Interesting start to Maryland Million week, a secondary optional allowances at a flat mile, all from top Free State outfits.
We’ve narrowed our search to three; favorite Thundershook (5-1), co-second choice Galerio (7-2), and recent daylight winner over weaker sprinting at Delaware, Unmatchable (8-1).
As a gelded 4YO Thundershook has the most upside and is the now horse, winning his last three and four of of five since the Jamie Ness claim; you’re shocked, I know.
He beat weaker starter allowance types sprinting at Pimlico now stretches out to a mile, at which he’s 2-for-2. The problem is those wins were at Delaware and Parx, which often doesn’t compute at Laurel. And the early line lacks value.
Galerio, conversely, is a five-time Laurel winner and has an enviable trip slate of (7) 3-3-0. If it were not for two recent defeats by a head, he would be on a five race win streak. He’s well drawn with tactical speed for Gonzalez and likely to be over-bet.
Unmatchable peaks our interest beyond the likely value. He came off a 10-month layup for Mike Trombetta with a sharp drop after leaving the Asmussen barn and drew off strongly to sprint home 5 in front at Delaware, but it’s a different fit here.
However, he’s 2-for-3 at this trip and 1-for-5 at all others. Trombetta has given him five weeks recovery since the Delaware romp and is 18% with repeaters. Five-year-old bay has three recent works at his Fair Hill base, gets a 3-pound weight pull and Cintron re-rides.
Unmatchable likely will slip between the parimutuel cracks and is worth a win wager at 5-1 or greater, barring scratches, and we’ll also key-box exactas with his rivals noted above.
