Maryland Sprint scouting report
Saturday, May 16, Pimlico
The Low-Down: The 23rd running of the Maryland Sprint Handicap is a good race with a field of eight hard-knocking campaigners. It goes as Race 10 of 13 on the Preakness Day card at Pimlico, where Races 9-12 make up a $1 million guaranteed pick four pool. For more assistance on the big sequence, check out our Horseplayer Pro Scouting Report for the Dixie Handicap (Race 11) and Jeremy Plonk's Countdown to the Crown report for the Preakness (Race 12).
Our Eyes: I like a horse named Ah Day quite a bit and here's why: 1. He has five wins from seven starts at this 6-furlong distance. 2. The nation's top jockey, Garrett Gomez, takes the call for the first time. 3. He's trained by King Leatherbury, who is appropriately named because not only is he the undisputed "King" of Maryland racing, but he ranks third all-time for wins by a trainer. Throw out his last two starts, this Malibu Moon gelding will pick 'em all up in the stretch.
Silver Edition was second on the Preakness undercard last year against 3-year-olds in the Grade 3 Hirsch Jacobs and has won two straight at 6 furlongs. Ravalo cuts back from a front-running effort in the 7-furlong, Grade 2 Commonwealth at Keeneland. He won his only local appearance last spring at Pimlico when wining the Allen's Prospect behind a 100 Beyer Speed Figure.
The Bottom Line: Obviously I like Ah Day, but how can we make some money in this race? I think a win bet on Ah Day is a good play, but I'd also key him in a couple of exactas with Silver Edition and Ravalo. For more information on the Maryland Sprint Handicap and our special full-card analysis of Preakness Day at Pimlico, as well as other full-card handicaps from New York, Kentucky, Chicago and California, visit us at Horseplayerpro.com. Good luck in the Maryland Sprint on Preakness Day.
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