Yaupon got Pimlico’s Preakness Meet to a very fast start in Thursday’s meet opener, the G3 Chick Lang, and it appears another favorite is going to prove a prompt in the Pimlico Special, launching the traditional Pimlico Special-Preakness double.
Even with an outside draw, Owendale (8-5) looks superior to the group. Accomplished at the highest levels, his figures are consistently faster and his tactical speed and kick is well suited to today’s dynamics. Johnny Velazquez is in the boot.
The class relief is significant as he drops from the Grade 2 level following his game placing to By My Standards who is finally living up to his promise this season. He faces no such rival here and he likes this surface, if last year’s Preakness third is the measure.
While the 4YO Brad Cox trainee is the key to the Preakness Double, he might not be worth backing straight. The value is the local hard-hitting gelded 5YO Cordmaker (8-1) who, it appears, has been pointed to this all year.
A narrowly beaten in this race last year after falling too far out of it midrace, he comes up to this year’s event off graduating distances and flashed early speed for the first time this year in the recent Deputed Testamony after reuniting with Victor Carrasco., a winning partner thrice last year.
Making a cold Preakness Double, Owendale to Authentic, an exacta box of Owendale with Cordmaker, and will bet Cordmaker to win at 6-1 or greater.
