Orb can move one step closer to immortality in today's Preakness Stakes.
The influence from Orb’s win two weeks ago at an overlaid price of 5-to-1 creates a massive difference for his supporters today installed as the even-money favorite and likely going off lower than that in the $1 million Preakness Stakes (Grade 1) run over 1 3/16-miles at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md.
In half of the last 16 years, the Kentucky Derby (G1) winner has wheeled back to win the Preakness, only to be unable to capture the Belmont Stakes (G1), leaving us 35 years between Triple Crown success.
A winner in five straight since three losses to begin his career, Orb breaks from the inside post and with a trio of horses likely to push the early pace, the Malibu Moon colt can save ground throughout before either finding a seam or circling his opposition and going wide as high-riding Joel Rosario usually prefers to do.
With rain forecast to arrive just before the 6:20 p.m. ET post time, it’s possible the track will be wet again as it was at Churchill Downs a fortnight ago.
D. Wayne Lukas sends a third of the nine-horse field in search of his sixth Preakness score, the first one coming in 1980 with Codex.
Two Lukas runners are back for another shot, with Oxbow and Will Take Charge piloted by Hall of Fame jockeys that have tasted previous Preakness success.
After landing the rail in the Derby and drawing wide in many of his previous races, Oxbow finally finds himself in a desirable spot breaking from post No. 6 underneath Gary Stevens, whose pair of Preakness triumphs came for Bob Baffert with Silver Charm in 1997 and Point Given in 2001.
The winner of the 1993 Preakness aboard Prairie Bayou, Mike Smith takes over on Will Take Charge for the first time.
After going off at a shorter price in the Derby and finishing ahead of his stable mate, it’s peculiar that Oxbow is longer on the morning line at 15-to-1 than the 12-to-1 on Will Take Charge, with the only plausible explanation being the difference Smith can make having won a slew of races on the biggest stages.
The third Lukas entrant is 30-to-1 long shot Titletown Five, likely to be part of the early pace brigade unless new tactics are employed with the usually patient Julien Leparoux in the irons for the first time. The son of Tiznow is owned in part by Heisman Trophy winner and Hall of Fame running back Paul Hornung.
The team of Baffert, also looking for his sixth Preakness, and owner Mike Pegram hope 12-to-1 shot Govenor Charlie can land them their second Preakness in four years and third since 1998. Along with Martin Garcia, who is the only other rider in the field with a Preakness victory, the trio teamed up to win with Lookin at Lucky in 2010.
After coming up well short looking for a Derby repeat, Doug O’Neill hopes 8-to-1 shot Goldencents can rebound to give him consecutive Preakness scores. The son of Into Mischief was never comfortable under the Twin Spires when he was denied the early lead and didn’t take to the off going, but was covered up late by Kevin Krigger in hopes of having something left in the tank.
A pair of stakes are part of an 11-race card in Inglewood that kicks off at 11 a.m. PT, with the feature seeing older females at 1 1/16-miles on Cushion Track in the $150,000 Marjorie L. Everett (G2) where Jerry Hollendorfer sends half the six-horse field including morning line favorite Lady of Fifty.
We’re off to the races!
Late Pick 4 -
Leg 1 – Race 8 (1,3,5,7,9,10,11) – Bottom-level three-year-old maiden claimers and we spread with No. 1 Instinctively Bold, No. 3 Rocky Barboa, No. 5 Sports Report, No. 7 Storm Castle, No. 9 Regally Soul, No. 10 President Nico and No. 11 Dramatic Allan.
Leg 2 – Race 9 (1,3) – A plethora of early speed all around lands on a pair of closers drawn inside that can save ground with No. 1 Insideondoutside and No. 3 Very Elusive.
Leg 3 – Race 10 (ALL) – If No. 4 Lady of Fifty returns to the form that saw her blitz the Bayakoa (G2) in her lone start on Cushion Track she will be tough, but if not a case can be made for all five others.
Leg 4 – Race 11 (3,6,11,12) – Numerous easy tosses as bottom-level maiden claimers book end the sequence and we’re left with No. 3 Goodtobewild, No. 6 Maddog Maddie, No. 11 Manta and No. 12 Speedy Vixen.
Recap – (1,3,5,7,9,10,11) w (1,3) w (ALL) w (3,6,11,12) Total cost of ticket = $168
Yesterday’s Result – (-$96)
Total for current Hollywood Park meet – (-$1,451.05)
Total from 12/26/10 – 4/21/13 – (-$3,662.45)
Pick 5 –
Leg 1 – Race 1 (ALL) – Four runners dropping from special weight company that haven’t shown much and a pair of debuters mean we land with all six in the opener.
Leg 2 – Race 2 (4) – The scratch of the other John Sadler entrant leads us to believe No. 4 Derringer is worthy of a single at a short price.
Leg 3 – Race 3 (6,7,8) – No. 7 Wednesday exits a strong runner-up effort in a stakes and is likely another short-priced winner, but we’ll add the pair of No. 6 Tap the Magic and No. 8 Darling Dodie looking for an upset.
Leg 4 – Race 4 (1,3,4,6) – The customary Baffert pair of No. 1 Gifting and No. 4 Salt Tequila Lim must be included, along with two-time runner-up No. 3 Ridingwiththedevil and regally-bred No. 6 Serene Melody.
Leg 5 – Race 5 (1,5) – The under card feature $100,000 Frans Valentine Stakes for Cal-bred distaffers at a mile on turf and No. 1 Top Kisser can streak to her fourth straight win.
Double up with No. 5 Chokecherrymary, who has had success again open company and lands Edwin Maldonado for the first time.
Recap – (ALL) w (4) w (6,7,8) w (1,3,4,6) w (1,5) – Total cost of ticket = $72
Yesterday’s Result – (-$192)
Total for current Hollywood Park meet – (-$1,595.65)
Total from 7/20/11 – 4/21/13 – (+$15,757.10)
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Good luck!
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