Gabby Gaudet’s Saturday longshots and exotic plays

The Racing Biz is happy to debut a new feature this morning.  Each Saturday, we’ll talk with Maryland Jockey Club racing analyst Gabby Gaudet to get her take on the best exotic plays and longshots on that afternoon’s card.  We are looking forward to sharing her insights with you in the weeks to come.

LATE PICK FOUR

Laurel Park‘s late Pick Four starts in race 7, the Lady Baltimore, with a base 50 cent bet.  It also includes the Laurel Dash, the Laurel Turf Cup, and the De Francis Dash.  Post time for the seventh is 4:18.

MJC analyst Gabby Gaudet will share her longshot and exotic plays with The Racing Biz each Saturday. Photo courtesy of the Maryland Jockey Club.

Gabby’s Selections

• Race 7 – 4, 6, 11
• Race 8 – 5, 10
• Race 9 – 1, 2, 8, 13
• Race 10 – 3, 6, 9
• Wager cost: $36

Gabby says….

“In the Lady Baltimore, I do think number 4, Abaco, is in a class of her own here.  If you get 7-2 on her, which I don’t think you will, I would go right to the window.  You look at some of the horses she’s finished behind recently — Grade 1 winner Samitar up at Saratoga, Centre Court, who’s won five graded stakes — and I just think she’s in a completely different class… I think number 11 Namaskara has the same type of class advantage as Abaco — she’s been chasing horses like Laughing and Dayatthespa, both Grade 1 winners, and Ruthenia… Number 6 Nashly’s Vow has been a rocket ever since they put her on the turf; this is big step up for her, but I think she has a chance to run well…

“The Laurel Dash is an easy spot for number 10 Ben’s Cat, and I will always root for him, just because he’s a terrific horse.  I think he’ll win, but if he doesn’t, number 5 Super Chunky is one with a chance to upset.  He absolutely loves jockey Malcolm Franklin.  They really suit each other, and I’m very confident this horse will run well today…

“I really like number 13, Eagle Poise, in the Laurel Turf Cup.  I thought he ran a spectacular race last time out, where he finished just behind Atigun, and I think he turns the tables today.  Matt Rispoli rides for Graham Motion, and they’ve been having some success recently… Of course, you can’t toss number 1 Atigun, who’s run some really good races… I want to throw number 8 Dannhauser in here, too.  He loves pressure, he loves to run through traffic, and he’s probably going to have plenty of it with this big field.  Trainer Kathleen O’Connell wasn’t very happy with his rides the last couple of times, so we’ll see if Julian Pimentel can give him the kind of ride that she hopes for…

“In the De Francis Dash, I’m going with one of my favorites — number 6 Sage Valley, who just wins and wins.  I thought he definitely held his own in the G1 Forego even though it doesn’t look great on paper, and when you look at how well he ran in some of his earlier races, he’s kind of in a different class… I’m going to throw in number 3 Service for Ten.  I don’t know how trainer Damon Dilodovico can get his horses ready after months on the shelf, but that’s his M.O.  This horse loves Laurel and loves this distance; this is a step up from his last race, but I think he can make it… Number 7 Il Villano has a lot to prove after his long break.  But he’s another one: he loves this track — remember how close he came in last year’s De Francis, when he battled down the stretch with Action Andy — and he loves this distance, with five wins in eight tries.  I think he’ll show up today.”

LONGSHOT PLAYS

• Race 7 – #6 Nashly’s Vow (15-1 morning line) — “a rocket ever since they put her on the turf.”
• Race 8 – #5 Super Chunky (8-1) — “very confident that he will hit the board… a win candidate if… if… Ben’s Cat gets beat, which I don’t think will happen.”
• Race 9 – #13 Eagle Poise (6-1) — “connections really like this horse, and this spot, in his second off a layoff, though you may not get the morning line on him at the windows.”

AND A BONUS EXOTIC…

The Super High Five requires you to choose the first five finishers in order.  Gabby’s Race 10 Super High Five selection is: 6-3-7-2-1.

Good luck!

(Featured image, of Ben’s Cat, by Laurie Asseo.)