Pletcher Enters Two in Lengthened Pimlico Special

The $300,000 Pimlico Special (G3) at Pimlico Race Course will be run at 1 1/4 miles for the first time May 17, with the connections of Paul Pompa Jr.'s Rally Cry and Botolazzo Stable's You're to Blame hoping the extra sixteenth of a mile proves to their horse's liking.

The Pimlico Special has been contested at 1 3/16 miles since War Admiral won the first edition in 1937. Friday's event drew 14 older horses, the largest field since the race's 1988 revival.

"I don't think I've ever seen a 1 1/4-mile race at Pimlico," said trainer Todd Pletcher, who entered both Rally Cry and You're to Blame. "Not every horse can get 1 1/4 miles. You need to get a good run to establish a good position, and get into a comfortable rhythm. I think it plays to (my horses') strengths."

Rally Cry is looking for his first win since the 2017 Alydar Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. The 6-year-old son of Uncle Mo  was a well-beaten second to Gun Runner  in the Woodward Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) that same meet. He started only twice in 2018 and debuted this year in the April 20 Charles Town Classic (G2), finishing fourth. 

You're to Blame has been on the board his past five starts, which includes a victory in the 1 1/2-mile Greenwood Cup (G3) at Parx Racing in September. The Distorted Humor  horse opened his 5-year-old season April 14 with a two-turn allowance-optional claiming win at Gulfstream Park.

"Rally Cry has been impressive in the way he trains. I think (his win in the) Alydar was a breakout race for him," Pletcher said. "You're to Blame has had success at the longer distances, and I think the extra distance on Friday will be a factor."

Graded stakes winners War Story, Tenfold, and Flameaway will try to rebound in the Pimlico Special. War Story, second in the Greenwood Cup by a neck, enters off a third in the Charles Town Classic. The 7-year-old Northern Afleet gelding has not visited the winner's circle since March 2018 in the Challenger Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. Tenfold, third in the 2018 Preakness Stakes (G1) before winning the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2), has been off the board in two starts this year, and Flameaway, who won the Challenger March 9, was sixth in the April 13 Ben Ali Stakes (G3) at Keeneland.

Ben Ali fourth-place finisher Just Whistle and Carlino, fourth in last year's Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Belmont Park, hope to make the grade for the first time. Courtlandt Farm homebred Carlino makes his 5-year-old debut after nearly eight months away.

"Thunder Snow was in there and a couple others that are pretty solid horses," trainer Mark Hennig said of his horse's run in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. "It was a good effort that day. He came out of that and had a little chip in a knee that we took out. Since he's come back, he's been doing great."

Also shipping in are Heavy Roller and Wait for It, who enter off respective allowance wins at Keeneland and Parx Racing last month.

Topping the local contingent is Stronach Stable homebred Unbridled Juan. The 7-year-old Unbridled's Song gelding was seventh in the Charles Town Classic following two on-the-board stakes performances at Laurel Park, where he won the Grover Buddy Delp Memorial and Richard Small stakes back-to-back last fall.

"He came out of Saturday's work (four furlongs in :48 3/5 at Laurel) really good," trainer Jose Corrales said. "This horse, he likes to finish second or third, but I hope he proves me wrong."

Other Laurel regulars are Cordmaker, winner of the March 16 Harrison E. Johnson Memorial and Dec. 29 Jennings stakes, and Clubman, who won the Russell Road Stakes on the Charles Town Classic undercard. Both have won three of their last four starts. Flying the Flag and Bobby G also represent the locals.

Entries: Pimlico Special S. (G3)

Pimlico Race Course, Friday, May 17, 2019, Race 10

• Grade III
• 1 1/4m
• Dirt
• $300,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 4:14 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1War Story (KY)	Javier Castellano	122	Jorge Navarro	6/1
2	2Rally Cry (KY)	John R. Velazquez	122	Todd A. Pletcher	9/2
3	3Flying the Flag (KY)	Jorge A. Vargas, Jr.	122	H. Graham Motion	20/1
4	4Carlino (KY)	Manuel Franco	122	Mark A. Hennig	12/1
5	5Heavy Roller (KY)	Luis Saez	122	Joe Sharp	15/1
6	6Cordmaker (MD)	Victor R. Carrasco	122	Rodney Jenkins	12/1
7	7Just Whistle (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	122	Michael R. Matz	20/1
8	8Tenfold (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	122	Steven M. Asmussen	6/1
9	9Unbridled Juan (ON)	Alex Cintron	122	Jose Corrales	12/1
10	10Bobby G (KY)	Trevor McCarthy	122	Jose Corrales	30/1
11	11Flameaway (ON)	Julien R. Leparoux	122	Mark E. Casse	6/1
12	12Wait for It (PA)	Mychel J. Sanchez	122	Edward J. Coletti, Jr.	15/1
13	13You're to Blame (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	122	Todd A. Pletcher	5/1
14	14Clubman (MD)	Xavier Perez	122	Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon	20/1