Early Preakness thoughts

Saturday, May 20th is when the 2017 Preakness will be run and, as of Tuesday, it looks like there will be nine horses that will go in pursuit of knocking off prohibitive favorite ALWAYS DREAMING.

THE PROBABLE FIELD: 

Always Dreaming -- Obviously the one to beat. If lucky, you'll get 4/5 at the window. Arrived OK at Pimlico and despite an Tuesday morning brief training scare...looks to be his sassy, old self and ready for the race. The question is...how to make money with him? 

Classic Empire -- Will he be the "bounce back" horse? Rough Derby trip, infected eye but still managed fourth place. The word is he's training quite well for the second jewel in the Triple Crown and could seriously challenge "The Dream".  I'll use in the exotics. 


Looking at Lee -- Rallied up the rail with cagey Corey Lanerie for second in Derby. No threat to the winner and one wonders if he'll get perfect trip on that rail at Pimlico?  One would think he needs to be much closer when they hit the stretch. Must include in the exotics. 


Gunnervera -- Did not get a bad trip in the Derby...just didn't do anything spectacular in the race...finishing seventh. Maybe a slop issue? He did run well at Saratoga in winning the the Saratoga Special last August...but I'm just not seeing a top three finish here. 


Hence -- He broke next to last in the Derby and it was obvious he didn't like the kick back from the sloppy track at Churchill. 11th place finish. Also trained by Lookin At' Lee trainer Steve Asmussen...what's the wild-haired man up to? I'll put him in the lower part of the exotics...nothing more. Sunland Derby winner...respect that a bit.


Conquest Mo Money --  Didn't make the Derby field, so he's had a bit more rest that some of these. The second place Sunland Derby finish and second place Arkansas Derby finish to Classic Empire shows he can stay close to the winners...maybe a long-shot for show money. 


Cloud Computing -- His best bet here is to follow Classic Empire around the track, move when he does and try to pass him in the stretch. No pace-setter here and has run all three lifetime races at Aqueduct...so how will he handle other than his home turf? Don't think he'll have much of an impact here but Javier Castellano is riding...and he's amazing. 


Multiplier -- Winner of the Illinois Derby...where he closed strongly to get the "W"...Brendan Walsh liked the way he trained Sunday at Keeneland. Joel Rosario gets on board and he's one of the best in the business. An upset Saturday is difficult to see...but not entirely impossible. 


Senior Investment  -- Got his nose up just in time to win G2 Lexington...coming from out of the clouds. That stretch run might parlay into a possible tote board placement in the Preakness...or more...depending on how the early fractions go. This one will be my long shot sleeper. Respect. 


Term of Art -- Can't honestly tell you why this one is in here. The Santa Anita Derby was not impressive. That being said, trainer is Doug O'Neill and he's a tricky enough son-of-gun that makes you respect. Jose Ortiz is one of the "young guns" in the jockey colony. Who knows? You make the call, I see nothing here to indicate or recommend a board finish. 


I'll be back later this week with some predictions and we'll see if I can get "The Arch" and maybe even Scotty to chime in. 


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Our partner here at Handicapping Heroes...SCOTT HARRIS...has been released from the hospital and home. He still has things to take care of and to get better but he has a plan and, for Scotty...his plans usually turn out pretty well. He hopes for a return to the Gold Room in a week or two and we're so glad that he's out of immediate danger right now. 

We'll get him back up here with us as soon as he is able and anxiously await that blessed day. 


paulie
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