Gierkink: Matador should be favored Wednesday

Wednesday, May 28, preview

The first Wednesday evening card of the meet has a post time of 6:45 for the first of eight races.

Matador drops in class

Matador, who was scratched from last Sunday’s Marine Stakes, should be favored in the second race, a 1 1/16-mile allowance for 3-year-olds that has a $75,000-$72,500 claiming option. Matador, a prospect for the July 6 Queen’s Plate, had a fairly busy winter/spring campaign that included a sixth-place finish in the Grade 1 Florida Derby and a fifth in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby. His chief opponent could be the likely pacemaker, Tuscan Getaway.

Silver Freak favored in the fourth

Silver Freak, who is usually heavily bet, merits top billing in the lone turf tilt on the card, a seven-furlong optional claimer. He might benefit from a turnback in distance off a fading third in a 1 1/16-mile optional claimer at Gulfstream.

The fourth race kicks off the pick four, which has a guaranteed pool of $100,000. Others worth considering are Lockout, Sky Commander, and Plenty Elusive, who deserves another chance on grass.