Football
Rich Podolsky, College Football 18y

Playing the Preakness undercard

Today's Preakness undercard features five other graded races and is one of the best betting cards of the year. What it might lack in quantity it makes up in quality. King Leatherberry's Ah Day in the Sir Barton and Artie Schiller, in the Dixie the day's best bets. We'll take a crack at the guaranteed pick four, using longshot Diabolical along with Barbaro in the Preakness.

The Hirsch Jacobs
My Dynomite cruised at Saratoga last August, then returned a month ago to easily best a a group of NY breds. Dutrow has had this race circled and the trainer is a gawdy 44% the second time he sends out a charge who was off at least six months.

Songster was no match for Too Much Bling but the real question is: can he match My Dynomite at 6 furlongs after going 7 panels in all three of his starts.

Urban Guy is fresh from running in five straight listed stakes and was 1-2 in four of them. He can upset with right set up.

The Gallorette Handicap
Amorama will need a perfect trip from the 12 post and Gomez may get it for her. Frankel drops her back down to Grade 3 company after finishing close behind Wend and Mirabelis in the Grade 2 Jeny Wily at Keeneland.

Zona, one of the few in here with any speed, also comes out of the Jeny Wily and may be able to hold on, on the front end here a lot longer.

Humoristic ran her best Beyer speed figure (98) in this race last year and is obviously being primed for another top effort.

My Typhoon, the probably favorite, comes in off six months rest and will face elders for the first time. It also appears she'll want more ground.

The Sir Barton
Ah Day, today's best bet, belongs in the Preakness and should be able to gobble up this field.

Vegas Play was game running second behind the pick and should be able to outgame the others once more.

Nick Zito is putting blinkers back on Little Cliff and the last time he did it he responded with two straight victories. Certainly has the class to challenge.

High Cotton will be on the lead if he can wrestle it away from Ultimate Goal, but seems to need to alone in front to do any damage.

The Maryland Breeders' Cup Sprint Handicap
Gaff should be sitting perfect behind speed merchants Friendly Island and Kazoo. Has had eight weeks to recover from Dubai trip and should benefit from the pace set up.

Friendly Island knows how to win and will be life and death to catch if he can shake Kazoo.

Gold Cluster loves Pimlico (4-1-1 in 9 starts) and will be flying at the finish at a generous price.

The CompUSA Dixie
Artie Schiller is today's other best bet but won't be much of a price in here.

Rebel Rebel is a classy Irish bred who looks like he's coming up to this race perfectly for Dutrow. The pick will be hard to catch but this rebel could bust out.

Better Talk Now seems like he prefers more ground. He hasn't run this short a race since he finished fourth in this even last year. Japan Cup 12th place finish can be thrown out, but the above pair will be a tough challenge coming off the bench.

The Schaefer Handicap
Reckless Ways keeps getting better and looks ready for his best yet.

Master Command ran fourth to Buzzard's Bay in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap but won four straight prior to that.

Funny Cide will be overbet but figures to be alone on the lead after he disposes of Water Canon, and should last for a part.

The Preakness Stakes
Brabaro and Edgar Prado will need to win the game of cat and mouse with Brother Derek and company. The race figures have Like Now on the lead, with Brother Derek, Barbaro and Sweetnorthernsait and Diabolical all stalking, waiting to pounce. First one to move will probably win it. I'm betting it's Prado with the Derby winner.

Diabolical made a big move at Barbaro in the two-turn Laurel Futurity last November from the 13 post and looks ready to pop a huge race here. Dominguez has rated him just off the pace in the past. Fills out a juicy exacta with the Derby winner.

Sweetnorthernsaint deserves another chance and won't throw in the towel easily. Back Beyers say he can be right there.

Bernadini, with only three lifetime races (including a 104 beyer in his last), figures to have plenty of upside, but must attack from a difficult post and try two turns (and more than a mile) for the first time.

Brother Derek should be able to give Barbaro a run for his money, but the price of this exacta figures to be so low that others, who look nearly as good, are more enticing underneath.

$1 Pick 4 ($24 total cost)
Race 9 - Gaff, Friendly Island
Race 10 - Artie Schiller, Rebel Rebel
Race 11 - Reckless Ways, Master Command
Race 12 - Barbaro, Diabolical, Sweetnorthernsaint

Preakness television coverage begins Saturday, May 20 at 5 p.m. ET on NBC Sports.

^ Back to Top ^