If the news out of Belmont were performed as part of a late 70’s Saturday Night Live Weekend Update segment, Emily Latella (the late Gilda Radner) would have said, “…Never mind!” All is well in the Big Brown camp as the Derby and Preakness champ galloped a 1 ½ miles, showing no ill effects from the quarter crack discovered on Saturday. Stay tuned. There’s 9 more days until the Belmont and I assume a lot more drama.
As far as the "King of all Baltimore Sports". My Write-In would have to be Jim Gentile. Of course, he'll never make the list because no one under the age of 55 has a clue who he is!
Recapping Day 24 (May 26th)…
Best Bet, Hazaam’s Advantage (# 7; 3rd race on the turf; 3-1) got a lukewarm reception at the betting windows, going off as the 7-2 3rd choice. But when the gates opened, he ran better than the favorite and second choice, leading from gate to two jumps before the wire. He got beat by a head by Deadline (6-1) who snuck through along the rail. Hazaam’s Advantage returned $4.80 for the Place and $3.00 in the Show spot.
Longshot, Doolittle (# 8; 7th race on the turf; 30-1) ran like a 30-1. Well, he actually went off at 25-1. The 5 furlongs was just too short for his liking. By the time he got going in the stretch, he was behind a wall of horses, finishing 7th.
Here’s who I like today, May 29th, Day 25 of the Pimlico Spring Meet…
Best Bet: Cedar Slew (# 6; 2nd race; 2-1)
This field of 7 going 6 furlongs lacks early speed. I see only two who want any part of the pace… # 4 Closed Court and my pick. Closed Court will only be good for about 4 furlongs as long as Cedar Slew presses him, which he should. Rider Craig Gibbs is becoming one of the better jocks on the Maryland circuit.
Longshot: Appeal To The City (# 6; 7th race on the turf; 6-1)
On Black-Eyed Susan Day, she was scratched from a $50k stakes race because it was taken off the turf. Three days later she ran at this level at Delaware Park even though that race was also taken off the turf, finishing 4th out of 7. There is no doubt she’ll get to run on the grass today where she has won twice and placed 3 times in 7 lifetime turf starts.
I want to hear who you like today! Good Luck with your selections!