Pimlico: Pickupspeed takes to turf

Pickupspeed and Blue Goblin, a pair of deep closers, rallied from the back of the pack to run one-two in the $75,000 Ft. McHenry Handicap at Pimlico.

Pickupspeed, making his first start on the turf, paid $29.80 and combined with Blue Goblin for a $243.60 exacta. He was timed in 2:30.14 for 1 1/2 miles.

Winning trainer Larry Murray said he thought the 12 furlongs of the Ft. McHenry might help offset Pickupspeed's chronic problem of starting slowly.

"We figured he might like the grass, and the mile and a half was a natural because he doesn't break so well, and this way he'd have plenty of time to catch them," Murray said. "He gives the impression that you can't go too far with him.