Former Sports Illustrated reporter and horse racing handicapper Gene Menez has shared his analysis for the Pick 5 sequence at Laurel Park on Preakness Stakes day. The Pick 5 begins with the James W. Murphy Stakes at 3:30 p.m. ET and ends with the Preakness Stakes.
A Proven Track Record
Menez has a history of successful handicapping on major racing days:
- 2010: Correctly predicted Super Saver to win the Kentucky Derby.
- 2015: Accurately predicted the Kentucky Derby superfecta (American Pharoah, Firing Line, Dortmund, Frosted), which paid $1,268.20 for a $2 bet.
- 2017: Predicted Always Dreaming to win the Kentucky Derby and hit the Pick 4, paying nearly $6,900 on a $1 bet.
- 2024: Gave out 18-1 Mystik Dan as a live longshot in the Kentucky Derby; crushed the late Pick 4 on Breeders' Cup Saturday for a $5,303 payout; nailed winner, trifecta and superfecta in the Florida Derby ($529.60); winner and trifecta in the Blue Grass Stakes ($761.96); hit late Pick 4 on Kentucky Oaks day ($915.48); in the Kentucky Derby, hit exacta and trifecta for $1,045.
- This year: Hit the late Pick 5 on Fountain of Youth day ($4,648).
In 2024, Menez finished 115th out of 643 entries in the Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge.
Saturday's Key Analysis
Cruise the Nile (9-5 favorite) is Menez's top pick in the Dinner Party Stakes, the second leg of the Pick 5. Menez explained, "Cruise the Nile has the pace advantage over Fort Washington and should be able to handle this step up in class." Cruise the Nile is the only horse from that race on his Pick 5 tickets.
Menez's top pick in one of the other races is a double-digit longshot that he believes "should get a dream trip." He is including this horse on his tickets.