How to play

LEG A (FRIDAY, RACE 11): MISS NEW YORK gets back on turf in the Hilltop, and that modest Beyer she earned in her last try on the surface notwithstanding, this may be her best surface. She has lots of room to improve here, given a better race flow. BREATH AWAY is going to be a handful if she’s able to run back to that effort and figure she posted in the Sanibel Island last time out. She is the one to fear in the lane. HANG THE MOON was caught off the pace in slow-paced races in her first two starts on the green, but she ran well enough under the circumstances; faster splits can make all the difference (3).

LEG B (FRIDAY, RACE 13): Taking a shot against the undefeated Faiza, who has benefited from ideal positioning against short fields in several of those wins. TOWHEAD is widest of the 12 entered in the Black-Eyed Susan, but she also could be quickest. She at least has the speed to stay close, and that will be an edge if the fractions are controlled. MIRACLE is another with enough early zip to be a factor from the bell. She is an upgrade candidate after getting away slowly in the Gulfstream Park Oaks. FROSTY O TOOLE is a bit of a tough read, but she has worked well since the Gazelle, when she was forced to race behind tepid splits. HOOSIER PHILLY has been working very well toward this race and makes her third start off the layoff (4).

LEG C (SATURDAY, RACE 10): GRATEFUL BRED should be well spotted behind a quick, contested pace in the Jim McKay Turf Sprint, and if that scenario plays out he figures to be in position to make a strong bid in the lane. BEER CAN MAN failed in his first start off the layoff, but he figures to benefit from that experience. He improved last year in his second race following a shorter break. COPPOLA posted a career-best Beyer in his last try, and while that was entirely due to the perfect trip, he should be ideally spotted behind the pacesetters once again. ARTEMUS CITYLIMITS has speed, but he’ll likely need to rate and make one run here, given the presence of several confirmed speeds. DETERMINED KINGDOM lands in a tough spot for his seasonal debut, but he’ll certainly get a good pace setup. NOBLE EMOTION is another who figures to benefit from the likely pace scenario (6).

LEG D (SATURDAY, RACE 12): NAGIRROC is going to be a handful in the James W. Murphy Stakes if he runs back to his first start off the layoff, a runner-up finish in the Transylvania Stakes where he posted an 88 Beyer, the best figure any of these has ever earned. His tactical speed should mean he’s in a good spot from the start, and the addition of blinkers figures to sharpen his speed (1).

LEG E (SATURDAY, RACE 13): Playing against Mage, who comes off two very favorable setups but figures to have to overcome the race flow in this Preakness, which is a little light on early zip. FIRST MISSION comes off a game win in the Lexington, and the resulting Beyer gives him strong credibility here. He should be able to use his positional speed to work out a forward trip, and that will be an edge given the lack of obvious pace in the field. NATIONAL TREASURE has speed and the rail and now adds blinkers. He should be prominent from the start (2).

THE PLAY: 1, 7, 9 / 3, 5, 6, 12 / 3, 8, 9 10, 11, 13 / 9 / 1, 8 = $72 Ticket