My thoughts on the Pick 5 Friday races.
R1) #5 Blameitonthelaw has a nice pattern and the last one very competitive, pairing his fast debut number. There pace should be decent enough, this one can stalk and take over down the stretch. 5/1 ML and I think he may go longer than that. Win bet on #5 (If he isn\'t overbet).
#4 Forest Blue looks pretty good, but can\'t take too short a price on a horse that just doesn\'t seem to win. Solid number power, toss the last down the hill. Lots of 2nd/3rd finishes, and he will probably get bet.
As for constructing exotics, several of these run similar numbers. Will look for those with a running style that isn\'t early. The #3 Ain\'t Misbehavin and the #10 Tough It Out will be played underneath. #10 Tough It Out is a 3YO with a nice pattern, I\'ll forgive the last route where he started poorly. Lots of routes and he\'s cutting back to 7F. If the #4 and #5 are overbet I can see a win bet on this one. There\'s a few more that can be added but these 2 are nice prices, have decent numbers, and a good running style for the race shape.
R2) 6.5 down the hill, experience on this course never a bad thing or an outside post.
Taking a shot with #10 Sturdy One. Nice outside post, should be able to sit just off the leaders. 4 back he ran a figure that is the fastest in the race, on the SA dirt going 6F. His subsequent 3 races are very competitive, and his last 2 turf numbers are faster than everyone but the favorite who ran a point faster. He\'s 12/1 ML and if he\'s anywhere close to that I\'m playing him to win. Those to play in verticals include the fav #3 Watch This Cat, #2 Mysterious Miracle(nice pattern and solid figs), #7 My Palmilla(fast last race with a BI, good rest and Kent D down the hill), #5 Tryst, and #12 (slower but has had trouble in the last two and a nice post)
R3) The Marathon
Looks kinda chalky. #1 Scuba and #4 Melmich are faster than the rest. #8 Hard Aces also competitive. Melmich is due to run his fast one, so if I want to skinny up the ticket and leave room to spread in another race Melmich can be a single. The concern is synthetic to dirt, can he duplicate his fast ones on dirt? Not sure what I will wind up doing, but probably just using this race in horizontals. If Hard Aces is forgotten on the tote I can see playing him.
R4) #3 Jazzy Times gets the Blinkers back on, and on his best would win. But he doesn\'t have to run that fast one, and if he doesn\'t #5 Silent Bird is more than fast enough to spring a minor upset. Returned from a 9 month layoff to run a very fast race. He\'s lightly raced and if he can run that one again will be very tough. 8/1 ML with an under the radar jock may keep his price square. #6 Cautious Giant, #8 Prospect Park, #9 Navy Hymn, and #2 Kafister underneath.
R5) #9 My Pi Romancer 10/1 ML ran a very solid number in her debut. Plenty of pace in here to set up her late run. #8 Vai is 2 for 2 and has dueled on the lead in both. 2 solid numbers but perhaps the race shape not the most favorable. 3,4,6,11 underneath. Win bet and keying #9 My Pi Romancer.
$1 P5:
3,4,5
2,7,10
1,4
3,5,6,8
8,9
3x3x2x4x2= $144
