What better way to kick off Super Bowl weekend than a late Pick 5 carryover of over $133k on Friday night in Northern Kentucky! Yes, that is right no one was able to connect the dots in Thursday’s sequence, in large part due to Devil Paradis’ victory at 40-1 in Race 8. Friday’s late Pick 5 gets rolling in Race 6, which kicks off at 8:25 PM eastern time.
Grade Descriptions: Grade A=Highest degree of confidence; Grade B=Solid Play. Grade C=Least preferred or pass; Grade X=probable winner but likely at odds too short to play.
Race 6:
Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 8 Maynard
Backups: 1 Couperin
Forecast: The sequence kicks off with a $5k starter at one-mile where #8 Maynard was made the 2-1-morning line favorite by oddsmaker Mike Battaglia. The son of Animal Kingdom has won 2 in a row since returning off a 3.5-month freshening for trainer Karyn Wittek. The previous two wins came against open company claiming foes, but Wittek opts to protect the 6YO gelding, who should get a favorable trip from his outside draw under Alex Achard.
If Maynard fails to make it three wins in a row perhaps #1 Couperin can kick things off with a price. The Into Mischief gelding raced last at Penn National and has bounced around to a lot of barns through 12 starts, but draws favorably to the inside. His tactical speed from the gate is dangerous in his first start in Florence since a pair of runs last March to kick off his career.
Race 7:
Grade: B-
Main Ticket: 4 Silardi; 1 Inherent Powers
Backups: None
Forecast: I am going to try survive two-deep in this tricky conditional $5k claimer at 6.5-panels. I like #4 Silardi most. The City Zip gelding makes his first start since a pair of stalk and fade runs against better on the East Coast this summer for trainer David Jacobson. His lack of experience over an all-weather surface presents an obvious question, but he has raced against better throughout his 33-race career. Plus, Jacobson has won with 3 of his last 4 in Florence, including Independent Paul last night. With a clean break he should find a favorable forward position under Gabe Saez. I will also include #1 Inherent Powers, who also has competed against better. Her return to the races in December did not go well, but she earned three wins over this course. Expect a mid-pack ground saving voyage throughout.
Race 8:
Grade: C
Main Ticket: 1 Boss Lady Bailey; 6 Dazzlin’ Dictator 2 Cozee Rags
Backups: None
Forecast: I am not creative at all in this 10-furlong journey over the synth for fillies and mares. #1 Boss Lady Bailey tries the all-weather for the first time for Mike Maker. Maker has been hot at Turfway Park over the last 30 days clicking with 6 of his last 26 starters for an ROI of $2.15 ROI. Normally, I might try to beat a mare like this doing something new for the first time, but not in this case. I will use her and two other logicals in this second-level allowance.
Race 9:
Grade: B
Main Ticket: 7 Tres Chic
Backups: 8 Greatest Moment
Forecast: There appears to be a lot of early zip signed on in this $5k claimer for non-winners of two at one-mile. This bodes well for another David Jacobson trainee, #7 Tres Chic. The 5YO mare makes her second start off the claim after failing badly as the favorite going 6-furlongs over the Oaklawn dirt. She missed by just a neck last year in a race over this surface and distance for former trainer Kenny McPeek and should appreciate getting back to a two-turn event.
As a backup, I will use #8 Greatest Moment. The lightly raced daughter of Protonico makes her second start off the freshening after an off the pace fifth sprinting on January 26. She too should relish the added ground.
Race 10:
Grade: C+
Main Ticket: 3 Myth Spun; 5 Outrage; 4 I Say Too; 7 Freedom Dreams; 10 Secession Brewing
Backups: None
Forecast: A $7,500 maiden claimer at 6-furlongs closes the card and like many I am going to opt to get some coverage. 3-1-morning line favorite #5 Outrage makes some sense cutting back in distance after moving too early in a race that fell apart going a mile on January 2. #3 Myth Spun also exits that race last month. She stopped badly, but was dueled into defeat after taking a lot of money for a first-time starter in a field of 11. Expect a much-better run on the class drop tonight. #4 I Say Too is not impossible at 20-1. She was caught in chase mode in the January 2 common race off the bench. The cutback is likely to benefit the Ethan West trainee. #7 Freedom Dreams and #10 Secession Brewing lack experience over this course, but get class relief for capable barns. I am not willing to let them beat me at solid prices.
Good luck!
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