Pimlico play of the day: A beatable favorite is in race 9

It is a rare day when our play of the day is not a win bet around one value contender, but so it goes with race 9 at 4:27 p.m. EDT on Saturday at Pimlico.

The allowance optional claimer going 1 1/16 miles on the main track features Jamie Ness-trained Walk Away Joe, who had been part of an entry before the scratch of Melt With You. He is 3-2 on morning line and will have Jaime Rodriguez riding.

Walk Away Joe soundly defeated $10,000 beaten claimers going 1 1/8 miles 1 1/2 weeks ago at Parx, but $10,000 beaten claimers are a notch below optional claimers. Now this 8-year-old gelding picks up weight having to tote 126 pounds against these.

Goodluckchuck is another stretching out second off the claim and his speed and relatively inside draw in post 2 make him a contender here. Forrest City was plucked out of his win by Lacey Gaudet, and his good numbers at this trip.

Assuming Walk Away Joe is favored, the plays will be to lean on Goodluckchuck and Forrest City.

The Pimlico play of the day at Horse Racing Nation appears through a marketing co-operative with the Maryland Jockey Club.