The 2023 Preakness, the second leg of the Triple Crown, takes place Saturday. But first, we have another major order of business on the docket Friday at Pimlico with a loaded 14-race card highlighted by six stakes races.
The program culminates with the $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, which will feature 13 of the top 3-year-old fillies running 1 and 1/8 miles on the dirt track.
Action Network handicapper Mike Conti has broken down Friday's slate of competitive races, unveiling his top picks and exotic wagers on the first set of races in a busy two-day schedule.
The Black-Eyed Susan Stakes is slated for a 5:44 p.m. ET post time and will air live on USA Network. That telecast from Pimlico runs from 5-6 p.m. ET for the featured event. Full coverage of the day's racing takes place from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET on FS2.
Black-Eyed Susan Picks and Best Bets for Friday at Pimlico
Race 9 — Pick 5: 4,5 | 2,4 | 1 | 1,2,5 | 1,4,10
Race 9 — To Win: No. 5 Thundering Creed
Race 10 — To Win: No. 4 Afternoon Tea
Race 10 — Pick 4: 2,4 | 1 | 1,2,5 | 1,4,10
Race 11 — To Win: No. 1 Breath Away (BEST BET OF THE DAY)
Race 13 (Black-Eyed Susan Stakes) — To Win: No. 1 Sacred Wish
Black-Eyed Susan/Preakness Double — No. 1 Sacred Wish / No. 1 National Treasure
Black-Eyed Susan Race Day Betting Card
Race 9 — The Very One Stakes Betting Picks
Distance: 5 Furlongs
Surface: Turf
Post Time: 3:36 p.m. ET
Top Pick
No. 5 Thundering Creed (6-1) is making her first start off a five-month layoff. While her last race left a lot to be desired, that was on the synthetic at Turfway Park. Her two turf races were two of the best of her career.
She ran second, closing with a vengeance, to the ultra-classy Caravel last October. There looks to be plenty of pace for her to run into here, which significantly benefits her closing style.
Live Contenders
No. 4 Can the Queen (6-1) is the local horse who has three wins over this turf course. She has shown versatility in running style, which she will need in here as she’s not as fast as some of the others.
Race 10 — Miss Preakness Stakes Betting Picks
Distance: 6 Furlongs
Surface: Dirt
Post Time: 4:07 p.m. ET
Top Pick
No. 4 Afternoon Tea (8-1) sat a perfect trip last time out. She was was green in the lane with her head cocked. It looked like she was going to go by easily but barely ended up winning. With this being only the third start of her career, she should continue to mature and move forward off that last effort.
Live Contenders
No. 2 Key of Life (1-1) is the classiest horse in the field, coming in off a G2 win last out. While she’s proven that she’s not a need-the-lead type, her last three wins have all come in gate-to-wire fashion.
She will have deal with No. 6 Maple Leaf Mel (8-5) for the lead here. When jockey Flavien Prat and trainer Brad Cox have teamed up this year, they've won at a 36% clip.
Race 11 — Hilltop Stakes Betting Picks
Distance: 1 Mile
Surface: Turf
Post Time: 4:38 p.m. ET
Top Pick
No. 1 Breath Away (2-1) absolutely romped last time out. She has an explosive turn of foot and weaved in and out of traffic with ease.
There is plenty of pace for her to run at in here too. The only concern is jockey Joel Rosario hasn’t been riding well, but the trainer he can seemingly win for right now is Christophe Clement and they are teamed up here.
Race 12 — Pimlico Special Stakes Betting Picks
Distance: 1 and 3/16 Miles
Surface: Dirt
Post Time: 5:10 p.m. ET
Top Pick
No. 5 Law Professor (5-2) is coming off a non-graded stakes win and is in some of the best form of his career. Two races back he ran third, but both the first- and second-place finishers came back to win next time out. He has tactical speed and will sit a nice stalking trip.
Live Contenders
No. 1 Kuchar (10-1) is making the second start of his 4-year-old season and second off a nine-month layoff. Trainer Todd Pletcher wins at a 30% clip second off the layoff and Kuchar won second off his last layoff as well. He will be forwardly placed and should improve off his last effort.
No. 2 Rattle N Roll (9-5) had the highest last-out Beyer speed figure when he won the G3 Ben Ali last month at Keeneland. He’s a closer and while there appears to be pace for him to close into, the biggest question is whether the light bulb has gone off for this 4-year-old or if he's set to regress after putting up back-to-back triple-digit Beyer speed figures.
Race 13 — Black-Eyed Susan Stakes Betting Picks
Distance: 1 and 1/8 Miles
Surface: Dirt
Post Time: 5:44 p.m. ET
Top Pick
No. 1 Sacred Wish (10-1) ran second in the Gulfstream Park Oaks last time out. She was wide all the way around in that race. She looked green at the top of the stretch, with her head cocked, but finished with a good closing kick and galloped out well. She should appreciate the added distance and continue improving in only her fourth career start.
Live Contenders
No. 10 Taxed (15-1) is one of the most experienced horses in the field. I’m willing to put a line through the Honeybee race due to the sloppy conditions. Her Beyer speed figures have continued to improve and she will be forwardly placed. If she can continue to improve, she should continue the trend of outrunning her odds with her running style.
No. 4 Merlazza (6-1) hasn’t missed the board in four career starts. She’s bred for the distance and has continued to show maturity from one start to the next. Her tactical speed and stalking style should benefit her. If she can continue her trend of improving, she will be in the thick of it coming for home. The only question with her is how will she run off Lasix for the first time.
Black-Eyed Susan Race Day Best Bets, Picks
Race 9 — Pick 5: 4,5 | 2,4 | 1 | 1,2,5 | 1,4,10
Race 9 — To Win: No. 5 Thundering Creed
Race 10 — To Win: No. 4 Afternoon Tea
Race 10 — Pick 4: 2,4 | 1 | 1,2,5 | 1,4,10
Race 11 — To Win: No. 1 Breath Away (BEST BET OF THE DAY)
Race 13 (Black-Eyed Susan Stakes) — To Win: No. 1 Sacred Wish
Black-Eyed Susan/Preakness Double — No. 1 Sacred Wish / No. 1 National Treasure
