Gabby Gaudet's analysis for Monday's race card at Pimlico Race Course:
Race 1, 1:10 p.m. post time
Selections: No. 1 Tempietto, No. 2 Rureadyforamiracle, No. 6 Sabbiadoro
Last time Tempietto was on the dirt, he had a poor start, checked on the backstretch and was reserved the majority of the stretch. Vast room to improve with a better trip. Rureadyforamiracle really did no running in debut but willing to give him the benefit of the doubt on a fast track and going longer. I've said this for the past several starts and still believe that Sabbiadoro will be better on the lead. He just doesn't have the heart to pass horses deep stretch.
Race 2, 1:38 p.m.
Selections: No. 7 The Bop Express, No. 8 Archer Queen, No. 1 Chesapeake Spring
The Bop Express finally gets a needed class relief but has previously put in some gutsy efforts against much tougher. She has speed and a good outside post to be placed wherever she needs to be. Archer Queen found her niche, being a closing sprinter on the turf. The pace flow will be right in front of her to close into. Not an easy post for Chesapeake Spring but if she can manage to stalk and save ground behind the speed, she should be able to fire fresh.
Race 3, 2:06 p.m.
Selections: No. 5 Lightnin Fast Girl, No. 7 Articulate, No. 6 Smooth Approach
Although Lightin Fast Girl hasn't managed to get a win at this distance, she has won at the flat mile at Laurel. The key is for her to get to the lead and dictate, and judging by the speed of others in here, she should be the fastest early. Articulate doesn't seem to be as fast as Lightin Fast Girl early. She managed to be close last time out but that was a slow early pace. Still respect her efforts. Smooth Approach will be hoping the pace comes back to her a bit today but should be making a late, closing run.
Race 4, 2:34 p.m.
Selections: No. 3 Sippy Cup, No. 1 Moonshine Mistress, No. 4 Cadet Cat
Sippy Cup had to overcome slight trouble when facing Maiden Special Weight company two starts back. She was steadied on the backstretch and maintained a leveled run throughout the stretch. Class drop will make her dangerous. Moonshine Mistress will need to take back and make a one-run move - not so easy from post position. Cadet Cat is out of a mare whose foals never won on turf but the sire Midshipman makes her intriguing first on the turf.
Race 5, 3:02 p.m.
Selections: No. 7 It's a Trend, No. 5 Becky Kecki, No. 2 Pony Romo
Going back to It's a Trend today after he stumbled badly breaking from the starting gate last out. He lost all hope from the get-go but his race prior is good enough to win here. Becky Kecki could easily win here but it's tough to take a short price on her after little follow-through last out. Pony Romo dropped to the bottom for the first time last time out and should put in a similarly strong effort today.
Race 6, 3:30 p.m.
Selections: No. 8 Hymnotic, No. 5 La Nina, No. 1 Glad Your Back
Hymnotic ran against some bears in debut. The winner went on to win an allowance at Keeneland and the place horse won a Maiden Special Weight at Aqueduct. Barn is excellent with turf sprinters and should have this one retooled. La Nina ran a credible race last out given how well she ran against the boys as a 2-year-old. Like that she has positional speed. Alan Goldberg sends out Glad Your Back, a barn that does well with horses making their second start off the layoff. Blinkers go on today and she could be sharper from the gate.
Race 7, 3:58 p.m.
Selections: No. 4 Kept, No. 5 Birgetta Rose, No. 1 Gloria Patri
Goldberg also sends out Kept, who showed a little bit of early footing and stopped in debut. The barn improves drastically with second-time starters and I like that she showed speed - we could see her dictate here. Birgitta Rose is out of a nice allowance mare who won going long on the dirt but is also kin to some quality turf sprinters like Belle of Camden who made upwards of $270k dong just that. Gloria Patri shows some good gate workouts but tough post for a first timer.
Race 8, 4:26 p.m.
Selections: No. 11 Tempt Me Twice, No. 6 Gursky, No. 4 Daily News
Tempt Me Twice will be waiting in the wings, hoping someone scratches, but he really has been sharp since moving to turf sprints. He's out of a family whose foals get better with age and experience and that could be the case for him. Gursky has the pedigree to love the turf and maybe the key was to simply cut him back in distance. He hesitated at the start last out but has room to improve here. Just Jack clearly has some raw talent, being able to win in debut. New surface today that he could move up on as he is a half brother to Talk Show Man who won last year's Henry S. Clark.
Race 9, 4:55 p.m.
Selections: No. 5 Kitty's Right, No. 7 Stormy Mistress, No. 2 Home to Carrowkeel
Kitty's Right makes her turf debut and drops in class. She's out of a turf-winning mare who also produced a turf winner as well. Stormy Mistress ran very well when dropping to the maiden claiming level on the turf before. Blinkers go on to sharpen her up from the gate. Home to Carrowkeel goes back to sprinting on the turf where she had some rough trips in the past. This is the right even for her and should be making a late move from of the pace.
Best Bet: Race 8, No. 11 Tempt Me Twice
Price Play: Race 6, No. 8 Hymnotic