Preakness Runners By the Numbers

by Ed Meyer

posted on May 17, 2022 in Free Picks and Tips, General Discussion, Handicapping, Horse Racing, WinningPonies.com | Comments Off on Preakness Runners By the Numbers

The second leg in the Triple Crown happens this Saturday. Sorrowful to say the Derby winner Rich Strike will pass on this race and enjoy the extra time needed to prepare for the Belmont. The team involved feel this is best and felt if they would have had another week, he would have been ready. But not the case, and now they will have three more weeks following the Preakness this Saturday. Good news for the connections.

So, with no Triple Crown on the line this year, here’s a glimpse of who I like to take down the 2nd jewel of the crown.

 

#3 – Early Voting = Speedy son of Gun Runner who is showing good things from the breeding and is coming off a 2nd off the layoff effort after making every pole a winning one except the final 70 yards where he was bested by Mo Donegal at the wire. – I see good speed, but nothing like we saw in the Derby. I think the added ground will be his undoing, but none the less he will be setting an honest pace.

#7 – Simplification = Ran a solid race at CD and came on to finish 4th only 3 1/2 lengths. Trouble for me is he couldn’t get there going 1 1/4 and now we’re going 1 3/16. He’s a gamer, but not for the win spot on my tickets.

#6 – Secret Oath = Winner of the Ky Oaks for D Wayne (can still train) Lukas. – She faced the boys two back in the G1 Arkansas Derby and circled the field in Arazi fashion and drew off by two solid lengths in the Oaks. Ultra-impressive and 3/4 with wins excluding the G1 Arkansas Derby where she was a beaten favorite. – She is in the top five gals I have watched race. – Dangerous wildcard.

And the winner is:

#4 – Epicenter = Toss out his first start and there is very little not to like. – The Asmussen trainee is tough and has the proper running style of being an up-close stalker. –  Joel Rosario fits like a glove and wins 24% with stalking sorts. He should relish the distance and will be just off the leader putting a target on his back. He knows there is going to be a calvary charge behind him and will not let the fractions get out of hand.