by Frank Carulli
July 15, 2021
Fueled by a 46-1 winner in the first leg, Pimlico's Late Pick 4 paid $2,045 with a 3-5 and 8-5 winner in the sequence last Friday. Here's a look at this week's 50-cent wager.
Updated at 11:00AM ET on Friday, July 16 due to a scratch in Race 8.
RACE 5 (2:39PM ET) // MAIDEN CLAIMING // 1 MILE (TURF)
EXCEPT TEMPTATION, a possible solo play, made a bold 3-wide bid on the turn, had dead aim on the leader and 'hung' around for second in a longer $40,000 turf route at Belmont two starts back. Race favorite L'indiscret rallied from last to win and came back with a similar-type move to repeat in a starter allowance. FOREVER DREAMING, by multiple Grade 1 winner The Factor, debuts for Dickinson, so watch the odds board. MAP THE MOMENT broke flat-footed and far back as a debut favorite, ranged up into contention on the rail, but had to steady and alter course in deep stretch, costing her a chance at victory. JUNGLE FLOWER took some money in a MSW debut turf sprint last fall, worked well on the Pimlico main track five days ago and is a usable longshot with first-time Lasix.
RACE 6 (3:09PM ET) // CLAIMING // 6 FURLONGS (DIRT)
The 3-year-olds command respect in this dual condition race, so use several of them on the ticket. MAVILUS romped in her first try at this level, going a route of ground. SUBLIMITY steps up from the $5,000 ranks and seeks three wins a row. CLAIRE'S DARLING won at the distance last out for a 28-percent trainer-jockey duo over the past year. SHACKABOOM carried her speed to a 4-for-7 record this year before she was claimed from her last start.
RACE 7 (3:39PM ET) // OPTIONAL CLAIMING // 1 MILE (TURF)
PRINECESS DOIR paired her top two speed figures in a pair of five-horse fields on the main track. She 'pulled her way forward' after a rough start and dueled with the 8-5 winner from the far turn to mid-stretch in a scheduled turf test. MOSALAH saved ground throughout in a restricted stakes race, took the lead at the top of the stretch and settled for second best to the favorite, who arrived off a win for $35,000 at Belmont in the race prior. PERFUME RIVER rallied into slow fractions to win a $16,000 maiden claimer, but she at least offers double-digit odds and gets plenty of pace to run at for her new trainer.
RACE 8 (4:09PM ET) // MAIDEN CLAIMING // 1 1/16 MILES (DIRT)
COSA MAS LINDA dueled from the outset with EL EQUALIZER and 1-1/8 miles, appeared to be going the better of the two in early stretch, but lost the place battle late while a 17-1 winner drew away from them. If they stay out of each other's way, one of them should win.
50-CENT PICK 4 TICKET
Race 5: 3, 4, 6
Race 6: 1, 6, 8
Race 7: 4, 6, 7
Race 8: 3, 5
Cost: $27.00