Gabby Gaudet's betting tips and best best for Thursday's race card at Pimlico Race Course:
Race 1, 1:10 p.m. post time
Selections: No. 11 Irunalatte, No. 7 Counting Days, No. 4 Lightning Electric
Irunalatte hasn't had success yet at this distance but I like the aggressive move to two turns. Should be able to get the jump on the field and be the one to catch. Counting Days gets a considerable class relief from when he won his previous turf effort against $20k claimers. Look for him to making a late bid. Lightning Electric shouldn't be too far off the pace with an inside post.
Race 2, 1:38 p.m.
Selections: No. 4 Anissa, No. 9 Aine, No. 7 One More Wish
Anissa caught a runner exiting maiden special weight at Keeneland last time out in a tough race on Preakness Day. She was floated widest of all in the final turn and couldn't match strides, following the winner through the stretch but this field seems to have come up a bit lighter. Aine was entered in a turf race a few weeks ago but scratched in the post parade. Now back with a good, outside post. She'll love the added distance and is a half to multiple stakes winning turf mare Embarr. One More Wish closed into a winner that took the Stormy Blues stakes next out. Does't look like sprinting is her game but should set her up nicely for this distance today.
Race 3, 2:06 p.m.
Selections: No. 4 Idon'tknowgoaskanni, No. 1 Articulate, No. 7 Winter's Child
Idon'tknowgoaskanni exits the strongest races. Last out she faced a gate to wire winner on a track that was kind to speed, and met three next out winners in the allowance prior. Think the class relief will give her an edge over Articulate who got a dream setup behind a pace that collapsed last out. Wineter's Child could stalk from a controlling outside post to transition her form from out of town.
Race 4, 2:34p.m.
Selections: No. 5. Shinkansen, No. 6 If You Say So, No. 3 Head Games
Shinkansen tries two turns and turf for the first time, and has the pedigree to handle the switch. She's by solid turf sire Pure Prize and out of a mare who ran low-70 Beyer Speed Figures on the turf. Trainer Linda Albert has done this move successfully with several horses including a $52 winner and a $26 winner. Not taking anything away from If You Say So's effort last time out. It was sharp visually and should get the right pace here. I like that Head Games has had time to mature since her 2-year-old season and if she can improve from her turf efforts as a 3-year-old, she should stack up against this group.
Race 5, 3:02 p.m.
Selections: No. 7. Young Dude, No. 8. Cruise More, No. 4. Incisive Strike
The best horses in this race tend to be a little pace dependent in a race where there's not much pace. Young Dude is quick enough to be on or near the lead and could have the tactical advantage in this field. Cruise More was much the best last out, and won under a simple hand ride, but might be hampered by the overall lack of pace. Incisive Strike keeps putting in strong efforts off the layoff. sometimes he finds himself falling back off the pace and making a closing move, but could be placed closer earlier today.
Race 6, 3:30 p.m.
Selections: No. 2 Heavenly Haze, No. 3 Barakeh, No. 4 Holiday Mousse
Heavenly Haze put in a game effort last out on the stretch out to two turns. I think he has the speed to stalk the pace of My Cousin Lou and Barakeh here for perfect setup. Barakeh could match stride with My Cousin Lou to the inside put does have the controlling outside position. Holiday Mousse gets more pace to run into today than last out.
Race 7, 3:58 p.m.
Selections: No. 9 Red Hot Warrior, No. 4 Zapata, No. 10 Puturseatbelton
Red Hot Warrior has the pedigree to be a good one by War Front out of a 3-time turf winning mare ($235k earner). His race last September at Kentucky Downs proved to be productive as the second-place finisher was recently third against stakes company at Belmont. Zapata has gone against some heavy hitters in his turf sprints including Take Cover who came back to win the Pennsylvania Governor's Cup. Puturseatbelton's race last out was too good to overlook. He showed the ability to make up a tremendous amount of ground after early trouble. An effort like that puts him in the mix here.
Race 8, 4:26 p.m.
Selections: No. 7 Set to Music, No. 1 Metaboss, No. 12 My Enigma
Set to Music got into early trouble entering the first turn last time out. He managed to settle on the backstretch but never had a full chance to run throughout the stretch. Has potential to improve with a cleaner trip. Metaboss was running late throughout the stretch but couldn't close the gap on Phlash Phelps, who was more tactical that day. Needs to find room for an earlier move today. I can overlook My Enigma's last race when he was unprepared at the start. His race prior was strong as he was caught behind a very sharp gate to wire winner but still managed to close into that pace.
Best bet: Race 6, No. 2 Heavenly Haze
Price play: Race 4, No. 5. Shinkansen