$150,000 Maryland Sprint (G3) – Pimlico

Race 10 (Saturday, May 19, 2018: 4:05 p.m./ET; 1:05 p.m./PT)

Six furlongs on the main track (three-year-olds and upward)

The first race in the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Championship (MATCH) sprint dirt division is the Maryland Sprint (G3), for which a field of nine has been assembled. Let’s start digging to find a winner in this three-quarter mile dash:

#1 SONNY INSPIRED is 3-for-11 over wet tracks. The last time he ran on dirt (two starts back), he finished third in an allowance race behind next out winner GRASSHOPPIN and #6 IRISH COLONEL. Expect this guy to sit far off the pace and make one furious late run.

#2 HEARTWOOD sat off the pace over a sloppy track two starts ago and won an allowance race at Keeneland, earning a career high 91 Beyer Speed Figure. After that effort, he ran poorly going a flat mile behind Metropolitan Mile (G1) contender MCCRAKEN. Cutting back in distance and getting back to a projected sloppy track this time, he may be ready for another big effort like what we saw on April 15th.

#3 RED DRAGON TATTOO went gate to wire over the wet going in a Parx allowance race on November 7 and was given five months off after that big effort. In his first start off the break, he lost by 18 lengths to superstar ARMY MULE in the Carter (G1). Now that he has a race in 2018 under his belt, cuts back in distance and faces easier, all signs indicate he could take a major step forward.

#4 LEWISFIELD is the major local contender for this race. Maryland-bred is five-for-seven lifetime and comes into this fresh off of two straight wins going this six-furlong distance. He makes his graded stakes debut in this spot but his recent 97 Beyer Speed Figures stack up nicely with the major players in this group. Interesting.

#5 SWITZERLAND has won three straight races at Aqueduct and Oaklawn Park and is another one making his career debut against graded stakes competition. The son of SPEIGHTSTOWN is two-for-three over wet surfaces and has plenty of early speed. Major player. 

#6 IRISH COLONEL finished right in front of #1 SONNY INSPIRED in an allowance race on March 30. His only start against stakes company resulted in an off-the-board finish. Outclassed in this spot.

#7 LAKI is two-for-three when racing on a wet surface and three-for-five at this six-furlong distance. Son of CUBA was an easy allowance winner in his most recent start, defeating next out winner MINERS QUEST in the process. Last year, this guy finished fifth in this race at odds of 22/1. Like the gelding to his inside, he’s another one that may not have the class to win it unless others regress.

#8 FELLOWSHIP has been well beaten in his last two starts. However, three starts back he earned a 97 Beyer Speed Figure over a sloppy track and finished a neck behind SOMETHING AWESOME, who came back to win the Charles Town Classic (G3). He’ll need to run back to that race to have a shot in this spot, but he should enjoy getting back over the sloppy going.

#9 LONG HAUL BAY is the most lightly raced runner in the race, with just four starts in his career. He makes his second start off a 10-month break after a dominating win against New York-breds at Aqueduct going this distance last time out. Last year, he won the Bay Shore (G3) on Wood Memorial Day and was fifth in the Woody Stephens (G2). Major player from the Chad Brown barn.

SELECTIONS

1. #5 SWITZERLAND – Seeking to win four consecutive races.
2. #9 LONG HAUL BAY – Lightly raced son of Quality Road oozes talent.
3. #4 LEWISFIELD – Maryland-bred has a big shot.

LONGSHOT VALUE PLAY-#2 HEARTWOOD – Effort two starts back was a beauty.

 WAGERING STRATEGY

I’ll box my top three picks in exactas and make a straight win bet on my top choice.

 BANKROLL PLAY ($50 Budget)

$5 Exacta Box: #4 LEWISFIELD and #5 SWITZERLAND and #9 LONG HAUL BAY ($30).

$20 Win: #5 SWITZERLAND

 

(Bankroll at -$454.50 after 2018 Week #7 Based on $50 Wagers; +$12.40 last Newsletter).

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