Pimlico sets guarantees for exotic pools on Black-Eyed Susan, Preakness cards

The Maryland Jockey Club is guaranteeing the size of a number of wagering pools on Friday and Saturday at Pimlico.

There is also a daily double linking Friday’s Black-Eyed Susan and the Preakness Stakes on Saturday. Last year, the wager was on the Pimlico Special – rather than the Black-Eyed Susan – and the Preakness. It handled $495,000.

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All of the pick fives at Pimlico on Friday and Saturday will have a 12 percent takeout.

On Friday, three pools – two pick fours and a pick five – are guaranteed to handle at least $250,000 or Pimlico will make up the difference.

The first guaranteed pick four will be on races 8-11, consisting of the Miss Preakness, the Jim McKay Turf Sprint, the duPont Distaff, and the Black-Eyed Susan.

A second guaranteed pick four will be offered on races 11-14, consisting of the Black-Eyed Susan, the Skipat, an optional claimer, and the Pimlico Special.

A $250,000-guaranteed pick five will begin on race 7. It will start off with an allowance race.

Four guaranteed pools on Saturday

The Maryland Jockey Club is guaranteeing the size of four multi-race pools on Saturday.

The early pick four on races 2-5 will be guaranteed at $300,000; The late pick four on races 10-13, which will include the Preakness, is guaranteed to reach $1.5 million.

The 12-percent takeout pick 5 on races 9-13 will have a guaranteed pool of $500,000.

A single winner of the Rainbow 6 on races 8-13 will be guaranteed a payout of at least $100,000.

First post is noon Eastern on Friday and 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Advance wagering on the Preakness Day card will be available Friday.