Preakness Stakes 147: Saturday Pimlico Analysis, Selections

The second jewel of the triple crown will be run at Pimlico on Saturday. The Preakness will be without Kentucky Derby champion, Rich Strike. Runner up, Epicenter, was installed as the favorite.

Pimlico Race Course Race 13-The Preakness Stakes

Post: 7:01 PM ET; Purse: $1,500,000 Preakness S., 1 3/16 Miles on Dirt; Entries: 9

• #8 EPICENTER (6-5) is the best on talent here. He is an absolute hard trying horse that has horse of the year on the line. 6-5 is likely a pipe dream though. Get ready to choke down less than even odds if you want to back him.
• #5 EARLY VOTING (7-2) is the boring alternate to Epicenter. I do like that this one goes out for Chad Brown who has been training this pace player up to this spot.
• #4 SECRET OATH (9-2) is a filly against the boys and seems a bit behind the top 2, but she is a great one to watch and wouldn’t be totally surprising to run a big effort here.
• #7 ARMAGNAC (12-1) is a speculation play. The belief with this one has to be that the best is yet to come and he will take a big step forward here.

Selections: 8-5-4-7

Preakness Stakes Undercard Analysis

Pimlico Race Course Race 1

Post: 10:30 AM ET; Purse: $58,000 Allowance, 6 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 8

• #8 SHACKS WAY (3-1) looks tough to beat here given the edge in a number of key categories including speed & pace numbers.
• #1 SPITBALL (5-1) rates out well in a lot of key categories and could be dangerous here.
• #6 ABUELO PAPS (9-2) makes sense on paper but doesn’t rate out nearly as well as the top 2.
• #5 SILENT SERVICE (12-1) is worth a look here given edges in connections & race flow.

Selections: 8-1-6-5

Pimlico Race Course Race 2

Post: 11:05 AM ET; Purse: $62,000 Allowance Optional Claiming, 1 1/16 Miles on Dirt; Entries: 10

• #3 GENTLEMAN JOE (10-1) is in with a major chance to upset here. He should be in the right spot early to give this horse a chance to get the job done.
• #7 SHOOGER RAY TOO (8-1) is a major player in today's race edging the field in several key handicapping factors including speed & power rating.
• #9 D' RAPPER (7-2) makes sense on paper and is a player, but I don’t trust him at a short price.
• #6 ARMANDO R (3-1) falls into the same boat as the #9. Logical, but untrustworthy in a race that seems wide open.

Selections: 3-7-9-6

Pimlico Race Course Race 3

Post: 11:41 AM ET; Purse: $55,000 Maiden Special Weight, 1 1/16 Miles on Turf; Entries: 10

• #4 EVAN HARLAN (4-5) has to be respected today edging the field in several key handicapping factors including class & form. 4-5 at this level usually means the backside buzz has leaked to the front of the track.
• #5 AMARILLO (9-2) is a major player in today's race edging the field in several key handicapping factors including speed & bredding.
• #3 GENERAL'S DUTY (10-1) has to be respected based on the connections.
• #8 AIRSPEED VELOCITY (10-1) is a longshot who feels like an exclusively underneath play.

Selections: 4-5-3-8

Pimlico Race Course Race 4

Post: 12:16 PM ET; Purse: $150,000 Maryland Sprint S., 6 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 7

• #6 MR PHIL (3-1) is a major player in today's race edging the field in several key handicapping factors including speed & pace numbers.
• #2 SIR ALFRED JAMES (6-1) merits consideration in this spot given edges in speed figures & stamina.
• #7 JAXON TRAVELER (3-1) is worth a look here given edges in race flow & power rating.
• #4 DISCO PHAROAH (5-2) is worth a look here given edges in connections & record at the distance.

Selections: 6-2-7-4

Pimlico Race Course Race 5

Post: 12:51 PM ET; Purse: $150,000 Gallorette S., 1 1/16 Miles on Turf; Entries: 7

• #4 TECHNICAL ANALYSIS (7-5) makes sense here given edges in race flow & power rating.
• #5 IN A HURRY (5-1) is in with a great chance based on the horse's class & pace.
• #2 CRYSTAL CLIFFS (2-1) is worth a look here given edges in record at the distance & form.
• #3 SCARABEA (6-1) merits consideration in this spot given edges in speed & stamina.

Selections: 4-5-2-3

Pimlico Race Course Race 6

Post: 1:29 PM ET; Purse: $58,000 Allowance, 1 1/16 Miles on Turf; Entries: 11

• #11 GOLDEN VOICE (5-2) is worth a look here given edges in record at the distance & power rating.
• #4 KATE'S KINGDOM (4-1) is a dangerous type in these turf races where results can be separated by tight margins. There isn’t much to separate this one from the favorite and the inside draw may help.
• #5 HASHTAG LUCKY (15-1) will likely have the stamina to outlast these in the final jumps of the race.
• #10 CANOODLE (12-1) is in great form right now and offers plenty of value.

Selections: 11-4-5-10

Pimlico Race Course Race 7

Post: 2:08 PM ET; Purse: $100,000 Skipat S., 6 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 10

• #9 TIME LIMIT (6-1) merits consideration in this spot given edges in speed & early pace numbers. Look for this one to steal the race on the front end.
• #10 FILLE D'ESPRIT (4-1) could get a perfect pace scenario today.
• #3 CINNABUNNY (15-1) looks to have to have kept the best company in the previous starts.
• #6 CILLA (7-2) should be competitive based on the overall power rating which has it tops in the group.

Selections: 9-10-3-6

Pimlico Race Course Race 8

Post: 2:49 PM ET; Purse: $250,000 Dinner Party S., 1 1/16 Miles on Turf; Entries: 7

• #4 BEACON HILL (9-2) is a major player based on speed figures alone.
• #3 SET PIECE (8-5) is worth a look here given edges in class & power rating.
• #2 NOVO SOL (6-1) is another who has solid turf speed figures in the race.
• #1 TANGO TANGO TANGO (10-1) is in with a great chance based on the horse's stamina & form.

Selections: 4-3-2-1

Pimlico Race Course Race 9

Post: 3:31 PM ET; Purse: $200,000 Chick Lang S., 6 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 9

• #2 LIGHTENING LARRY (10-1) likes to be forward and has run against tougher. This one could spring the upset in wire to wire fashion.
• #9 LITTLE VIC (6-1) is in with a great chance based on the horse's stamina & power rating.
• #5 OLD HOMESTEAD (2-1) merits consideration in this spot given edges in speed & record at the distance.
• #7 WHELEN SPRINGS (4-1) comes into the race signaling a big performance in the near future.

Selections: 2-9-5-7

Pimlico Race Course Race 10

Post: 4:12 PM ET; Purse: $100,000 James W. Murphy S., 1 Mile on Turf; Entries: 11

• #7 RIOT HOUSE (4-1) looks like a strong prospect edging the field in several key handicapping factors including class & power rating.
• #10 JOE (3-1) will likely have the stamina to outlast these in the final jumps of the race.
• #5 READY TO PURRFORM (5-2) is a major player based on speed figures.
• #1 DETERMINED KINGDOM (15-1) should be in the right spot early to give this horse a chance to get the job done.

Selections: 7-10-5-1

Pimlico Race Course Race 11

Post: 4:53 PM ET; Purse: $100,000 Sir Barton S. sponsored by Brandon and Diannah Perry to Benefit The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, 1 1/16 Miles on Dirt; Entries: 10

• #4 THE ADDISON POUR (15-1) has to be respected based on the connections.
• #2 GOLDENIZE (20-1) is worth a look here given edges in pace & form.
• #6 MR JEFFERSON (6-1) will likely have the stamina to outlast these in the final jumps of the race.
• #8 UNIKEE (4-1) is a major player based on speed figures.

Selections: 4-2-6-8

Pimlico Race Course Race 12

Post: 5:51 PM ET; Purse: $100,000 Jim McKay Turf Sprint S., 5 Furlongs on Turf; Entries: 10

• #2 CAROTARI (9-5) is a major player in today's race edging the field in several key handicapping factors including speed & power rating.
• #7 GRATEFUL BRED (6-1) is worth a look here given edges in race flow & pace.
• #3 SEVEN SCENTS (4-1) is proven as a good bet to at least hit the board under today's distance and surface conditions.
• #1 BANK (12-1) wouldn't be a huge surprise in the winner's circle.

Selections: 2-7-3-1 (Best Bet: #2 CAROTARI)

Pimlico Race Course Race 13-Preakness

Post: 7:01 PM ET; Purse: $1,500,000 Preakness S., 1 3/16 Miles on Dirt; Entries: 9

• Preakness Stakes analysis provided above.

Selections: 5-8-4-7

Pimlico Race Course Race 14

Post: 7:43 PM ET; Purse: $100,000 UAE President Cup S., 1 1/16 Miles on Dirt; Entries: 8

• #6 HIAB AL ZAMAN (2-1) has to be respected based on the connections.
• #1 LIKE MOULIN ROUGE (5-1) is worth a look here given edges in record at the distance & form.
• #8 KISSOUUR (10-1) provides great value at 10-1 and should be included underneath on most tickets.
• #3 QUICK SAND AA (5-2) looks to have to have kept the best company in the previous starts.

Selections: 6-1-8-3

Betting News Preakness Coverage

The final installment of Betting News Preakness coverage will be published at 2 pm ET on Thursday. The article will outline wagering strategies that can be applied to any budget.

For more handicapping information on all of the races from Pimlico all weekend long, check out the Betting News free handicapping tools.