The Preakness (G1) Pick Four
May 14th, 2010By Jude T. Feld
Here’s who we like in the $1 million guaranteed Preakness Pick Four:
9th Race) SHARED ACCOUNT is a talented filly who was purchased by my brother Bob for Maryland’s historic Sagamore Farm. Her distaste for Gulfstream Park allowed her the winter off, so she enters the Galorette (G3) fresh and ready. With her excellent tactical speed, Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado should work out a good trip for the daughter of Pleasantly Perfect. Grade 1 winner RAINBOW VIEW opens at even money, coming off an allowance score at Keeneland. The daughter of Dynaformer has won over a million bucks and is certainly the filly to beat. She is a must-use on all Pick Three and Pick Four tickets.
10th Race) RAVALO has excellent speed and pace figures and he has never lost at Pimlico. That puts him on top in the Maryland Sprint Handicap (G3). Trainer Donald Barr used the Commonwealth (G2) at Keeneland as a prep for his charge’s victory in last year’s event and follows the same pattern here. Look for a big effort once again. ROARING LION might make the lead and when he does, he is tough to pass. His seven-furlong comebacker at Aqueduct should have him set up for a big race here. Hot-riding Javier Castellano enhances his chances. SNAPSHOT is light on stakes experience but not on talent. His numbers certainly fit with these but it is doubtful that he will be able to take advantage of his light weight assignment with Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux in the irons. NOT FOR SILVER hasn’t won in a while, but he is capable of huge efforts on occasion. His 10-1 morning line price seems generous since he rarely goes off at more than single digits.
11th Race) GRASSY is classy and well-bred. He is trained by sensational turf trainer Christophe Clement and will be ridden by Garrett Gomez. Those factors alone make him a major contender. Add his ability to handle a mile and an eighth and his excellent comeback race at Keeneland and you’ve got to think he is the horse to beat despite never having won a stakes race. JUST AS WELL tried Keeneland’s Polytrack in his 2010 debut but never seemed to find his best stride. Back on turf, and having finished second in last year’s Dixie (G2) give him a big look once again. It is hard not to like anything Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard puts a saddle on. RAHYSTRADA is as tough as they come. The Byron Hughes trainee knows where the wire is, having won five races since May of last year. Like fine wine, he is improving with age, so it wouldn’t be shocking to see him in the winners’ circle. FORGOTTEN DYNASTY makes his stakes debut after three straight victories at Gulfstream Park. The Seth Benzel trainee has been improving nicely and could make the step forward need to win here. WESLEY runs a corker once in a while. He was third in last year’s Dixie (G2) and is hard to leave off your Pick Four ticket.
12th Race) SUPER SAVER ran the best race of his life in the Kentucky Derby (G1), so running back in two weeks could cause him to “bounce to the moon.†He is on an improving pattern however and the son of Maria’s Mon has had a light schedule leading up to this race, so his freshness could be the harbinger of Triple Crown success. On form, he is definitely the horse to beat and trainer Todd Pletcher has stated that the pride of WinStar Farm exited the Derby, “as good as we could have expected.†LOOKIN AT LUCKY kept to his task in the Derby despite a rugged trip and what seemed to me to be an overly aggressive ride. According trainer Bob Baffert, he came out of that debacle in good shape and he has impressed on the racetrack in the mornings following the big dance. A smaller field will work to his advantage at Pimlico. Hopefully the son of Smart Strike can have a clear journey under new jockey Martin Garcia and show the world his true talent. PADDY O’PRADO, the perpetual “wise guy†horse, put in an excellent Kentucky Derby run. The El Prado colt has more speed than he showed in Louisville and could sit a good trip in the Preakness (G1). Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux is no stranger to Old Hilltop, having won five riding titles in Baltimore during the eighties. It could all add up to the Black-Eyed Susans if the Dale Romans trainee doesn’t regress off his lifetime best 102 Brisnet speed figure with the two weeks between starts. He has looked sensational training at Pimlico, so he could move forward just as easily. The California-bred son of Cat Dreams, CARACORTADO, started off his career with five straight wins, culminating with a victory in the Robert B. Lewis (G2) at Santa Anita. He’s been freshened since his troubled trip in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and the gelding has blossomed according to trainer Mike Machowsky. Good tactical speed is an advantage at Pimlico, but he’ll have to improve speed figure-wise if he is going to win the Preakness (G1) under jockey Paul Atkinson, a little known but talented rider.
