Pimlico picks and ponderings May 7, 2021

Horses round the first turn at Pimlico. Photo: Dottie Miller

In which we pick the races from Pimlico each day…

Post time: 12:40 p.m.

Carryovers: Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $14,941 Super High 5 — $0 Late Pick 5 — $0

RACE 1: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $16,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 FURLONGS

1-5-6-4
A field of six begins today’s card. The track will be FAST to start, but that could change as rain is forecasted for later in the day. #1 No More Talk (9/2) got the trip last out and took advantage, but got run down in the last eighth. Goes first off the claim for Kevin Dove and once again should rate on the inside. #5 Day the Music Died (7/5) takes a drop from the $25,000 level and has been facing better pretty consistently, but will almost certainly get overbet because of it. He hasn’t been able to finish his rallies as of late, but can really roll when he’s right. #6 Revolutionary Road (12/1) is jumping in class, but he earned a solid brisnet figure of 82 in a conditioned $5,000 race last out, and has loads of early speed. He looks fast enough to clear from the outside post and set his own terms.

RACE 2: MAIDEN CLAIMING $10,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

1-3-4-7
#1 Raven Rahy (3/1) got hung wide on debut and faded after showing speed, now gets a much more favorable draw. Brittany Russell is an excellent 41% with second-time starters. Worth noting that Sheldon did not pick up the mount here, that honor goes to John Hiraldo instead. #3 Moonzano (9/5) is usually forwardly placed, but had to show a new dimension last out when he got stuck near the back of the pack and was forced wide. In spite of that, he rallied well and just missed. Carol Cedeno has been on a hot streak. #4 Scottsdale (2/1) goes first off the claim for John Salzman and ran a big race on the lead first off the bench last out.
RACE 3: CLAIMING $5,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

7-8-4-3
#7 Solea (7/2) has run in the 70s in each of her last three races, her three best career races. She’s one of two in the field who has run that fast every time in her last three. Cleared her n/w2L condition handily two back, looks to rebound from a visually dull effort last out. #8 Bean Indiscreet (8/5) also recently cleared her n/w2L status, showing speed and drawing off. Charlie Marquez rode her in that effort, and he gets back aboard here. She will be tough if she can clear from the far outside post, and the early pace figures indicate that she can. #4 Cougar Vision (5/2) has been steadily improving, peaking at a 74 last out when closing strongly for the victory. Races for the first time since February 21, but Dale Bennett is a sharp 29% first off a 46-90 day break.

ANALYSIS

RACE 4: CLAIMING $16,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE (GRASS)

6-14-13-7 (DIRT: 12-1-2-10)
#6 Bourbon Gal (2/1) was a speed demoness last summer on grass, but couldn’t quite translate that form to dirt in two starts last fall before going on the bench. Interested to see how she does stretching out. She’s lost against winners just once on grass. #14 Mahkato (10/1) also has early speed, and some relatively recent grass races under her belt, having competed on the lawn at Tampa Bay Downs over the winter. Her lone career win came on this grass course. #13 Cold Hearted Cat (12/1) was facing better in New York last fall and running a string of solid mid-70s figures in the process. Any of those races would be good enough to win, if she can find her best form first off the layoff.

RACE 5 – CLAIMING $10,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

6-2-5-3

#6 Speechin and Teachin (4/1) ran a big race first time against winners last out, chasing an ambitious pace and leading briefly late before getting caught by a closer. Earned a career-best figure of 70 there. If things are a bit slower on the front end, he’s got a big shot. #2 Sheriff Chip (5/1) makes his first start against winners, and just his fourth start overall. He went gate-to-wire last out with a strong number of 81; he’ll try to work out a similar trip here. He’ll have to deal with #5 Martini Lane (7/2) on the early lead. That one likes to show speed but can’t seem to finish the deal. A good candidate for underneath spots.

RACE 6: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

7-5-1-3
There’s two guaranteed scratches in here, as Gifted Heart and Paisley Singing both raced yesterday. #7 Vics Cool Cat (7/2) has won three of her last four in gate-to-wire style, and is a neck away from a four-race winning streak. It’s no secret this is a speed-favoring track, which plays right into her style. #5 Kiss the Girl (5/2) sat the trip and won the Conniver Stakes against Maryland-breds last out. This is a similar spot in terms of quality. She hasn’t regressed in any of her last five starts, peaking at a 90 with that stakes win. Should rate right off Vics Cool Cat and take advantage if she stops. #1 S W Briar Rose (12/1) finished fifth in the Conniver last out, and tends to make good middle moves which could get her a piece of the minors here.

1ANALYSIS

RACE 7 – ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES

3-2-1-4
A short but competitive field lines up for today’s co-feature. This race may come down to who gets the early lead, and the #3 Artful Splatter (2/1) is the most likely one to get it, in my eyes. She won a stakes at Delaware Park last summer in gate-to-wire style, showed speed before fading in the Conniver, and has the best early pace figures in the race. #2 Mia Bella Rossa (3/1) saw her four-race winning streak snapped last out at Parx, when she got hung wide on the pace and backed up. Should save more ground here, and could at least rate off the pace towards the inside if she can’t get to the front. #1 Gracetown (7/2) ships down from New York and has showed lots of heart in the stretch in each of her last three races. Should also send from the inside post.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, MD-BRED, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

1-5-7-8 (DIRT: 5-4-6-8)
#1 Sweet Talking Girl (5/1) closed from behind to break her maiden in sharp style in her last start, which came last July. She’s been working well getting ready for her 2021 debut for trainer Graham Motion. #5 Lookin Dynamic (5/2) finished second by less than a length in the Conniver, but held her own against open company on the grass last fall. Having races under her belt this year is an added bonus. #7 Mosalah (5/1) was third in the Maryland Million Ladies last fall, and makes her first start since then here. She steadily ran figures in the 70s last year, and will contend if she can run back to that first off the bench.

RACE 9 – MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS

8-6-1-3
#8 Ghidorah (7/2) ran a big figure of 81 on debut, closing on the inside to finish second, more than seven lengths clear of third. Will be tough if he can come close to that race again. #6 Mohs (8/1) finished second on debut to It Can Be Done, who came back to win the Nownownow Stakes next out, and was later third in the Cutler Bay Stakes. This one faces a field of mostly firsters and has been working well both here and at Delaware. #1 Vanhoofer (3/1) is a first-time starter for Ben Perkins, who is 29% with such horses. He’s had bullet workouts in three of his last four drills.