BetPTC.com Analysis – Saturday, May 20, 2023
by: Ed Meyer
Pimlico / Preakness Card
Race #6 – The G3 Chick Lang – 6f – 1:49pm
BetPTC.com Analysis / #2 – Ryvit / #1 – Havanameltdown / #3 – Frosted Departure
#2 Ryvit hails from the Steve Asmussen barn shooting for his fourth straight in a row. He is 5 for 6 ITM lifetime and is a close up stalker. This son of Competitive Breeze is in the hands of Keith Asmussen today. #1 Havanameltdown is a speedster from the Bob Baffert barn with Luis Saez in the saddle. The rail post is winning at 21% coming off a two month layoff with a bullet work. He cuts back from 8f at Saudi and should be one to beat. #3 Frosted Departure is a son of Frosted with Flavien Prat for Kenneth McPeek. He’s a stalker and the barn wins 19% with 2nd off layoff moves.
Race #7 – The G3 Gallorette – 1 1/16 on the turf – 2:08 pm
BetPTC.com Analysis / #1 – Whitebeam / #2 – Sopran Basilia / #5 – Vergara
#1 Whitebeam hails from the Chad Brown barn with Irad Ortiz aboard. This is her 2nd start of 2023 and will be laying off the pace poised to pounce. Ortiz wins 44% with Brown and she is eligible to improve by making a 2nd off move today. #2 Sopran Basilia is the daughter of Night of Thunder (IRE) for Graham Motion with Luis Saez in the irons. She ships in from Italy where she has a 10 for 13 ITM on the sod record. The barn scores 20% with 90 day layoff runners. #5 Vergara is a stalking daughter of Noble Mission for Graham Motion with Joel Rosario in the saddle. She will settle in close to the speed and allow Rosario to work out a tactical ride to suit her style.
Race #8 – The G3 Dinner Party – 1 1/8 on the turf – 2:49 pm
BetPTC.com Analysis / #1 – Atone / #2 – Speaking Scout / #4 – Hurricane Dream
#1 Atone goes to post for Mike Maker and draws the rail post under Tyler Gaffalione. He has been off for 56 days and ships up from FG. He won the G1 Pegasus Turf Invitational and should be right on the pace under Tyler G. He was a beaten favorite last out and the barn comes back to score at a 23% win clip turning the tables. #2 Speaking Scout is a late runner from the Graham Motion barn with Luis Saez in the driver’s seat. He ran a decent race in the G1 Maker’s Mark at KEE and looks to improve on the class drop today. Add in a bullet work and you may have a solid price to play. #4 Hurricane Dream is a strong late closer from the Graham Motion barn with Joel Rosario aboard. He had a strong prep win at KEE last out and looks to build on that performance after running in Germany and France.
Race #11 – The G3 Maryland Sprint – 6f – 4:53 pm
BetPTC.com Analysis / #7 – Nakatomi / #8 – Straight No Chaser / #4 – Al Loves Josie
#7 Nakatomi is a closer from the Wesley Ward barn going to post with Tyler Gaffalione in the saddle. They are cutting back to 6f and he’ll come calling under Tyler G who is 47% ITM with late runners. #8 Straight No Chaser is a speedy son of Speightster for Dan Blacker and John Velasquez in the irons. He is 4 for 6 ITM and sports a good turn of early speed right from the break. Dangerous if left alone. #4 All Loves Josie is a stalker from the John Robb barn as Xavier Perez has the call. 2nd start off a layoff and that was a troubled trip last out that you may want to toss. The X Man wins 18% with stalkers and knows the track well winning 40% from a small sampling.
Race #13 – The G1 Preakness Stakes – 1 3/16 – 7:01 pm
BetPTC.com Analysis / #3 – Mage / #5 – Red Route One / #1 National Treasure
#3 Mage is the only one who stands a chance at the Triple Crown after a perfect trip winning the Kentucky Derby. He is lightly raced for Gustavo Delgado with Javier Castellano staying aboard. This son of Good Magic is more versatile than at first glance and can lay closer if necessary. I’m looking for a mid pack trip and negotiating a field of eight runners will be a welcome day at the races. Javier came from 15th place to circle the field with authority. I think it is his race to lose and we’ll have Triple Crown chatter going on for the next three weeks. #5 Red Route One earned his shot at Pimlico with a powerhouse run at OP for Steve Asmussen with Joel Rosario in the saddle. He’s been on my wiseguy list of runners for a while and it seems he catches an off track most of his races. Saturday’s forecast is 75 degrees and sunny. Have a solid pace and this runner will come calling like a hurricane. The price will be worth taking a shot. # 1 National Treasure reunites with Bob Baffert, who has won this race 7 times. He will go from the one post and likely lead the way.