Mr Palmer ships in from New York for Sunday feature
The eight-race card at Pimlico on Sunday is topped by a third-level optional race for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles featuring Mr Palmer, who will be making his first start since winning the More to Tell on the April 2 New York Claiming Championships card at Aqueduct.
Mr Palmer, trained by Rudy Rodriguez, returned from a similar layoff in January to win a $25,000 starter race at Aqueduct. His chief competitors seem to be He’s Achance and DC Dancer.
He’s Achance has been knocking on the door at this level for trainer Jason Egan. He’s Achance needs the lead, but there is not much early speed entered in this race. If he shakes free early, he won’t be easy to catch.
DC Dancer finished third, beaten a head, by Full Salute in an optional race at Monmouth Park on May 22. Full Salute came back to win the Select Stakes, a turf sprint at Monmouth last weekend. The knock on DC Dancer is that while he is usually close at the finish, he is only 4 for 30 in his career.
The card also includes a first-level optional race for 3-year-old fillies at 5 1/2 furlongs. Birgetta Rose, a five-length debut winner for Lacey Gaudet, and If I Was a Boy, trained by William Konlo, look like the favorites.