Corrected Version “Bonus Coverage:” McLean’s Selections for Pimlico Stakes Races on Preakness Day 150

(Stats to be updated)

Here’s our looks and comments on the Stakes races at Pimlico today, as we all get ready to celebrate Preakness Stakes 150:

4th: Maryland Sprint…6/5/7-2-3/1-4…My first bet of the day comes here and it is my first “Key Play of the Day,” too. I hook up with Booth (6). This 4YO son of Mitole was bred to sprint and that is what he does. In 7 starts at this distance, he has 5 wins. He runs fast, too. He wants the lead. When he doesn’t get it, he doesn’t win. If he does get it? Well, watch out. I hope he gets it. I bet the 6 to win/place and double down on the win wager. I will key the 6 over/under the 5-7-2-3 in the exactas. More with the 5 than the rest. 

6th: Skipat Stakes…5/3/1/4-7//2…Zeitlos (5) is another “single,” for me and my second “Key Play of the Day” in Baltimore. Goes for a trainer who is a bit on the chilly side. Winning at a .13% rate for the year, but not clicking like we have come to see from a HOF barn operation. But this one will make the ’25 debut here and won off the bench to start ’24. In 9 times at this distance, has 6 wins and a second. Is a G2 winner. I just love this one, if ready to pop. I bet the 5 across the board and double down on the win wager. Triple down. I key the 5 over/under the 3-1-4-7. More with the 3 than the rest. 

7th: G3 Galore Stakes…9-8/3-2/6-1-7/4…Way to Be Marie (9) looks best for me. This 4YO filly comes in off a win at the Fair Grounds and, now, in 6 starts at this distance has a record of 2-3-1. Likes to stalk and pounce and I think that will play nicely in this crowd. Can she win without the benefit of Lasix? I seriously question. Sparkle Blue (8) can definitely win without Lasix. Already has. Ran well over a yielding surface in the G3 Modesty last year, too. Has 2 wins in 5 starts at this distance and has faced tougher. Look out. I bet the 8 — take note — across the board and then double down on the win wager. I box the 9-8 in one set of exactas. I will key those two over/under the 3-2-6-1-7 in two smaller units. 

8th: Chick Lang Stakes…3-11/4-10/6-7-8/1-9…Ancient World (3) is 6-1 in the Brisnet.com ML and I love those odds. This son of Into Mischief is a perfect 2-for-2 and looks like he may be headed for better things in the near future. Is already gelded, and that is a shocker. But he is also a runner, and that is no surprise. I like. A lot. Retribution (11) is 12-1 in the ML and I like those odds even better. Another one from the barn of Cherie DeVaux. Don’t like the post position, but this one can run. Look out here. A must use for me. I bet the 3-11 across the board and then box these two in the exactas. I will key the 3-11 over/under the 4-10-6-7-8 in two smaller units. 

9th: Pimlico Turf Sprint Stakes…6-2/5-9/4-8//1…Coppola (6) gets the nod here, for me. This 6YO son of Into Mischief has earned over $863,000 in a grinding career and has a ton of speed. At this distance, he has raced 21 times. Has a record of 6-1-3. Does he like a “good” track? I don’t think so and that could set him up for an upset here. No Nay Hudson (2) has raced this distance 13 times and has gone 3-2-2. Has not been over a “good” track that I can see. But the dam of this one has thrown 4 turf winners and this one — who is a Stakes winner. Will be coming from mid-pack and may have the edge. I bet the 2 — take note — to win/place/show and then box the 2-6 in one set of exactas. I will key the 2 over/under the 6-5-9-4-8 in two smaller units. 

10th: Sir Barton Stakes…1-6-7/9/2/8-3…I know the rule and my rules, too. But, still, I’m going to do it here. I’m going to tout a horse coming out of a MSW win and running in a Stakes race. Crudo (1) probably should have won his first career race, when bet to odds-on, before he stumbled at the start and then was bumped, as well. Rushed to the lead that day after all that and just couldn’t hold on. Came back to win by nearly 8 lengths the next time out. Now, this son of Triple Crown winner Justify stretches out to a route for the first time. Should handle that move and maybe the rest of these, too. Invictus (6) could be tough to beat, and comes from the highly touted barn of Brad Cox. Broke the MSW last time out, as well. Caught Chancer McPatrick in his career debut. Look for this one to be a tough out, as well. Hymn (7) is more accomplished than the top two, but the breeding is a little suspect for me. Has talent, though. I bet the 1 across the board and double down on the win wager. I box the top 3 numbers in the exactas. I will key the top 3 numbers over/under the 9 in two smaller units. 

11th: J W Murphy Stakes…7-3//5-8//9/1-4-10…Reagan’s Wish (7) goes for one of the best young trainers in the game today. She is winning with .20% of 126 starters this year and is winning with .24% of the 74 that have started in non-Graded Stakes. This one ran dry well in the G3 Transylvania last time out over a “good track,” and just had traffic issues. Could return with a big effort here. Clock Tower (3) may be the horse to beat. This one is speed oriented and should fare much better here with a significant change in the saddle. Love the sire line and is a perfect 2-for-2 at this distance. Huge threat here. I bet the 7-3 across the board, each, and then box these two seriously in the exactas. I think they are lengths better than the rest. IMO. 

12th: G3 Dinner Plate Stakes…13-4/9-10/6-3/11-7-5/8-1//12…Trikari (13) didn’t get any favors in the post position draw and will have a lot of work to do from this extreme outside position and over what promises to be a soft track. But this one is the best in the field, too. So what to do? Ran over a good track at KEE and was 3rd in the G1 Maker’s Mark Mile. But that track was deep and wide. This son of Oscar Performance was outstanding a year ago, hitting the board in 6 of 8 and winning 4 times. Should be better here with the 2nd start off the layoff. The one to beat. Neat (4) won over a “good track” last year at KEE, but ran poorly over one at Churchill Downs in the G2 American Turf. Should be tough in this spot, too, with the 3rd start off the layoff. Barn wins with .22% of those returning as a beaten favorite. Had all kinds of issues in the last race. Gets a huge rider switch for this one. Like the ML odds, too. A lot. I bet the 4 — take note — across the board and then double down on the win wager. I box the 13-4 solidly in the exactas. I will key the 13-4 over/under the 9-10-6-3 in two smaller units. 

13: 150th G1 Preakness Stakes…2-6/9-1/8-7/4/3…The 150th edition of the Preakness Stakes — and the second jewel of the Triple Crown — just will not and can not be the same without the winner of the Kentucky Derby not present and accounted for. The connections of Derby winner Sovereignty have opted to skip the Preakness and wait for another race — perhaps the Belmont Stakes, and the final leg of the Triple Crown — due to the timing of the races. Respect for these connections, to be sure. They know what is best for THEIR horse. But, in the eyes of the beholding fans, it is a bit disappointing, to write the least. Still, this Preakness is not without lust and glamour, too. The Derby runner-up — Journalism (2) — is here. And, this year’s Preakness is his for the taking. The son of Curlin has raced a total of 6 times. Has a record of 4-1-1. And, without the run of what could become one of the best of all time in Sovereignty, Journalism would have won the Derby and could be headed to a Triple Crown run. That’s how good this horse is. If he runs anywhere close to the same race as he has in the last five outings — which includes 4 wins and 3 Graded Stakes triumphs — he will gore this field. Please dismiss the idea that this horse does not like an “off track.” He can and will run on anything and he is brilliant. The only thing that worries me is if there is enough speed to set it up for him, like the speed helped the closers in the Derby. And, my quick analysis, is there is enough. With Goal Oriented (1) getting the rail for trainer Bob Baffert, he is all but certain to hit the gas pedal early to get in front. American Promise (3) does his best running when either on or close to the lead, as well. His MSW win was gate to wire and the Virginia Derby was nearly the same thing. Pay Billy (5) would prefer to run on or close to the lead, as well. And, Clever Again (8) is all speed. So, in the short run, the fractions should be honest, if not quick. And, that is to Journalism’s liking. River Thames (6) was not run in the Derby after finishing a game 3rd to Burnham Square and East Avenue in the G1 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes. He is a stalker and should get the first jump on the leaders at the top of the stretch. Don’t dismiss this one. Pedigree is a little suspect on going this far, but this is one quality horse. Gosger (9) is my upset play in here. In 3 starts, has 2 wins and a runner-up. Won the G3 Lexington at KEE in style. Will stalk, as well, but I like this one’s closing kick. Could give Journalism his best run. I bet Journalism (2) to win/place. Sternly. Very sternly. I box the 2-6-9 in one set of exactas. And, then I go to work and key the 2 over/under the 6-9 and a little with the 3. 

Good Luck & All the Best / Gene