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Home > Handicapping > Frank's Comments
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Track Handicapper Frank Carulli's Focus on Favorites |
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PREAKNESS DAY Saturday, May 17 Post Time 10:30 AM (EDT) |
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RACE ONE (10:30 am) |
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6. DON’TTRYTHISATHOME zipped around Pimlico in 1:09-1/5 off claim.
1. ROAD SHOW ‘easily passed’ longshot winner, who came back to get the nod.
7. BRUSH ON BY hit peak form in Florida, returns north off two-month freshening. |
| RACE TWO (10:59 am) (T) |
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11. VIRGINIA MINSTREL rallied for long overdue maiden win but is 0-7 at distance.
14. WE’RE SAILING set clear pace to stretch, held second in GP turf routes, draws post 14.
12. ACCESS LOVE worked bullet, should go better in second turf go-round. |
| RACE THREE (11:28 am) The Maryland Sprint Hcp. – GIII |
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3. SUAVE JAZZ has had ‘photo’ taken often in going 10-for-20 at 6F.
7. COGNAC KISSES made strong run at next-out stakes repeater after a rough start.
4. STARFORADAY forgot about being vanned off in sharp comeback win for new barn.
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| RACE FOUR (12:04 pm) The Deputed Testamony Starter Hcp. |
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8. OFF THE GLASS shows gaps between starts but won MD stakes at ages 7 and 8.
10. SHINING PUNCH improved in allowance routes this year and lures Prado.
7. RED GULCH was re-claimed by Lake for higher tag, perhaps with this spot in mind.
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| RACE FIVE (12:43 pm) The Skipat stakes |
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6. AKRONISM tired near wire and got caught by stable-mate in 6F stake.
7. DRAMA LADY didn’t change leads in stretch, didn’t matter in win off 7-month layoff.
1. TIGHT STORM rumbled in return for new barn, lacked kick in latest in the slop. |
| RACE SIX (1:24 pm) (T) The Gallorette Hcp. – GIII |
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1. VALBENNY rallied for two graded wins and $380k turf bankroll at 3, enters new barn.
2. STORMY WEST sat good trip but deep closer prevailed in G-2 turf route.
3. ROSHANI pressed slow pace, dueled around turn, missed in same blanket finish. |
| RACE SEVEN (2:06 pm) The Barbaro Stakes |
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1. ROMAN EMPEROR just missed in 1-1/16m Whirlaway and is lone stakes-placed entrant.
3. SPURRIER ran down lone speed two back, ran ahead of troubled ‘Roman’ in G-1 Wood.
7. WESLEY met stakes winner two back, broke maiden in latest. |
| RACE EIGHT (2:50 pm) (T) The Baltimore City Turf Sprint |
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12. HEROS REWARD launched $500k campaign in ’07 Turf Sprint, rallied into lone speed last out.
6. HESA BIG STAR ran mid-90 Beyers to win 4 of last 6 on grass.
8. TRUE TO TRADITION is versatile, has impressed in both turf sprint attempts. |
| RACE NINE (3:44 pm) The Hirsch Jacobs Stakes – GIII |
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3. LANTANA MOB is G-3 winner at 6F, ran top speed figure in ‘key’ comeback stake.
8. FORCE FREEZE is fast, overcame gate delay and elders at LS in meet-best time.
9. SILVER EDITION ‘moved quickly to leaders’ in allowance romp at Churchill. |
| RACE TEN (4:30 pm) (T) The Dixie Stakes – GII |
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4. SHAKIS, 5-wide into turn, ‘improved’ while 12-wide in lane in deep G-1 field.
2. DISTORTED REALITY, multiple graded stakes-placed at 3, had good tune-up but lugged in.
8. SALINJA tracked fave on soft turf, gained short stretch lead, ran top fig in win. |
| RACE ELEVEN (5:13 pm) The Allaire DuPont Distaff Stakes – GII |
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3. PEACH FLAMBE set pace vs. champion distaffer three back and in Rampart that yielded G-2 winner.
1. ALTESE was carried out by 2. RUNAWAY ROSIE in deep stretch but prevailed.
9. WOW ME FREE rallied wide past G-3 rivals go 2-2 for new barn.
4. BEAR NOW prepped with solid sprint before first of two ’07 graded route wins.
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| RACE TWELVE (6:15 pm) The Preakness Stakes – GI |
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7. BIG BROWN looms as prohibitive fave – like unbeaten Preakness and Derby victors Magestic Prince, Seattle Slew and Smarty Jones before him.
12. GAYEGO can be excused for Derby debacle, merits respect off game win in Arkansas Derby that has proven springboard to Preakness success.
5. BEHINDATTHEBAR made last-for-first move in G-II Lexington and Pletcher said he ‘worked well’ recently on traditional dirt.
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| RACE THIRTEEN (7:15 pm) |
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7. BASHA’S MOON flattened out off ‘very wide’ trip in well-bet debut at Pha.
3. SHORT DANCER ran troubled third in weak $40k maiden claimer, gets Lasix off claim.
5. HOMESTEAD STRIKE fired bullet from Pimlico gate, gets Dominguez for debut. |
Be sure to check out the daily Scratches and Changes. CLICK HERE
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TODAY'S BEST |
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Cognac Kisses (3rd race) |
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CHEF'S CHOICE |
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I’ve Got Speed (8th race) |
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GIMMICK GUY |
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Exacta (4th race): 10-1, 10-4, 10-7 |
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PREAKNESS PICKS |
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7 – Big Brown 8 – Kentucky Bear 5 -- Behindatthebar |
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Early PICK 4 [ $250k guaranteed pool] |
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4th race: 4, 10
5th race: 1, 6, 7
6th race: 1
7th race: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7
Cost for $1 ticket: $30 |
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Late PICK 4 ($1 million guaranteed pool) |
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th race: 8, 9
10th race: 4, 8
11th race: 4, 7
12th race: 7, 8
Cost for $1 ticket: $16
Recent $2 Payouts
May 7: $5,058 May 2: $3,778 April 13: $3,480 |
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PICK 6 |
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7th race: 1, 2, 3, 7
8th race: 8, 12
9th race: 8
10th race: 4, 8
11th race: 4, 7
12th race: 7, 8
Cost for $1 Ticket: $64
Recent $1 Payouts
May 8: $7,034 April 6: $22,592 March 22: $2,407 |
PEDIGREE SPOTLIGHT
Keepureyeondaprize (13th race) is a half brother to stakes-placed sprinter Crystal Dancer ($132k). His dam, Ambit’s Bullet, was 5-for-11 and half to stakes-winning sprinter Citiambit ($145k).
Horses to watch
OH SO FINE – Gained on turn, took up in stretch, finished well.
PISSARRO – Closed like wild horse to finish second in 6F debut.
BIBLICAL SCHOLAR – Looms dominant starter allowance type.
Upcoming Stakes
SATURDAY, MAY 24
$50,000 Shine Again For FM 3-up at 1-1/16 miles
Jockey of the Week
Eric Camacho rode back-to-back winners Pants N Kisses ($15.40) and Imagin Rose ($8.80) for trainer John Salzman Jr. as part of a riding triple Sunday and an overall 4-for-16 week with eight in-the-money finishes.
Trainer of the Week
Owner Robert Cole Jr. made all his trainers happy Friday, winning races with Scott Lake (Maribel’s Princess), Stephanie Beattie (Jenny’s Rose), Ben FelicianoJr. (Foxy Date) and Howard Wolfendale (Rodeo Drive) at Pimlico.
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