Illman's preview: Pick six contenders for Sunday card

There is a $54,466 pick six carryover into Sunday's card. Let's take a look at some interesting contenders.

Race 4

Sol the Freud looks like a deserving favorite in the colt and gelding division of the New York Stallion Series as he looms the main speed. Still, I wanted to see a little bit more from his most recent start, a race in which he plummeted to the back of the pack after contesting a hot pace.

Instead, I'll hang my hat on Mark My Way, a Linda Rice-trained gelding who should appreciate cutting back in distance. In his last start, Mark My Way's first outing in almost five months, he tracked a moderate pace, made a three-wide bid on the turn, and was bounced around in the stretch. It was a solid effort, and I'm expecting a forward move in his second race back (note that he improved his Beyer Speed Figure 12 points in his second lifetime appearance last fall).

Free Mugatu, a colt by the 3-for-77 first-time turf stallion Utopia, also is worth consideration. Free Mugatu shows some interesting works leading up to his seasonal debut and has enough speed to stay within range of Sol the Freud.

Gridley Here doesn't have much speed and may want more ground, but he overcome trouble to win his maiden here last fall and is worth using as a 'B' on Ticketmaker plays.

Selections: 1a-8-7-1

Race 6

I'll use Silky on pick six tickets as the lightly raced filly showed some ability in her North American debut Nov. 10 at Aqueduct. She was bumped hard at the start, made a premature four-wide bid on the backstretch, was floated six wide turning for home, and still tried hard in the stretch.

The problem is that Silky hasn't raced in seven months and will try a demanding 1 1/2 miles in her first start off the bench. I'll play her but will try and get a bit more value with Glorious Chant, a Michael Matz-trained filly who may not have wanted to be on the lead in her last start. She won her maiden at Keeneland from well off the pace last year and will get an opportunity to revert to rallying tactics this time around.

Selections: 6-4-7-8

Race 8

The filly division of the Stallion Series is a true skull-buster. I have to spread and will use four in the pick six. Old Harbor looked very green in her most recent start, but the removal of blinkers may allow her to settle down a bit. She will get plenty of pace to attack, and the extra furlong is within her scope.

Selenite is another closing sort who should appreciate the expected hot pace up front. Her Beyers have improved in recent starts, and another forward move would put her right in the picture for trainer David Donk.

Missy Bay was floated five wide turning for home in her last start, her first appearance in more than six months. She hasn't run a bad race on turf and may work out a pace-tracking, ground-saving trip from the inside.

Champagne Ruby doesn't have much in the way of a turf pedigree, but she has some tactical speed and did some work last time chasing a sharp winner from the start. I'd use her as a 'B' in Ticketmaker.

Selections: 10-3-1-13

Horse to watch

MERRY MEADOW
Trainer: Mark Hennig
Last Race: June 21, 9th
Finish: 2nd by nose
Beyer: 94

It's time to believe in Merry Meadow. While she was aided by a series of fortunate circumstances in winning the Vagrancy in her previous outing, Merry Meadow ran a corker in the Bed o' Roses. She pushed the pace from the outside, took over turning for home, and battled gamely all the way to the wire. She won at Saratoga last year, so she must be considered if she contests the Grade 2 Honorable Miss on July 28.