Pimlico Stakes Spot Plays for May 20

A total of six stakes events will take place at Pimlico on a huge Friday card, led by the $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan S. (G2). Below are a few of the horses that I have interest in during the undercard contests.

Race 8: Allaire DuPont Distaff S. (G3)

#2 Into Vanishing (7-2) has been runner-up in three straight since moving from the turf to the main strip for Jonathan Thomas, which includes a second-place result behind Letruska in the Royal Delta S. (G3) two back. The Into Mischief filly continues to train forwardly, and she could get a dream trip behind dueling leads to the top of the lane on Friday beneath Luis Saez.

Race 9: Hilltop S.

Sophomore fillies will run one mile on the green, and the field is led by Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) heroine #4 Pizza Bianca (4-5). The Fastnet Rock filly is the class of the cast and an obvious must-use for Christophe Clement.

Her stablemate, #6 Diamond Hands (5-1), makes her seasonal debut on this occasion and could pose the main danger to the favorite. The Frosted filly flashed potential from a trio of races as a juvenile, and the aggressive placement in this affair off the shelf has me intrigued. The bay is training swiftly and gets Irad Ortiz Jr.

Race 10: Miss Preakness S. (G3)

Eight three-year-old fillies will dash six panels on the dirt. I am expecting a big performance from #2 Under the Stars (8-5) on the cutback in distance from Sean McCarthy. The well-bred Pioneerof the Nile filly is a Grade 2 winner while sprinting, and I am willing to cross a line through her listless showing in the Santa Anita Oaks (G2) last time out. Flavien Prat will take the reins.

Race 11: The Very One S.

A dozen fillies and mares, with one entered for main-track only, will dash five-eighths on the green in a deep contest. #1 Phantom Vision (6-1) deserves another chance after drawing widest of all in a superb cast when running evenly in the Giant’s Causeway S. at Keeneland most recently. The Mike Maker pupil has ability, early foot, as well as a versatile running style, for a top turf conditioner. Prat will have the chestnut tracking the pace while saving ground throughout.