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Pimlico Special 2014 Contenders & Odds

Dave Bond | OTB Writer

Las Vegas, NV - Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland will play host to the Grade 3 Pimlico Special on Friday, May 16. Horses three years old and upwards will be featured as they go 1 3/16 miles on Pimlico's main track searching for the winner's share of the $300,000 purse.

A competitive field of nine will line up in the Pimlico Special - race 12 on the Friday card. Post time is 5:52 PM. Here is a brief look into the past performances of all nine entries for this Grade 3 stakes.

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2014 Pimlico Special Race Favorite Entries

Revolutionary - Todd Pletcher trained colt entered last year`s Kentucky Derby on a three race win streak - a terrific score in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby March 30, a win in the Grade 3 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct February 2 and an 8 1/2 length win over Transparent at Aqueduct December 28, 2012 over 1 mile. He put up a fight in the Derby and finished an OK third and skipped the Preakness and went on to a fifth in the Belmont Stakes in June. He has just three starts since the Triple Crown - an Allowance Optional Claiming score January 11, a disappointing seventh in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap in February and a good second last time out to Will Take Charge in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap April 12. Mike Smith gets the call Friday on the 5-2 morning line favorite from post 6.

Moreno - was last seen running an OK third behind Game On Dude and Imperative in the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic April 19 - his only start of 2014. He ended 2013 with a disappointing tenth in the Breeders' Cup. The Eric Guillot pupil won the Grade 2 Dwyer Stakes in impressive fashion by seven lengths July 6 and followed that with a respectable third behind Palace Malice and Will Take Charge in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes July 27. He had a pair of good seconds at the end of the summer before his Breeders' Cup experience - in the Grade 1 Travers behind Will Take Charge and ahead of Orb and in the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx September 21. Moreno has placed in six of his last seven starts overall and hoped to build on an OK third last time out. He lines up in gate 3 at 7-2 odds Friday with Joel Rosario aboard.

Pimlico Special 2014 | Remaining Contenders

Cat Burglar - Bob Baffert trained colt has just six career starts with three wins and two second place finishes - the only off-the-board finish came in his debut in August. He has won two straight Allowance races at Santa Anita ahead of this weekend after two straight seconds in similar races on that same track. Rosie Napravnik rides from gate 2 in Cat Burglar's stakes debut at 4-1 odds.

Carve - Brad Cox trainee is coming off a respectable third in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap April 12 after an Allowance Optional Claiming score on that track and a second in the minor Zia Park Derby. He also had a third in the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby in September. Carve has three wins, a second and four third place finishes in 11 career starts and enters this weekend in so-so form. Jesus Lopez Castanon gets the mount from post 5 at 5-1 odds.

Golden Lad - Todd Pletcher trained colt had an impressive four race win streak - three Allowance Optional Claiming races and the Grade 3 Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park March 15 interrupted by a fifth last time out in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap April 12 - it was the only time he finished worse than second in eight starts. He hopes to get back on track Friday as he starts from post 4 as the 124 pound highweight at 6-1 odds with Jose Lezcano in the reins.

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Valid - has three wins and two second place finishes in his last five starts - two straight Allowance scores heading into this weekend. He last raced in graded stakes company and finished a good second in the Grade 3 Fred W. Hooper Handicap at Calder in December and has four wins, two seconds and two third place finishes in 13 career starts. He enters the Pimlico Special in the best form of his career and will have Orlando Bocachica in the saddle from the rail at 10-1 odds.

Prayer for Relief - veteran Dale Romans pupil was very good at this time last year - a win in the Grade 3 Cornhusker Handicap in June and a pair of seconds - in the Grade 3 Lone Star Park Handicap and the Texas Mile but he has struggled a tad since. Last time out was a fourth in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap April 12 after a sixth in the Grade 3 Mineshaft handicap and an OK third in the minor Louisiana Handicap. His last win came in December - in the minor Tenacious Handicap at Fair Grounds. He hopes to break a four race losing streak and will have John Velazquez aboard at 12-1 odds from gate 8.

Bourbon Courage - hasn't won since the Grade 2 Super Derby in September, 2012 but has placed in nine of 13 starts since, including thirds in the Grade 2 Alysheba Stakes and more recently he finished third again in the minor but competitive Harlan's Holiday Stakes at Gulfstream in December. Bourbon Courage was also third last time out in the Grade 3 Texas Mile at Lone Star April 26. He has two other starts this year - a second in an Allowance at Oaklawn Park and a fourth in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap February 9. He has just three wins, five seconds and five thirds in 17 career starts and will have Leandro Goncalves aboard from the outside post at 15-1 odds.

Major King - Korean trained colt has six wins, two seconds and three third place finishes at home before shipping to North America where he has just one start - a sixth in an Allowance Optional Claiming on this track April 3. Xavier Perez gets the call from gate 7 on the longest shot in the field - 50-1 odds.


2014 Pimlico Special Entries & Odds

Race 12 on Pimlico's Friday card with a Post Time of 5:52 PM.

Entry Horse Jockey Trainer ML Odds
1 Valid O. Bocachica M. Vitali
10-1
2 Cat Burglar R. Napravnik B. Baffert
4-1
3 Moreno J. Rosario E. Guillot
7-2
4 Golden Lad J. Lezcano T. Pletcher
6-1
5 Carve J. Castanon B. Cox
5-1
6 Revolutionary M. Smith T. Pletcher
5-2
7 Major King (KOR) X. Perez V. Testerman
50-1
8 Prayer for Relief J. Velazquez D. Romans
12-1
9 Bourbon Courage L. Goncalves K. Gorder
15-1

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