Pimlico picks and ponderings August 6, 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 -$10,216 Super High 5 — $0 Late Pick 5 — $0

ANALYSIS

RACE 1: MAIDEN CLAIMING $40,000, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

• 3-6-2-5
•  We’re in the homestretch of the Pimlico summer meet. Only nine days remain before the action switches to Timonium for the first time since 2019. #3 Imperial Moon (2/1) goes second off the claim for Alex Martinez, and has dominant early speed. She almost wired a maiden special weight field at Delaware Park last out before getting caught in the last few strides. Looks to take them gate-to-wire here. #6 Hashtag Lucky (6/1) has hit the board in her last four starts, and made a strong five-wide bid in her local debut to get second against similar. Could round out exactas and trifectas at a decent number. #2 Misty’s Banshee (8/5) makes her career debut for Brittany Russell, who, interestingly, puts Kevin Gomez in the saddle. She’ll get plenty of money because of her trainer, but she’s one of two debuters in a field where most of the horses have experience. Playing a bit cautiously with her. 
• RACE 2: CLAIMING $16,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES
• 2-1-3-6

• #2 Lady Fox (9/5) hit the board in her last two dirt starts at Parx. Both times, she closed strongly from far behind, but was outkicked by rivals who sat perfect trips just off the lead. Sunday Diaz gets the mount for the first time. It’ll be interesting to see if he decides to keep her closer to the pace. If he does, her closing kick may be more impactful. #1 Imagine Victory (4/1) hasn’t missed the board in her last seven races, and was an impressive winner against n/w2L company last out at Charles Town. She’ll try to rate just off the pace and draw off. #3 Acadian Girl (6/1) also won a n/w2L race last out, going gate-to-wire. Far and away her best races have come when she’s allowed to coast on the lead. If she can get to the lead and the rail, she might get away once again. 

RACE 3: MAIDEN CLAIMING $25,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 5 FURLONGS

• 4-3-5-7
• #4 Six O’Clock Sarah (9/5) gets back to dirt and drops in class. She improved in her second career start, holding on well until the last eighth and improving her brisnet figure five points, to a 62. John Salzman Jr and J.D. Acosta have been a sharp trainer/jockey combination as of late, with four wins from seven starts together. #3 Shemademelucky (9/2) got bet in her debut at Delaware against maiden special weight horses, but she was hung wide most of the way, and in a five-furlong race with a short run to the turn, she didn’t have much of a chance. She’ll have a short run here as well, but at least she’s drawn better. #5 Click to Confirm (2/1) is another Brittany Russell firster, but Sheldon Russell has the mount on this one. This makes me feel more confident in her chances. 

ANALYSIS

RACE 4: MAIDEN CLAIMING $16,000, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, 1 1/16 MILES (GRASS)

• 11-8-7-3
• #11 My Dream Girl (9/2) races at this level on grass for the first time, and has held her own with strong closing rallies in recent outings at the $25,000 level. In her grass debut, on Black-Eyed Susan day, she was 20 lengths out of it at the opening quarter, and although she made good ground, she proved to not be a factor. She was third when a bit closer to the pace in her last grass start. Will look to be heard from late against softer foes. #8 Coral Summer (6/1), like My Dream Girl, is making her sixth career start. She’s been holding her own at this level, running two figures of at least 67 within her last three starts. Looks to pack an extra punch after flattening out in her last race. #7 Dixie’s Fascinator (5/1) ran a big race in her last start, which was her third off the layoff. She enjoyed a good trip stalking the pace and led briefly in the stretch, but held on for third, beaten less than a length. It was also her first start around two turns, and she passed that test. 
• RACE 5: STARTER ALLOWANCE $5,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 5 1/2 FURLONGS
• 5-4-9-7
• #5 Savagery (4/1) cruised to a gate-to-wire win against better at Penn National last out, setting fast fractions and drawing off late with an impressive figure of 90. There’s plenty of speed drawn to his inside, but he looks fast enough to outrun them all early. Andrew Wolfsont, who has been riding him at Penn National, comes in just for this mount. #4 Wonder In (9/2) made his fist start off the layoff a winning one, just getting up for a n/w1x win here last out. Should be a factor on the early pace. #9 Revolutionary Road (9/2) has won three of his last four, including his last two races at this level, but he’s never faced a field this tough during his streak. 
• RACE 6: CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 MILE (GRASS)

• 1-9-7-10
• #1 King Bubble (7/5) didn’t let a super-long layoff bother him in his last grass start, as he beat a similar field going away. He was eased in a washed-off race at Penn National last out, but at least it got a start into him; that was his first race in ten weeks. If he runs back to the 82 he earned in that win, he’ll be very tough. This’ll be his first grass start for Claudio Gonzalez. #9 Uhwarrie Sky (5/1) has shown early speed in his last three starts, and it’s led to two in-the-money finishes. Last out, he battled through very fast early fractions at Colonial Downs, but held in gamely until the last eighth. Without much other early speed, he could find himself very loose on the lead. #7 Crazy Kater (6/1) drops in class and looks for a rebound after a dull race at Penn National last out. He earned a career-high figure of 84 two races back when he made a bold but premature move for third. 

ANALYSIS

RACE 7 – STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $16,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

• 2-3-4-1
• #2 Tweet Away Robin (8/5) has surged and just missed in her last two starts. She ran back-to-back figures of 86 in those races, well above the recent numbers of her rivals. #3 Blitchon Lady (5/2) was claimed out of her last start, a gate-to-wire win at Parx, by Scott Lake. She’ll get a challenge for the lead from her outside by Magical Luna, but she’s got the edge of an inside draw and more recent races. #4 Joyful Noise (7/2) has won three straight while steadily climbing the class ladder. She’s gotten up in the last few jumps to win all those races, so she’ll hope for a fast pace to close into. 
• RACE 8: MAIDEN CLAIMING $16,000, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 FURLONGS

• 4-3-5-6
• #4 Windrush Karma (7/5) got involved in a speed duel last out at Delaware, and held on to finish second, beating her dueling partner by more than ten lengths. She’s making her third start here, so she’s got plenty of room for improvement. #3 Digital Dream (5/1) goes first off the claim for Damon Dilodovico and tries dirt for the first time. She had a lot of gate problems in her first two races, but she’s had about eight weeks off since her last race. Hopefully, she’s been working on her gate issues in the interim. #5 Expect the Sunrise (2/1) races second off the layoff and gets a much-needed cutback in distance and drop in class. 

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