Preakness week: Stakes spot plays for Oct. 1 at Pimlico

As Preakness week gets underway, Keeler Johnson shares spot plays on a $75 budget for the Thursday stakes races at Pimlico.

Race 6: Jim McKay Turf Sprint S. (3:25 p.m. ET)

#2 Texas Wedge (9-5) is favored, after he won the Joe Hernandez (G2) and placed in the Jaipur (G1) during the first half of 2020, but he misfired when finishing 10th in the July 11 Shakertown (G2), and his edge over Thursday’s field is slim from a Brisnet Speed rating perspective.

I’m more interested in betting the up-and-coming speedster #10 Francatelli (3-1). Horses with Brisnet “E” (Early) running styles win 47% of 5-furlong turf sprints at Pimlico, and Francatelli brings an abundance of speed to Thursday’s race.

A son of City Zip, out of a Mizzen Mast mare, Francatelli is bred to excel sprinting on turf, and he lived up to his breeding when he dominated Woodbine’s 5-furlong King Corrie S. by 4 1/4 lengths.

Francatelli posted splits of :21.54 and :43.73 in the King Corrie and will be tough to catch if he displays similar speed in the Jim McKay.

We’ll kick off the stakes action by betting Francatelli to win.

$20 to win on #10 Francatelli

Race 8: The Very One S. (4:31 p.m. ET)

I’ll favor speed again in this 5-furlong turf sprint for fillies and mares. #11 Hear My Prayer (10-1) is undefeated in three starts at this distance, and most recently wired Gulfstream Park’s Melody of Colors S. with fast fractions of :21.23 and :43.80.

Hear My Prayer will face tougher company Thursday, and in terms of Brisnet Speed ratings, she needs improvement to challenge for victory.

But at 10-1, I’m willing to bet this lightly raced 3-year-old is capable of stepping up, even off a 6 1/2-month layoff.

$10 to win on #11 Hear My Prayer
$1 exacta: ALL with 11 ($13)
Total: $23

Race 9: Chick Lang (G3, 5:04 p.m. ET)

#9 Yaupon (4-5) is undefeated in three starts for trainer Steve Asmussen, and most recently defeated two-time Grade 1 winner Basin with ease in the Amsterdam (G2) at Saratoga.

The drop in class for the Chick Lang will make Yaupon difficult or impossible to defeat. He is the only horse in the field who has posted a triple-digit Brisnet Speed rating (he has done it twice), and he has the tactical speed to set the pace and stay out of trouble.

To boost the prospective payoff, I’ll bet Yaupon on top in the trifecta. Underneath, I’ll key the stakes-experienced allowance runners #4 Blackberry Wine (15-1) and #7 Dreams Untold (8-1), who have flashed signs of major talent this season.

$2 trifecta: 9 with 4,7 with 3,4,6,7,10 ($16)
$2 trifecta: 9 with 3,4,6,7,10 with 4,7 ($16)
Total: $32

Good luck!