Will The Bozos Rebound For The Preakness?

ENTRIES: PREAKNESS S. (G1)
Pimlico Race Course, baltimore, MD Saturday, May 20, 2023, Race 13
• Grade 1
• 1 3/16th mile on Dirt
• $1,500,000
• 3 yo colts
• 7:01 PM

1 National Treasure (KY) 4-1 John R. Velazquez/ Bob Baffert

2 Chase the Chaos (PA) 50-1 Sheldon Russell/ Ed Moger, Jr.

3 Mage (KY) Even Javier Castellano/ Gustavo Delgado

4 Coffeewithchris (MD) 20-1 Jaime Rodriguez/ John E. Salzman, Jr.

5 Red Route One (KY) 10-1 Joel Rosario/ Steven M. Asmussen

6 Perform (KY) 15-1 F. Lynch/ Shug McGaughey

7 Blazing Sevens (KY) 6-1 Irad Ortiz, Jr./ Chad Brown

8 First Mission SCRATCHED

After hours of handicapping, the Bozo’s Kentucky Derby pick, Verifying, finished ahead of only two horses (of 17 others) after being slammed into the rail by Confidence Game with about a half mile to go. Verifying was fading anyway after taking the field around the track in a hot pace and had no kick down the stretch.

The winner, Mage, a 15-1 shot, made a bold rally from almost last to first and survived a stretch battle with Two Phil’s to gallantly prevail. The expected favorite, Forte, was scratched, leaving the race wide open.

Mage is the only one of the 18 Derby horses to race back in just two weeks in the Preakness. Nowadays trainers and owners prefer to wait longer between races. It’s not the 1980’s anymore when horses ran almost weekly. In Mage’s case, The Triple Crown is on the line so of course he’s in. He also will be a heavy favorite as the seven other colts entered are on paper a notch below the Derby entrants. That doesn’t mean however that none of the other seven can win. Upsets occur all the time and the Preakness is no exception. I recall a friend picking Deputed Testamony in 1983 and won with a $31 payoff. The Head Bozo attended the ’91 Preakness 32 years ago when Hansel won. HB was not among the winners cashing the 9-1 payoff. For exacta wagering purposes we are going to take a stand against Mage. He probably won’t get a fast pace to close in to like he had in the Derby and could be too far back to rally in time. Additionally, it might be difficult for a relatively inexperienced colt to come back and win again after only two weeks. There is a reason none of the other Derby horses vanned to Pimlico. Due to the scratch of First Mission we will include Mage in the Trifecta.

The Bozos watched the recent races run by the other contenders and determined the best of the rest.

The horse that we like the most is #6 Perform. He rallied very strongly in the Tesio at Laurel coming from far back after encountering trouble twice during the race. He will be around 15-1 and appears to be a horse that could be flying down the stretch.

#1 National Treasure is very competitive with this group having raced well in three Grade 1’s and has the speed to lead the pack all the way. Baffert and Johhny V!

Red Route One #5 was off slow in the Arkansas Derby but rebounded to win the Bath House Row coming from 11th to first with a wild finish to secure the narrow victory. Top Jock Joel Rosario has the reins again. At 10-1 he provides excellent value in exactas and trifectas.

Blazing Sevens #7 at 6-1 looks to improve on his lackluster performances in the Fountain of Youth and the Blue Grass. He would not be a surprise.

Chase the Chaos #2 and Coffeewithchris #4 don’t appear to be good enough here.

Our longshot pick to win is #6 Perform.

6-1-5 Exacta Box. 6-1-5-3 Trifecta Box

May the horse be with you! – HB