Frank Carulli's Focus On Favorites

RSS

Frank Carulli's Focus On Favorites

FRANK CARULLI

Frank Carulli is the linemaker and in-house television handicapper for The Maryland Jockey Club. The 50-year old native of Summitt Hill, PA, came to Maryland in January 2002 after a four-year stint as publicity director and TV commentator at Charles Town Racetrack in West Virginia.

RACE ANALYSIS

    PREAKNESS DAY
RACE  1 (10:30)           5F [Turf]          OClm 25000/N2X

3. VARSITY zipped to two wins and near miss in stake in debut year at 4, works say set.   
8. DISCO DANDY, entered in grass stake Friday, is course record-holder.  
6. MCNAMARA plays to steady beat in turf sprints but meets tougher today.
RACE  2 (11:00) 1-1/16-mile   [S] Deputed Testamony H 25000

4. BAILEY’S BEACH, a $7,500 claim, rallied for two recent allowance wins at distance.  
7. ALBRECHT continues to pile up checks at distance which he’s finished second six times.  
3. GO MAIRE TU ended long drought with 26-to-1 upset of Albrecht at CT.
RACE  3  (11:30)          1-1/16 miles [Turf]     (F) Gallorette H – G3

3. ZAGORA was slooowed by pace in latest after winning graded stakes in 3 of prior 4.  
7. LAUGHING ‘wasn’t asked for best’ until stretch in sharp 2X allowance win.  
1. CAMELIA ROSE stalked loose leader, steadied off heels, lacked late kick in G-2 marathon.
RACE  4 (12:37)          1-1/16 miles    Alw 50000NC

4. PAYNTER, eased back after vying for early lead, re-bid 3-wide in near miss in Grade 3.  
3. BRIMSTONE ISLAND, lost ground throughout, closed with a rush for second at distance.  
7. RESPECTFUL ED has good late kick but raced evenly in first stake try.  
RACE  5 (1:13)            5F [Turf]          Alw 43000/N1X

1. COACH FRIDGE came back running, shook pressure with stretch burst in MSW win.  
6. CORUNDUM followed move of winner to finish second in first allowance attempt.  
14. WIRE FUNDS seeks three-peat for dangerous turf barn, draws post 14.
RACE  6 (1:50) 6F        Chick Lang 100k

3. INNOCENT MAN blazed through 43-1/5-second half mile and held off odds-on fave.  
4. LAURIE’S ROCKET held top sprint form while making rounds to six tracks in 10 starts.  
8. IL VILLANO went wire-to-wire in both 6F stakes as a 2-year-old.
RACE  7 (2:32)            1-1/16 [Turf]   (F) Alw 43000/N1X

8. HAPPY CHOICE progressed into stakes-placed turfer in second half of 3yo campaign.  
2. CLARE SKIES AHEAD swept 4-wide to command off 9-month layoff in first start for a tag.   
7. MAGICAL MERRY often rallies in crowded fields, won of firm and soft turf.
RACE  8 (3:12)            6F        Maryland Sprint Hcp – G3

7. HAMAZING DESTINY, 4-wide around turn, got up for third graded stakes placing at 6F.  
3. DISKI DANCE ran first or second in 12 of 15 on dirt and is turning heads in the a.m.  
1. IMMORTAL EYES followed similar path to near shocker in this race last year.
RACE  9 (3:53)            One Mile [Turf]           JW Murphy 100k

1. EASY CROSSING bid 4-wide on turn, held off deep closer, moves from outside in.   
12. ACHILLES edged away under ‘long hold’ for repeat win at one mile to launch career.  
10. GOLD MEGILLAH settled 5-wide, gained steadily in Grade 3 route, can turf.
RACE  10 (4:36)          1-1/16 miles [Turf]     (F) DuPont Distaff – G3

2. ABSINTHE MINDED is $500k route earner, seeks first graded stakes victory.  
5. AWESOMEMUNDO was just that in first start on main track and should sit dream trip.  
1. CANADIAN MISTRESS gave way to Top 3 ranked division foes at distance two back.
RACE  11  (5:18)          1-1/8 miles [Turf]       Dixie – G2
7. SMART BID is only Grade 1-placed runner in field -- and he did it twice at distance.  
3. HUDSON STEELE sat good trip, had something left in minor stakes win on Pimlico lawn.
11. CASINO HOST ‘bided time’ and sustained ‘very wide’ sweep to beat Smart Bid.
RACE  12 (6:18)          1-3/16 miles    Preakness – G1F

7. BODEMEISTER led through fifth-fastest 6F split in Kentucky Derby history and, unlike those before him, showed enough staying power to finish second.
9. I’LL HAVE ANOTHER worked out a trouble-free trip from post 19, ‘eagerly pulled’ closer nearing far turn and reeled in top one in final 16th.
6. CREATIVE CAUSE made 8-wide run but couldn't sustain it as perfect graded stakes in-the-money streak ended at seven. 
RACE  13 (7:13)          1-1/16 miles [Turf]     Md Sp Wt 41000

3. UNEX DALI met challenge, dug in, got caught in last jump in one-mile turf test.
1. SARBANES returns to preferred surface and lures Castellano from the rail.
4. SHARP NUMBERS adds blinkers, gets Desormeaux for seventh grass route try.
RACE  16

1-1/16 miles    Pres of UAE Cup – G1

10. TM FRED TEXAS is top Arabian, won Grade 1 Classic, figures tough.  
3. DIXIES VALENTINE was 4-for-4 at this distance in 2011.  
6. GRILLA shows excellent work tab.  
4. RICH FRYNCHMAN will be running late.


(Click here to download this PREAKNESS card in PDF format)
    BLACK-EYED SUSAN DAY
RACE  1 (12:00)            1-1/16 miles    [S] (F) Kattegat’s Pride  25k

8. SNEAKY LIL’s 3-peat bid failed as winner set slower pace than $12,500 maidens.
6. UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE nears $250k in earnings, targets 13th win at most proven distance.
4. FRANSTEIN made eye-catching move to conquer nw/3 condition off claim.
RACE  2  (12:30)           1-1/16 miles [Turf]     OClm 25000/N2X

11. UNDER CONTROL exchanged stretch bumps, led between calls late, figures tough.  
13. LONELY WHISTLE circled to mid-stretch lead in seasonal debut, just missed, post hurts.  
7. SILVER TIE AFFAIR swung out at top of stretch, edged ‘Whistle’ for second.
RACE  3 (1:00) 5-1/2F  (F) Md Sp Wt 43000
 
9. LION DOWN BY ME showed promise in debut, must show she can handle dirt.   
1a. SMOLDERING BEAUTY was even-money in 2yo debut at Monmouth and 1. MY LUCKY SHOES is 9 of 12 in the money.  
2. MEREDITH’S STAR was gaining on fave in ‘sharp’ debut.
RACE  4 (1:30) 6F        Alw 45000/N1X
 
9. BELLAGIO got up for second behind 3-peater, draws outside in Lady Legends race.  
8. OFFICIOUS rated 4-wide, made ‘mild run’ as winner drifted several paths.  
5. CLASS RULES plays catch-me-if-you-can at distance which he stands 5/0-0-0.
RACE  5 (2:02) 1-1/16 miles [Turf]     Alw 43000/N1X
 
11. BADLEROIBROWN broke maiden in turf route, was beaten fave in solid allowance.  
2X. SILBER STERN has good first gear, weakened in triple key comeback route.  
9. MOVING WEST moves back into allowance ranks after runaway victory at distance.
RACE  6 (2:34) 6F        (F) Skipat 100k
 
7. IT’S ME MOM sped away from the boys in her third consecutive stakes win at 6F.  
4. BOLD AFFAIR, taken off rail in powerful stakes repeat, should work out an ideal trip.  
2. RED’S ROUND TABLE is four-time stakes victor at 6F and working fast for return.
RACE  7 (3:05) 5F [Turf]          (F) Alw 43000/N1X
 
12. NUIT DE CHANCE is ultra-consistent but poor habit is magnified in crowded field.  
4. EMMA’S KISS, no match for sharpie in latest, hails from nation’s winningest barn.  
8. SEEYOUINTHETOWN ran 2/5 faster than ‘starter’ for boys in win at Atlantic City.
RACE  8 (3:36) 6F        (F) Miss Preakness 100k
 
7. AGAVE KISS led at every call in three stakes wins and five starts, all at this distance.  
4. MILLIONREASONSWHY was on cruise control in 7F stakes win but under drive on turn in Comely.  
8. SINGLET progressed into multiple stakes-winning sprinter this year.
RACE  9 (4:11)            5F [Turf]          Jim McKay Turf Sprint 100k

11. BEN’S CAT rallied to win 7 of 8 turf stakes sprints prior to rough trip, draws post 11.  
1. BIRDIE BEATS PAR has speed and rail and five wins over three surfaces for this barn.  
12. FIDDLERS PATRIOT chased eventual Breeders’ Cup winner, tired late when last seen.
RACE  10 (4:46)          1-1/8 miles      (F) Black-Eyed Susan – G2
 
4. MAMMA KIMBO held through solid splits in G-2 route win, can control pace in here.  
3. WELCOME GUEST rallied for second in G-3 stake at one mile behind KY Oaks runner-up.  
2. DISPOSABLE PLEASURE won G-2 stake at this distance despite ‘stumble.’
RACE  11 (5:20)           5F [Turf]          (F) The Very One 100k
 
6. INSPIRED carried her speed to stakes wins on firm and soft footing at this distance.
9. WELL DESERVED shifted outside of top one, led briefly at 1/8th pole, was caught at 5-1/2F.  
7. JAZZY IDEA blew past 3yo stakes rivals at 6F, arrives in peak form.
RACE  12 (5:51)           1-3/16 miles    Pimlico Special – G3

6. MISSION IMPAZIBLE finished second in three Grade 1 routes in his last seven starts.  
8. ALTERNATION slowed pace, repelled bid into lane in graded repeat at Oaklawn, where he’s 5 of 6.  
3. HYMN BOOK didn’t mount usual charge versus Alternation, averaged 102 Beyer in prior five on dirt.
RACE  13 (6:20)           1-1/16 miles [Turf]     (F) Hilltop 100k
 
3. COUP just missed against multiple Grade 3-placed turfer, works indicate readiness.  
10. ANNA SOPHIA made mild bid ‘off rail’ in Keeneland allowance, draws outside post.  
9. APPEALING CAT challenged resurgent winner on second turn, missed in photo.

(Click here to download this BES card in PDF format)