Stan Salter's betting tips and analysis for Thursday's race card at Pimlico Race Course:
Race 1, 1:10 p.m. post time
Selections: No. 4 Mountain Hero, No. 7 Midnight Surfer, No. 5 Great Smoke
Mountain Hero appears to be lone speed in here and leading rider Feargal Lynch will most likely take advantage of his horse's early speed, which is exactly what he did last time when they won wire-to-wire here at Pimlico 12 days ago. The Ricky Sillaman barn has been doing well recently and it looksto get its second win in a row since it claimed this gelding on May 13. Midnight Surfer hasn't been worse than third in four of his starts this year and gets a minor class relief today. Jockey Victor Carrasco had a five-win day here last Saturday. Great Smoke's last race was on the turf and you can toss that poor effort. He gets back to a surface and level today that he has won before.
Race 2, 1:38 p.m.
Selections: No. 7 Issheit, No. 2 Jade With Envy, No. 1 Dance With Gio
What an honest and consistent campaigner this 8-yearold mare is. Issheit is in top form, won at this level last time, and has won two races from four starts on the lawn at Pimlico. She is seeking her 17th lifetime win today and if she runs her race, which she normally does, they won't beat her today. Jade With Envy was second to my top pick in her race two back and then she followed that up with an impressive win against allowance company in her most recent race. Dance With Gio was fourth to my top two picks in her most recent race back in April, which was her first start this year. She should improve today with Hall of Fame rider Edgar Prado in the saddle.
Race 3, 2:06 p.m.
Selections: No. 2 Tough Teddy, No. 3 To Blave, No. 7 Here and There
Tough Teddy has been knocking on the door to break his maiden and he is coming into today's race following a sharp second at this level in his most recent race here at Pimlico. Trainer Dale Capuano puts him right back in the same spot today with jockey Jevian Toledo and I think they can sprint to the wire first ahead of the favorite, who will be coming from behind and is coming into this race off a four-month layoff . To Blave is the 8-5 morning-line favorite following a couple of decent efforts at Laurel Park this past winter, but might need more distance to get the job done. Here and There finished well in his second and most recent start at Penn National and drops to a tag for the first time today.
Race 4, 2:34 p.m.
Selections: No. 2 Hug a Tree, No. 6 Lady of Moray, No. 4 Star Black
Hug a Tree finished third at this level last time following some traffic problems around the far turn. Jockey Kali Francois won on this mare three starts ago and they will be running late today for trainer J. W. Delozier. Lady of Moray has a ton of early speed and has won four times on the synthetic and three times on the dirt, however. Today she tries the turf for the first time. Star Black is a proven turf sprinter and should improve making her second start today following a five-month layoff.
Race 5, 3:02 p.m.
Selections: No. 3 Tizadoozi, No. 8 Tizasong, No. 1a Reggae Song
Tizadoozi was a very good second two back to Coco as in Chanel, who just came back to win The Stormy Blues Stakes here at Pimlico. If she runs that same kind of effort today with Lynch aboard, then she will be a tough customer in this race. And, we should get a nice price on her today following her last outing where she chased three-wide and faded. Tizasong finished behind my top pick in her most recent race and should continue to make progress today for strong connections. Reggae Song just wasn't feeling it on Preakness Day but should improve today cutting back in distance.
Race 6, 3:30 p.m.
Selections: No. 8 Colton's Grand, No. 9 Seventy Niner, No. 1 Royal Knowledge
Just draw a line through the last two races for my top pick in here Colton's Grand. He doesn't like the turf or the mud, but in his race three back he loved the fast track and won wire to wire. He has a chance to do the same thing today, as he can can control this race early on with his speed and outside post. Seventy Niner has been doing this for awhile now and knows how to pick up checks. Royal Knowledge was beaten 47 lengths in late April but came back to win for $4,000 in his next start for the new barn.
Race 7, 3:58 p.m.
Selections: No. 10 Hanover Honey, No. 2 Purnata, No. 7 Killington
Since clipping heels and falling in her first start this year, Hanover Honey has two wins, a second, and three thirds this year running on the turf. Her last two races were very good and plenty good enough to win this condition today. Purnata runs for the current leading trainer and jockey of the meet and ran a decent second last time as the favorite for the same condition as today's race. Killington looked great in her race two back when she won coming off a fi ve-month layoff and got in a little trouble in her most recent race when she finished third at this level.
Race 8, 4:26 p.m.
Selections: No. 3 Loyalty Spirit, No. 10 Jarvis, No. 4 Daniel Le Deux
Loyalty Spirit ran a solid second in his most recent start following a brief freshener since trainer Jamie Ness claimed him. He should continue to improve today and top jockey Jevian Toledo will most likely be able to save ground around the fi rst-turn. Jarvis exits same race as my top pick and he ran a decent third that day for trainer Cal Lynch. Daniel Le Deux has been in trouble in both of his starts this year but is capable of better. He offers great value at 10-1 for sharp connections.
Best bet: Race 2, No. 7 Issheit
Price play: Race 5, No. 3 Tizadoozi