5/18/13 Pimlico Late Pick Four - Preview

It's Preakness Day at Pimlico, as the racing world's eyes turn towards Baltimore to see if Orb can capture the second leg of thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown (spoiler alert: I think he will).  Following are some thoughts regarding the Late Pick Four:

RACE 9 - The Gallorette Handicap

# 4 Samitar (GB) (Morning Line 5-2) a multiple Grade 1 Stakes winner, gets some class relief today.  # 3 Pianist (ML 4-1) and # 5 Old Tune (BRZ) (ML 5-1) shape up as the early front runners; if either one falters, the other could win this in a cake walk.  # 6 Embarr (ML 8-1) comes off a win in the Dahlia Stakes her last time out; a win which made her a perfect three-for-three over this turf course.  But, all things considered, this one strikes me as a potential chaos race.

RACE 10 - The Maryland Sprint Handicap

# 10 Sage Valley (ML 5-2) has posted steadily increasing Beyer Speed Figures in each of his races, culminating in a career best (and career best in this field) 105 his last time out. # 4 Hardened Wildcat (ML 4-1) is the only other entrant in this field that has posted a triple-digit beyer in any of his last three outings.  Hardened Wildcat also has a late running style that could serve him well if things get too wild up front.

RACE 11 - The Dixie

# 9 Swift Warrior (ML 4-1) has back-to-back Graded Stakes victories and just misses by less than a length of having three in a row coming into this one.  # 1 Willcox Inn (ML 6-1) just missed in the Grade 2 Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Handicap his last time out.  # 2 Optimized (ML 7-2) is a multi-Graded Stakes winner that will be guided by the hot hand of Jockey Joel Rosario.

RACE 12 - The Preakness

Try as I might, I could not make a serious case to go against # 1 Orb (ML 1-1).  While it probably won't be as chaotic as it was in the Derby, the pace in this one should be hot, especially with new shooters # 3 Titletown Five (ML 30-1) and # 8 Governor Charlie (ML 12-1) joining the mix.  This one shapes up to be won by someone running late, and of all the late runners in this field, Orb looks to be the unquestionable best.

So with all that, I'll be putting in the following Late Pick Four Ticket at Pimlico:

RACE 9 - ALL

RACE 10 - 4, 10

RACE 11 - 1, 2, 9

RACE 12 - 1

Play it for half a buck, and the whole thing will cost you $24.00

Good luck to all.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo