If Patrioticandproud runs to the Beyer form he showed at Del Mar and Santa Anita, he will be difficult to beat in Saturday’s Louisville Handicap at Churchill Downs.
Gryvon (#3, ML 3-1) makes his return in Thursday’s seventh race at Gulfstream Park, a seven-furlong optional claimer. It will be his first start since a first-place finish by four lengths in a six-furlong optional claimer April 4 at Gulfstream Park. The second- and third-place finishers from that race came back to win their next starts.
Download DRF Plus handicapping reports for Thursday's races, including DRF Bets GamePlan, the Positive ROI Report, and Key Race Report.
After the Derby Day debacle, I got back to work the next day. The major reason for my losses on that day was my incomplete preparation, so I decided to focus on my personal odds line.
The Preakness monsoon cleared out the Pimlico infield, spread out the field by 48 lengths from front to back, and played mind games with figure makers, including those of us at Beyer Central. “Making figures is sometimes a science and sometimes an art,” Andrew Beyer said. “This time, it was intelligent guesswork at best.”
Tapit’s World (#6, ML 3-1) takes on six in Wednesday’s eighth race at Delaware Park, the 1 1/16-mile Winter Melody Stakes. Since Jan. 1, 2014, trainer Michelle Nevin is winning at a 33 percent clip when saddling a horse switching from a sprint to a route, for a return on investment of $3.59.
Sugar Devil (#7, ML 6-5) makes her return in Wednesday’s fourth race at Indiana Grand, a six-furlong allowance. It will be her first start since a first-place finish by 4 1/4 lengths in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race April 29 at Indiana Grand. The third- and fourth-place finishers from that race came back to win their next starts.
Dave Litfin's horses to watch at Belmont Park for the week of May 19.
Brad Free's Santa Anita Horses to Watch for the week of May 18.
Gierkink's Woodbine Horses to Watch for the week of May 18
