logo. Some links are for information only and lead to pages at other sites. equidaily.com is responsible only for the pages on this site. equidaily.com assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Always check with official sources to verify info.

E-mail any questions, comments, or suggestions:

email button

Copyright 2011 equidaily.com