Maryland racing analyst Gabby Gaudet has thoughts on this afternoon’s big card — a Pick 4 and a Super High 5!
PICK FOUR
Laurel Park has a 50-cent Pick Four beginning in race 6. Post time for the 6th is 2:56.
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/Long ticket
- Race 6 – 2, 7
- Race 7 – 5, 6, 8,
- Race 8 – 1, 6, 7, 8, 11
- Race 9 – 1, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13
- Wager cost: $90
Short ticket
- Race 6 – 7
- Race 7 – 5, 6, 8
- Race 8 – 6, 8, 11
- Race 9 – 1, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13
- Wager cost: $27
Gabby says….
“Race 6 is the Smart Halo for two year-old fillies going six furlongs. I think that #7 Co Cola is no joke, and she’s the likely winner here. The day she broke her maiden, the maiden race for boys went just one-fifth faster than she did. And the winner of that race, Cairo Prince, came back to win the G2 Nashua… Especially in that last race, #2 Bacopa Breeze dueled the whole way with another filly and then just exploded at the top of the stretch. That was an impressive race…
“Race 7, the Dave’s Friend, is an interesting field. I think #6 Service for Ten is a sneaky good horse and in really good form now. He had no racing luck at all last time in the De Francis, was shut off a couple of times in the lane, and still ran on to be third… It feels like there’s a lot of speed here, which sets up well for Service for Ten. I’ll put #5 Action Andy in here, too. I thought his last, the Maryland Million Sprint, would have a contested pace that he could sit off of, but as it developed, Ribo Bobo was by himself and long gone. Still I thought that was a huge effort off the layoff. #8 Guam Typhoon has been running really well and really consistently. I think he may be the speed of the speed, and he’s shown the heart to fight it out on the lead and still win.
“In the James F. Lewis for two year-olds, my top pick is #6 Aarons Orient. He’s an improving type, switches into the Todd Pletcher barn, and is coming off a good win in a stake at Remington; the third-place finisher that day came back to win a stake in his next race. That said, there are a lot of ways to go here. This will be a true test for #1 It’s a Bang, who’s done everything right so far. #11 Corfu has certainly been good so far, winning the G2 Saratoga Special and finishing second in the G2 Futurity… In a race that looks to have a lot of speed, a horse that can rate, like #7 Debt Ceiling, might be in a good spot, and I think he has excuses for a couple of tough recent outings…
“I think you have to go deep in the ninth, a second-level turf allowance. My top pick is #13 Kathy’s Kitten. Hugh McMahon has been on a roll lately at Laurel, and this horse is is 2-for-2 on the Laurel turf course… I think #1 English Bloke is an interesting longshot. He’s stepping up in company, but he’s won both his tries sprinting on the turf, and I thought he looked impressive winning the allowance race last out. Look for him to gun for the lead from the rail.”
SUPER HIGH 5
Race 4 – The Jennings Handicap
- 2-7-1-3-5
- #2 Eighttofasttocatch has a big class edge on this group and figures to be the lone speed. Look for #3 Concealed Identity to outrun his 15-1 odds and add some value to the wager.
Good luck!
(Featured image, of Ben’s Cat, by Laurie Asseo.)
