PIMLICO PICKS AND PONDERINGS: may 12, 2024
In which we pick the races from Pimlico each day…
Post time: 12:25 p.m.
Carryovers:
Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $7,069
Super High 5 — $6,189
Late Pick 5 — $0
Check out our other handicapping here!
RACE 1: CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS, 6 FURLONGS
6-1-3-2
The Robbs have them surrounded in the opener. Jerry trains my top pick; Gina trains the runner-up. #6 Gabriel Seven (7-5) won impressively at this level two starts back, then pressed the pace while wide and held in there until late against older horses in his last start. Dropping back to this condition should be a relief for him. #1 Dream River (8-1) led most of the way at this level last out, but got caught late by next-out winner Paco the Taco Man and finished second. He should control the pace on the rail on a track that has at least favored speed so far. #3 Ascendance (5-2) closed well and lost in a three-horse blanket finish last out, packing the best late punch he’s shown in a while in the process.
RACE 2: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES
2-5-1-11
“Long as I remember, rain come pouring down…clouds of mystery forming, confusion on the ground…” #2 Lute Warm (2-1) broke terribly when well-bet on debut, but gobbled up ground and finished a credible third. The winner, Riley G, came back to win next out, while runner-up Dynamism finished third against maidens at Keeneland in her next performance. This one should handle this off-the-grass group easily. #5 Mischief Motion (9-2) ran a much-improved race second off a 10-month layoff last out, racing near the pace and hanging on to miss by 3 1/2 lengths while facing winners. She’s facing as easy a maiden field as she’s seen in a while, with the exception of Lute Warm. #1 Bold Look (30-1) ran on well despite a wide trip at Tampa Bay Downs last out, and should make up decent ground from off the pace once again.
- Siesta Key takes Kitten’s Joy thrillerTwo-year-old Siesta Key found a seam and narrowly won the Kitten’s Joy Stakes Saturday at Colonial Downs in his first try on turf.
RACE 3: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS, 1 1/16 MILES
5-6-4-3
After two middling races to begin his career, #5 Bet the Line (5-1) turned in a big effort to break his maiden last out. Dueling partner Northern Cardinal and favored Eff Thirty Five, who stalked the pace both ended up well-beaten, but Bet the Line drew off to win easily at a mile. He shouldn’t have much problem with the extra sixteenth. #6 Workislife (8-5) raced wide most of the way last out, but ran on well late and got second behind the uber-promising Quint’s Brew. There’s no one in here nearly as good as that rival, and he’s been in improving form with ascending late pace figures. #4 Goodbye Note (9-2) exits the same race as Workislife. He didn’t break well and didn’t get to his usual spot on the lead, but with the right setup, he could find himself lonesome on the lead.
RACE 4: MAIDEN CLAIMING $30,000, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, 5 FURLONGS
14-8-3-2
With the 8-race card, the late pick 5 starts here. #14 Yangarra (3-1) goes first off the claim by Rudy Sanchez-Salomon. He battled on the lead as the 2-5 favorite and faded last out, but finds himself in a washed-off spot where he has by far the best dirt form. This looks like a “now or never” spot for him. #8 Watch Out World (7-2) was scratched out of a similar spot yesterday, and reappears here. He chased the pace on debut in the Timonium season finale and held second. The horse he chased, Force of Justice, won that day, and has won three additional times since. This one hasn’t raced since then, but has some decent recent drills at his Belmont Park base, and should put in a good effort in his 3-year-old bow. #3 White Series (10-1) has showed speed and faded in his last start, but looks like the main speed in here, and should be able to control things on the rail.
RACE 5: CLAIMING $12,500 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES
7-8-4-5
#7 I Had Enough (3-1) dueled on the pace last out, sent dueling partner, and favorite, Kick Startness, to a sound defeat, and held second behind a surging last-to-first rival. This is the first time he’s been beyond seven furlongs, but he at least has the pace advantage over the others. #8 Verbier (5-1) has been super-consistent as of late, running a brisnet figure between 75 and 78 in each of his last five races. He’s won at this distance in the past, and should be able to least rally for a share. #4 Money Room (2-1) finally broke his maiden at 23rd asking last out, coming from just off the pace and kicking away. Hot-riding J.G. Torrealba, who rode him to victory last time, keeps the mount, and should work out a nice trip.
RACE 6: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 5 FURLONGS
1-3-8-6
#1 Lady Serenity (8-1) got bumped around at the start last out, and didn’t do much from there, but at her peak, she has a lot of speed and will be tough to catch with a clean beginning. #3 Dissolute (5-2) was an uber-impressive maiden winner at Delaware Park in October 2022, then showed speed and faded as the favorite in the Smart Halo Stakes next out. She hasn’t raced in a year and a half, but has worked well at Cal Lynch’s Fair Hill base, and looks to have the class edge over these. #8 Winked (3-1) chased the pace and faded against second-level foes last out, and goes out for the first time since December 16. She couldn’t catch better rivals for most of last year, but if Lady Serenity can’t last, and Dissolute isn’t ready off such a long break, this one will take full advantage.
- Wendell Fong’s long route to the finish lineIt was a long, twisting road for eight-year-old gelding Wendell Fong, but it’s ending up in the right place: with the retirement he’s earned.
RACE 7: ALLOWANCE (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES
7-3-4-1
#7 Northern Glow (7-5) is also in prime “now or never” territory. She’s lost her last three tries at this level, going off at 11-10 or shorter each time, but she still ran a big race despite getting pace-compromised last out, and has the highest ceiling of anyone in the race. #3 Angelofcanterbury (3-1) won against Maryland-bred allowance rivals in a gate-to-wire effort last out, and while it’s not a difficult task holding off Golden Charm late, she should once again be tough on the pace. #4 Rowsie Express (9-2) got up to win at Parx two starts back with a solid late bid, then was even more pace-compromised than Northern Glow in the same April 19 affair. She’ll try to take advantage if her stablemate can’t last.
RACE 8: CLAIMING $20,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES
3-7-9-12
Jamie Ness has a knack for spotting horses well in off-the-grass events, and that’s what he’s done with #3 Jeeper (7-5). He’s coming off an impressive win at Parx last out where he rated off the leaders and drew away to win with an 85, not far off his two-back mark of 93. He should crush these with any kind of trip. #7 Maryland Moon (10-1) struggled in his last start, but has a good workout since then, consistent upper-70s/low-80s form prior to that, and gets Torrealba aboard for the first time. #9 Thataway (15-1) goes first off the claim by Lacey Gaudet, and looks to duplicate his performance two races ago, where he ran on well late after a wide trip, but couldn’t hold off Austin From Boston’s late surge.
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