Its an eight race card for Sunday at the Big A highlighted by the Ladies Handicap, for fillies and mares going a mile and an eighth.
1st race: MSW for fillies and mares. Six furlongs.
5-3-4
Alphadora (5) returns from an eight month layoff and picks up the mount of Junior Alvarado, a sizable improvement in that regard. This group is very weak, and she should be close to the pace from the start. Doll (3) has failed as a favorite in her last three tries. She will be odds on once again, but note that Jose Lezcano jumped off her. Just by default, she has a chance but you can not rely heavily on her. Enough Love (4) comes back from fifteen months on the shelf, and is a nice thing that she is not risked for a tag. Lezcano lands here instead of the favorite. These three should decide this race.
2nd race: Maiden Claiming $30,000. For three year old fillies. Seven furlongs
1-7-5
Kemba (1) returns to a sprint after a failed attempt at a mile and a sixteenth. Trainer Raymond Handal scores at 55% when doing this kind of movement and the drop to the bottom will help her also. Franco takes the assignment and she will make her presence felt late. Wicked Keisha (7) has some excuses in her most recent, in which she found a sloppy going which wasn’t of her liking, besides that she started from the rail. Now has a better post and a better jockey riding her, and the fact that she comes back quick makes me think that last one is a throw out. Kit Kat Katie (5) had some trouble in her last, which was the first time she faced maiden claiming company. Her trainer Jeremiah Englehart clips at 37% when running at this level and in a race without much speed, Vargas can put her in contention from the start.
3rd race: Claiming $16,000 NW3L. Fillies and mares. Six furlongs.
8-7-3
Cool as You Like (8) was my pick to win in her most recent, and I will land on her again. She ran into a buzzsaw and now she should be much fitter that in her return. Reylu comes back on her saddle and will be watching the leaders from close by. Camorra (7) is the speed of the speed and no doubt that Correa will send her from the latch. Let’s see of she can last the six panels, she is been having problems in that last eight of a mile. Tiz a Kitten (3) drops sharply to this restricted claiming race. It is true that she hasn’t won a race in a long time, and that she is 2 for 49, but she hasn’t faced such a weak group in a long time, so you need to give her a chance.
4th race: MSW for fillies and mares. Six and a half furlongs.
2-4-1
Maybe I am crazy to rely on a filly that has been a favorite in three of her last four races, but Rapido Gatta (2) comes back from a horrible showing not dropping to a claim race, as I expected. Englehart takes the shades off and has two bullets in preparation for this race. Lets give her one more chance. Tan and Tight (4) has also burned some money in her last two, not been able to deliver as the choice. Chad Brown takes her back to the dirt where she debuted, and in such a soft filed, she definitely needs to be considered. Quasar (1) complete the selection, coming back from a five month vacation and working steadily for her return.
5th race: Claiming $32,000. Four year olds and upward. Seven furlongs.
1-6-3
Win with Pride (1) returned to the track from a nine month plus rest and understandably tired late. Now he should be much fitter and Franco takes over from Dylan Davis. Trainer Noda claims him and does the step up in class, an angle I always follow. Coltsanddmississippi (6) has been a popular commodity in the claim box, and has backed up his buyers with solid running up late. His constant improving is his best asset and the step up in class is something I always like. Direct Order (3) drops for a tag for the first time in his career and entices Jose Lezcano to ride him for trainer Jason Servis. He was never involved in that most recent effort, he was given the time and comes back looking to score right off the shelf.
6th race: Allowance $70,0000 NW1X. For fillies and mares. One Mile.
7-5-2
Trial and Error (7) looks to be the controlling speed of this race and the outside post will enable Manny Franco to strategize whether she can let other quicksters go or send her to the lead right away. The mile is a much better fit for her and her works leading up have been brilliant. Gracetown (5) can take advantage of a scorching pace and come flying late. Its Lezcano and Linda Rice, a powerful combo like few. Figure It Out (2) has shown steady improvement in her last two starts, lets see if the change of barns does not affect her progression. Carroll stays up for new trainer Michelle Nevin, which is a good sign.
7th race: The Ladies Handicap, for fillies and mares. A mile and one eighth.
2-7-1
Another Broad (2) has been facing much tougher competition than these fillies and the nine panels favor her over her rivals. Eric Cancel is having a great meet and comes back to her saddle for the third straight time for trainer Todd Pletcher. She will be coming late with her run. Bellera (7) gives Pletcher a formidable one-two punch in this stakes race, and she will try to wire this field with leading rider Jose Lezcano. There is not much speed signed in, so her chances are stupendous of doing this. Entropia (1) was a dirt runner in Argentina her debut was on the grass but now Bill Mott will return her to hat seems to be her preferred surface. Watch out for her, she can be the upset in here, as she has run in lone=ger distances that this one, so her cardio condition should be better that the others.
8th race: Maiden Claiming $40,000. For three year olds. One Mile.
9-2-3
Unrelenting Force (9) just missed at this same level last time out and looks to me like the mile can be what the doctor ordered for his to break his maiden. Alvarado sticks with him in the Sunday finale. Dawn’s Early Light (2) appears to have a pace edge in this very low level group, a factor of utmost importance in these maiden claimers. He has been running against much better horses, so the relief in class should benefit him. Bellarmine Hall (3) has not been doing much running, but the simple fact that he is facing maiden claimers for the first time makes him dangerous. Trainer Jaime Ness is a specialist in maiden claiming races.