Races 9-12
Kind of strange they threw in the garbage 7500 NW2 race in with the 3 stakes. On paper this looked very playable but that was before the rains hit and took the grass races off the turf.
(9.12) with (5,8) with (3,7,8) with (1,10)
I was planning on spreading deepest in the 9th but that race was taken off the turf. Maria's Mirage and Forest Heiress appear to be much the best on the main track but slop could make a freak horse get up.
The 10th is the Black Eyed Susan. Baffert's horse Santa Catarina is the heavy favorite but she could be a little susceptible. She is 0 for 2 at 1 1/8 miles and tired in the stretch both times. But realistically, Ivanavinalot is probably the only horse capable of beating her. Ivanavinalot could get the lead here.
The 11th is the Pimlico Special. A good field and I thought Western Pride could be very tough if he clears. But I couldn't leave out Hero's Tribute, who I remember winning a Gr. 2 at Belmont over a very muddy track. Mineshaft is probably the horse to beat but unproven in slop. A case could be made for Balto Star and Snake Mtn, although Snake Mountain has never run on a sloppy or muddy track.
12-This is the rat race. Offspring looks very tough here although he has been beaten as a favorite before. The rest of the field is so bad I could only make a case for Abyssianian beating him, since he could get the lead and wire.
Kind of strange they threw in the garbage 7500 NW2 race in with the 3 stakes. On paper this looked very playable but that was before the rains hit and took the grass races off the turf.
(9.12) with (5,8) with (3,7,8) with (1,10)
I was planning on spreading deepest in the 9th but that race was taken off the turf. Maria's Mirage and Forest Heiress appear to be much the best on the main track but slop could make a freak horse get up.
The 10th is the Black Eyed Susan. Baffert's horse Santa Catarina is the heavy favorite but she could be a little susceptible. She is 0 for 2 at 1 1/8 miles and tired in the stretch both times. But realistically, Ivanavinalot is probably the only horse capable of beating her. Ivanavinalot could get the lead here.
The 11th is the Pimlico Special. A good field and I thought Western Pride could be very tough if he clears. But I couldn't leave out Hero's Tribute, who I remember winning a Gr. 2 at Belmont over a very muddy track. Mineshaft is probably the horse to beat but unproven in slop. A case could be made for Balto Star and Snake Mtn, although Snake Mountain has never run on a sloppy or muddy track.
12-This is the rat race. Offspring looks very tough here although he has been beaten as a favorite before. The rest of the field is so bad I could only make a case for Abyssianian beating him, since he could get the lead and wire.
