Check out my Penn National free stakes pick for Friday (6-2-23) below.
Jarrod’s Recent Free Pick Winners
April 15 – First Mission ($6.38), Trifecta ($109.28)
April 16 – Key of Life/Interpolate Exacta ($6.70)
April 30 – Hacking It Up ($9.60)
May 6 – Zozos ($9.42)
May 20 – Whitebeam ($3.60)
May 27 – Queen Picasso ($7.70)
PEN 6 (G2 Penn Mile, 8T)
Primary – #8 CANDIDATE, #2 Major Dude
Secondary – #7 Behind Enemy Lines
Wagers: #8 to win, Exacta 8-2, Trifecta 2-8/2-7-8/2-7-8
Comments: #8 Candidate (5-2) failed to get into a comfortable early-pressing rhythm after an awkward start in the Transylvania (G3) April 7, and the 2-3 finishers were next-out stakes winners. He fired exacta shots in his other four turf routes. He traded places with Major Dude in the Dania Beach and Kitten’s Joy (G3), and those two meet again in this spot. This is his first start as a gelding. #2 Major Dude (8-5) figures to work out a nice tactical trip from an inner post. He won the Pilgrim (G2) as a juvenile and took the Kitten’s Joy (G3) earlier this year. He was a clear second behind subsequent Kentucky Derby (G1) runner-up Two Phil’s in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), and ended up a close third in the American Turf (G2) on May 6. He is a logical win contender for Irad Ortiz Jr. and Todd Pletcher. #7 Behind Enemy Lines (5-1) stalked and scored in his first start in this country in the Cutler Bay at 7 1/2 furlongs on the turf course at Gulfstream on April 1. He did not follow through after hopping at the start and racing evenly in midpack in the American Turf (G2) last time. Flavien Prat knows him now and he should offer a hint of value.
Analysis by Jarrod Horak
