Well it is the week after the Preakness, and Epicenter came in second again. After a week of binge drinking we find ourselves with 6 more races scattered around the country this Saturday. Let’s have a look at the fields and see if we can find any value plays.

Race 1: Cliff Hanger Stakes

• Mid Day Image – Winner of 4/4 at distance, winner of 3/5 at Monmouth, high speed figs, dropping distance, working bullets, lots to like, love the price.
• Kentucky Ghost – A little worried about being vanned off last start, but had a great workout May 7, consistent high speed figs, graded stakes experience, dropping back in distance and class, diamond in the rough?
• Carpenter’s Call – 3/3 at distance before third place finish in the Appleton. working bullets, not much stakes experience, good turf record.

Race 2: Soaring Softly Stakes (G3)

• Haughty – High percentage jockey / trainer, raced well winning 2/3 starts, working out well. good speed.
• Derrynane – High percentage trainer, good speed, increasing distance, stakes experience, second last race, concern about lack of distance.
• Chardy Party – Only 1 start, high percentage jockey, concern about short distance, win in only start, hero or zero probably on this one, but not much else to like about others.

Race 3: Keertana Overnight Stakes

• Temple City Terror – 4 3-1-0 at Churchill Downs, stakes experience, good speed figs, good speed at distance, winner last year.
• Disappearing Act – High speed figs, winner last start, working out well, rising speed figs.
• Luck Money – More stakes experience, but less at Churchill Downs, raced poorly last start, but dropping distance and more stakes experience than Temple City.

Race 4:  Snow Chief Stakes

• Bally’s Charm – Winner last race, experience at distance, most experience at track, high percentage trainer, good speed figs.
• Smuggler’s Run – Showing good speed figs, high percentage jockey/trainer, winner last race and 3/5 lifetime, working out well, lacking in distance though but faster than others.
• Worse Read Sanchez – More distance experience, but looks a little slower? Stakes experience but has lacked against others in the field. I feel better about picking a Santa Anita horse over one of the “shippers” from Golden Gate though.
• Seems like any of these 3 could take it

Race 5: Big Drama Stakes

• King Cab – Has success at Gulfstream, will be going to the front, winner 3/6 and 2 of last 4, winner 2/3 at distance. High percentage trainer, working out well.
• Cajun’s Magic – Dropping in class and distance, experience and wins at Gulfstream, in this average field I like a horse dropping in class.
• Willy Boi – Winner 3/6 at Gulfstream, coming off a win, moves up in class, high percentage trainer, last race won driving.
• Just Missed – Sir Ollie – Some good speed figs at a mile, high percentage trainer, on the board in every start, winner last race.

Race 6: Melair Stakes

• Rose Maddox – Going with the most experience in this field here, most consistent speed figs, high percentage trainer, winner at Santa Anita, winner 2 of last 3 races, moving back to dirt.
• Big Switch – High percentage trainer / jockey may take advantage of this middling field, winner in 2/4 starts, both on dirt, didn’t take to the turf, had 1 good start, maybe a bounce back here, working out well.
• Youteyourhonor – High percentage trainer, win at Santa Anita, 2 wins in 2022, concerned about “weakened” in last race at only 6.5f, overall record of 7 4-1-0 gives hope?

Some tough races to handicap this weekend, maybe we’ll get some upsets and high prices, maybe you’ll find a hidden gem I couldn’t. See if you can beat my picks.

http://games.scaredycatfilms.com/pick6/index.php