Saturday, May 16, 2015

5/16 Pimlico - Preakness Stakes

I am in Baltimore for the Preakness, so I am unable to post all the stakes races for Saturday.  Below are my Preakness Stakes selections and thoughts.

Pre Scratches


Race 13 - 1-3/16 miles Preakness Stakes G1 - Play
A - #2 Dortmund (7/2) - Tired with an easy lead in the Ky Derby. There seems to be a lot of other speed in this race, but the same thing was said in 2012 and Shackleford went gate to wire. I don't think anyone is going to want to run early with the top 3 that seem so dominant and that could open the door for Dortmund to get a clear lead. A clear lead in the Preakness has proven to be dangerous, see Oxbow in 2013. I think he'll rebound off the Derby and run a big race, whether it is good enough to win or not I'm unsure. But, if he can get a clear lead and/or if Pharoah gets boxed in, then I think he has a big shot. Any of those scenarios could very well happen. Sometimes jockeys are busy trying to keep track of the horse to beat that they forgot about the major threat on the lead. Win selection, definite exotics use.
B - #8 Firing Line (4-1) - Was the winner of the post position draw. Gary Stevens can sit outside of horses, which allows him to watch and react easily to what is going on inside of him. A lot has been made of how much American Pharoah had to work to win the Ky Derby, but little has been said that Firing Line had to work just as hard. And, he seemed to tire late and drift just before the wire. It wouldn't be a shock if he regressed off his Ky Derby effort, but I also wouldn't be surprised if he moved forward. Regardless, the post position draw is a big plus in his corner, esp since American Pharoah drew the rail. Win chance, definite exotics use.
C - #1 American Pharoah (4/5) - Had he drawn outside, he would have been my top selection. A lot depends on what happens at the break. Does American Pharoah go for the lead? Does Martin Garcia on Dortmund leave space on the inside for his stablemate or does he get ahead of him and shut the door. The other thing that could make the post position a non-factor is if Dortmund, Firing Line and American Pharoah separate themselves from the rest of this mediocre pack on the far turn. That would allow him to move out and swing wide. Positives - got the best of these in the Derby while fighting down the entire stretch, has the tactical speed to get good position early, is the best horse in the race, if the track turns up wet he has already won in the slop. Negatives - rail post position could easily get him boxed in, not sure how he will handle kick back, other jockeys could be riding to keep him boxed. Lots to consider. Definite win contender and exotics use.
D - #7 Diving Rod (12-1) - Ran well we easily beating rivals in the Lexington Stakes. He'll need a step forward to win and horses that ran in the Ky Derby dominate the win category in the Preakness. Good exotics horse.
E - #4 Danzig Moon (15-1) - Ran evenly around the track in the Kentucky Derby. Don't think he can move forward enough to win against the top 3, but he could very well crack the exotics. Exotics use.

Multi-Race Horses:  2,8,1
Suggest Plays: 

$2 - 2,8,1 / 2,8,1 / 2,8,1 = $12
$0.50 - 2,8,1 / 2,8,1 / 2,8,1,7,4,3 = $12
$0.50 - 2,8,1 / 2,8,1,7,4,3 / 2,8,1 = $12
$0.50 - 2,8,1 / 7,4,3 / 7,4,3 = $9
$1 - 2,8 / 2,8,1 / 2,8,1,7,4,3 = $16


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