6-9-8 – If Shannon’s Girl doesn’t win in here, I don’t know when or if she will ever break her maiden. But we cant entirely rely on an 0 for 11 maiden that has been a beaten favorite in 2 of her last 3 starts. It’s true she has been running on the grass, but she has been facing tougher fillies than these. Funderella is the quickest of all and she is one of the few that has shown some improvement. With only six races, there is still some upside potential. Two Graces flunked last time out, but before that she has some races that gives her a chance. She has worked four times since that last effort.
9-2-5 – Wayne Footsteps makes the double mortal jump, dropping to face claimers and Non winners of 2 for the first time. He should be watching the speed duel closely and with Javier Castellano, is the first one to consider. Mr. Vincent had some trouble at the start and made a sustained run that fell short. Now has an additional half a furlong to work with and Irad takes the call. Letterman should be part of that early flight and if he can rate behind the early leader, his chances increase. With the possibility of rain, main track pics are 9-16-13.
1-3-2 – Precisely, the quick entry back for Quick Entry after a solid win and a claim by Linda Rice is a good sign for him. He won just a week ago and now Rice jumps him in class, signaling his good form, and Irad retains the mount. Blessed Halo returns to the group in which he was competitive, after a try on the allowance ranks. Needs pace up front and he will probably get it, although he is far from a winning machine. London House completes the selection, he is probably the speed of the speed and just worked a bullet for new trainer Rudy Rodriguez. The jump in class is a confidence showing move.
7-4-3 – Chestertown failed as the favorite in his debut, but, with that race under his belt, he should be fitter to try routing. The way he ran makes you think he was looking for more real estate. Irad takes over the reins, replacing Manny Franco. Dawn’s Early Light was claimed last time out by Danny Gargan, who hits at a 39% rate first claim. Although he is climbing up the ladder, he is now facing strictly NY breds, so its similar to a lateral move. True Grace has been knocking at the door in his last two races, and now will have Lasix for the first time. Joel Rosario keeps going to the pond with him, a positive sign.
8-2-3 – Not an easy race to handicap, but I will go with the recency of Latin Love Bug. That 65 he earned in his last effort is good enough to win in here if the probable favorite Rally Cap takes a turn to the worst, as we can expect. Rally Cap is better than these and faster, but his condition is a big question mark, being dropped to less than half of what he was acquired for. Ari’s Naughty Luca should be following the leaders from a garden spot position and win practically by elimination of the others.
12-6-7 – Dancing Kiki improved substantially in her second race, and with Irad on the saddle now and getting out from an outside post, more improvement is likely. Debut runner Makingcents has worked nicely and consistently for her bow run, and this group is nothing out of the ordinary, so she can make her debut a winning one for Jeremiah Englehart, with 22% effectiveness first time out. New York Supreme looked like a winner in the stretch in her debut and suddenly stopped and was nailed right at the wire. She will gain from that experience and Castellano rides back, a positive sign.
1-4-5 – Rapt has been running against much tougher competition in the grass. He has a win on an off the turf event in October, and connections apparently feel he can take to the dirt as good as to the turf, and drops for the first time. Pace should be on his favor. Singapore Trader has two of his three victories here at the Big A and just missed last time out in this same level. The jockey change will maintain his price attractive. Turbulence won easily two weeks ago after an eight month layoff, in a race in which he has all in his favor. He is probably better than these, but a bounce is not out of the question.
The Grade III Fallweight Handicap. – 3-2-5 – Nicodemus was vanned off in July after a Grade II at Belmont and comes back at a Grade III, a similar level. Like the fact that Rice elected for this race after almost a five month layoff, so she feels the horse is ready to fire from the bench and the pace benefits him. Strike Power is the best one of the speedsters penciled in here, but he will have his work cut out for him, with Recruiting Ready outside of him. He is game though, and with one of his good efforts, he is dangerous. Stan the Man will be watching that speed duel closely and probably will have first aim at them. He is another one coming back from rest, so connections feel good about him coming back in this tough spot.
9-1-7 – Summer Belief has been running against much tougher horses than these and now sports blinkers for the first time. She can be long gone from that cozy nine hole, and in these bad groups, there are no big late runs. Honey Bourbon debuted two weeks ago and now takes a sharp drop in class, and Abreu also puts blinkers on her. Should be part of that initial fray up front. Speed Talks has the experience factor with her and fired a bullet in preparation for this race.