Happy Preakness Day!

The Preakness is being run at Laurel Park this year while Old Hilltop is being rebuilt. The plan is then to consolidate Marlyand racing at Pimlico and Laurel will become a full-time training facility pending action by the Maryland State Legislature.

Trivia Question: The Preakness is Maryland’s race but it was run in New York at one point. Where and when was the Preakness contested in New York State?

Race 10 – The Dinner Party Grade III

One Mile and One Furlong on the Turf for Three Year Olds and Upward

1. What Say Thee: Eight year old runs here off a win in an allowance optional claimer race at Laurel where he stalked (86 Beyer) in his first race for the De Paz barn after being claimed from Mike Maker. Turf appears to be his preferred surface. Lasix OFF. Gets the acid test.
2. Thundering: Has hit the board in all three starts this year including a win in an N1X race at Tampa (86 Beyer) as he opened up in the final furlong. Should press the pace. Lasix OFF. Paco up. Not quite fast enough for the best in here.
3. Cruise the Nile: Has won four of five career starts for the Motion barn including the local prep for this race (the Henry Clark) as he came from off the pace (95 Beyer). That followed a 94 Beyer in winning an optional claimer event as he went gate to wire. Versatile runner with upside. Love the name – “Cruise the Nile” is by Cairo Prince and out of Party Boat. Using.
4. Fort Washington: Runs here off a freshening after finishing a close up sixth in Pegasus Turf (93 Beyer) and then a fourth in Canadian Turf Gulfstream (89 Beyer). Won this race year last year with the same prep schedule and went on to win the Arlington Million (99 Beyer). Gets significant class relief compared to recent races. I don’t think he’ll think get the pace he wants in front of him. Hits the board.
5. A Bourbon for Toby: Comes back in just nine days off a third place finish in an Allowance Optional claiming race (82 Beyer) where he was no match for Integration. Attracts Irad. Lasix OFF. Trainer Stat: Tom Morley wins a 38% clip with horses coming back in under ten days from a small sample (3/8) and hit the board in 88% of those races (7/8). Underneath.
6. Dresden Row: Was running at Woodbine on the all-weather track where he won the Autumn Stakes (97 Beyer) last Fall. Was bought for $575k and moved to the Pletcher barn who put him on the turf and he promptly won an allowance race at Keeneland (93 Beyer) with a pace pressing trip. Will look for similar trip with pace drawn to his inside. Lasix OFF. Prat in the irons. The Pick.
7. Harrow: The more ground the better for this one. The mile distance did not suit in his two most recent efforts. He was decent in marathon stakes races last summer and while he does get more ground than a mile today, I think he prefers longer. Looking elsewhere.

Picks 6–3-5-4

Race 13 – The Preakness Grade I

One Mile and Three Sixteenths on the Dirt for Three Year Olds

1. Taj Mahal: Local hero is undefeated in three starts including a romp in the Federico Tesio Stakes (92 Beyer). Shows improvement in each of his three career starts. Likes the lead and should be sent from the rail to avoid being shuffled back. Needs to avoid a speed duel. Contender.
2. Ocelli: Drew in off the AE list in the Derby and made it count as he came from off the pace to get third place at 70-1. Got his nose in front in the final sixteenth before Renegade and winner Golden Tempo overtook him. Two back in the Wood he had a similar closing trip (81 Beyer) to also get up for third. Still a maiden but the race flow does suit this one. Small slice.
3. Crupper: Runs here off a win in the ungraded Bathhouse Row at Oaklawn where he pressed the pace and then took over after the first quarter (80 Beyer). Needs a big improvement. Passing.
4. Robusta: Drew into the Derby but was no impact 14^th (72 Beyer). Two back in the Santa Anita Derby he dueled on the lead but was done mid-stretch (76 Beyer). Don’t see it.
5. Talkin: Was a distant third in the Blue Grass (87 Beyer) – but no one was catching Further Ado that day. Two back in the Tampa Bay Derby he sat off the leader but was empty in the lane (85 Beyer). Fired a bullet last weekend in advance of this race. Possible at a price.
6. Chip Honcho: Has done his best work on the front end but he is not likely get the lead today. In the Louisiana Derby he stalked the leaders but faded (73 Beyer). That followed a strong second in the Risen Star where he almost went wire to wire but was caught by a 3/5 Paladin (92 Beyer). Race flow doesn’t suit.
7. The Hell We Did: Was a solid second in the Lexington (81 Beyer) as he pressed Corona de Oro but was outkicked by Trendsetter. That was his first two turn effort. Will need to lay off a potential hot pace – but even if gets his trip, is he fast enough going two turns? Gimmicks only.
8. Bull by the Horns: Last out he won the black type Rushaway Stakes on the all-weather at Turfway where he went last to first (70 Beyer) as he bested Trendsetter who then won the Lexington but was a so-so third in the Peter Pan. Needs a major improvement to contend but a pace collapse could put him on the board.
9. Iron Honor: Stalked in the Wood but was flat late (76 Beyer) after breaking from post 12 and got hung wide and was left chasing a hot pace. Won the one-turn Gotham two back (90 Beyer). Blinkers come OFF and Prat takes over. Look for a stalking trip today from the outside. Only horse in this field to win a graded stakes as a three year old. Form is dirtied up given that trip in the Wood. Using.
10. Napoleon Solo: Tried to take the field the whole way in the Wood but was caught in the final eighth (81 Beyer) finishing fourth. That followed a flop in the Fountain of Youth. Dominated the Champagne last Fall (95 Beyer). Paco stays aboard. Is he a two turn horse? I’ll pass.
11. Corona de Oro: Last time he stretched out in the Lexington Stakes where he went to the lead and tried to take them all the way but couldn’t hold on (80 Beyer). Does he want this much ground? Passing.
12. Incredibolt: Was a good sixth in the Derby where he was in position as he made his run from off the pace but Renegade lugged into him. He did regather and ran on strong to the wire (89 Beyer). Won the Virgina Derby with a convincing four length win (88 Beyer). Normally wouldn’t be fast enough to win a Preakness, but with this group it’s a different story. Tactical type and distance suits. Should sit mid-pack behind a potential strong early pace. The Pick.
13. Great White: Scratched in the Derby after he flipped just prior to loading in the gate. Won the John Battaglia at Turfway Park on the all-weather track this winter (84 Beyer). Needs to prove it on dirt after a flop in the Blue Grass in his only dirt race. Don’t see it.
14. Pretty Boy Miah: Broke his maiden sprinting and then went then bested starter allowance company going the flat mile (92 Beyer). Speedster should be sent from this far outside post. Big class jump. Won’t have it his own way. Passing.

Picks 12-9-1-2

Trivia Answer: From 1894 through 1908 the Preakness was contested at the long gone Gravesend Race Track in southern Brooklyn. The race returned to Pimlico in 1909. It also was run once at Morris Park in the Bronx in 1890.