An interesting 7-furlong sprint for fillies and mares and a rare opportunity to get value on a Shug McGaughey-trained runner. But then you should get value when the horse to beat is trained by Jason Servis.
Pink Sands (7-2) obviously has some issues but is back where she belongs–going short in a listed stakes, not longer in graded company.
Four-year-old has excellent back figures and reunites with Jose Ortiz, who has ridden her to victory thrice. Her style suits the race shape and appears to be the key to Saturday’s co-feature in Queens.
Philanthropic (2-1) is the filly she must catch. Going from Steve Asmussen to Servis turned the trick as her last two figures were significantly faster than what she did in the past. Spacing of 55 days should have her batteries fully re-charged.
Still, we’re taking Pink Sands to win at 3-1 or more, an exacta box with Philanthropic, and using Majestic Reason exotically second and third.
YESTERDAY: We went 0-for-3. At Laurel Park, Saar’s Image (17-1) showed some speed but only in spots; perhaps turf is his best game despite the trainer’s profitable turf-to-dirt stats. We’ll give him two more chances… At Churchill Downs, Lucky Curlin (7-2) faced pace pressure throughout but still should have finished better than that. That was start #3 so he’s no longer on our list; you’re on your own… At GPW, Blockbuster (5-1) got jammed up entering the backstretch after breaking sharply, losing his position, but never picked it up at headstretch; don’t know what to make of the effort but we’re forced to bet back.
