Saturday's Best Bet: Nakatomi can close gap in Maryland Sprint
Saturday's 11th race at Pimlico is the Grade 3 Maryland Sprint Stakes for 3-year-olds and up dashing six furlongs on the main track. The scheduled post time is 4:53 p.m. EDT.
Click here for Pimlico entries and results.
No. 7 Nakatomi (5-2) cuts back a furlong and should move up in his third start after a layoff. Tyler Gaffalione was aboard for his last three wins and it looks like he will get enough pace to set up his late rally. He should roll past these if he runs his best race.
No. 10 Wondrwherecraigis (4-1) drew outside the other speed. The 8-for-16 gelding always tries hard. He is 2-for-3 with a head defeat at Pimlico, and he returned with a gritty score on April 13.
No. 8 Straight No Chaser (3-1) is quick out of the blocks and might get brave if he shakes off early pressure. He has yet to run two alike and must prove he belongs in the stakes ranks. He was an okay third in the Palos Verdes on Feb. 5, but that was not the toughest renewal of that race. He is 3-for-4 with lasix and 0-for-2 without it.
No. 9 Hello Hot Rod (12-1) cut back a furlong in the Frank Whiteley on April 15, and he chased from the outside post, led, and settled for the place. He cuts back another furlong for a strong jockey-trainer team and might be able to work out a decent outside stalking trip.
Get Jarrod’s Preakness Day analysis.
Wagers
No. 7 to win
Trifecta Key 7/8-9-10
Superfecta 7-10/7-10/8-9/8-9
Recent Best Bet winners
May 2 – Prove Worthy ($9.90)
May 3 – Warrant ($8.62)
May 4 – Bango/Miles Ahead exacta ($26.40), trifecta ($86.84)
May 6 – General Jim ($12.04), exacta ($75.02)
May 12 – Drew’s Gold/Squire Creek/Joey Freshwater trifecta ($62)
Sunday - Anarchist ($7.70)
Tuesday - Templet ($19.60), exacta ($36)
Thursday - Montauk Point/Luigi's Spirit exacta ($43.80)