2018 Preakness was a mud pit day for the ages, Photo Credit: Myself
Kevin Gazzale
Ever since I attended the 2018 Preakness for my bachelor party with my brother Big Race Jim and roughly 10 other friends I have had a soft spot for the Preakness. Justify’s run through the Triple Crown in 2018 is what started drawing me into racing more as a serious fan than a casual. The cascade of Justify, Country House Derby in 2019, Code of Honor Travers 2019, 2020 Pandemic, Tiz the Law is really what led me here. I love the Preakness, sometimes I do well, sometimes I don’t but overall I feel honed in this weekend every year. I figure why not try and qualify for the big qualifier. I have not watched a single live race at Laurel maybe in the last 3 years so this should be interesting. The $20 Friday Qualifier starts in race 7, so that’s where we will begin.
Selections:
Race 7 – 7 McCoullugh looks loaded with late pace in a race with a lot of front end speed. He should be finding his best stride late as long as Sheldon Russel doesn’t run him into traffic, and that’s a big caveat.
Race 8 – 5 Tessellate, gets Irad, has the tactical speed to sit in behind the early leaders and pounce as they’re heading for home. She is 9/2 on the ML but speed figures is right on par with the favorites in here.
Race 9 – 6 Unmiztaken is interesting in here, has been switching surfaces frequently but the numbers say they like the turf best. Could sit up front and make the favorite run him down.
Race 10 – 1 Margie’s Intention just looks too good in here with the big scratches to the outside.
Race 11- 8 Sunna could just blitz the field here. Best early pace in the race by far and a race full of closers. He has a decent post from the outside that could allow him to clear and keep on going.
Race 12 – 3 San Siro I bet him last time out at Keeneland and he ran his god damn balls off. I was on the fence here with whether he improves of regresses of that big effort. Ultimately there’s not may others in here that scare me.
Race 13 – 3 Holly’s Holiday ships in from Oaklawn off some big efforts. I think she can really pop here in the spot and she dominated her last two sports while not getting overly bet. I think she dominates in this spot.
Race 14 – 2 Street Party gets a positive trainer switch after already posting decent figures that can easily win in here if he improves or even matches his past figs.
