Saturday's Best Bet: French Empire rules the day in Skipat
Saturday's 9th race from Pimlico Race Course is the $100,000 Skipat Stakes for fillies and mares dashing six furlongs on the main track (Post Time 3:25 p.m. ET).
#8 FRENCH EMPIRE (3-1) captured four straight and six of her last eight starts. Her numbers jumped up in her last two starts at Oaklawn Park and sharp conditioner Brad Cox has her now. The fresh mare could easily mow these down.
#2 Casual (9-2) has always been a decent sprinter for Steve Asmussen and she put up quality speed ratings on four occasions. Two of her three wins were at this distance and she should get pace to chase.
#5 Chub Wagon (8-5) cruised in all five starts and the Pennsylvania-bred filly has been cleverly spotted while catching favorable pace scenarios multiple times. This is her toughest career test and a couple of her rivals are multiple stakes winners with early speed.
#1 Club Car (8-1) exits a nice optional claiming win at Keeneland. She fired trifecta shots in seven of her last ten outings and can rally for a share under Jose Ortiz.
Wagers:
#8 to win
Exacta Box 2-8
Trifecta 2-5-8/2-5-8/1
Recent Best Bet Winners
May 3 - LEADER OF THE BAND ($3.60), Exacta ($23.80)
May 5 - WENTZ ($6.20), Exacta ($17.80)
May 7 - ULTIMATE HY ($4.40), Exacta ($13.60)
May 9 - BEREN ($8.60), Exacta ($28.20)
May 11 - Did I Stutter/Capital Q/Sense a Million Trifecta ($109.00)