Lets sink our teeth in this nine race card at the Big A, with the feature being the Damon Runyon at seven furlongs for state bred three year olds.
1st race: MAIDEN CLAIMING $40,000 Purse – $41,000 Distance – Six Furlongs Surface – Dirt
4-5-2
Cause (4) with the most upside in this group, with only two races to his credit and now will sport blinkers for the first time. Dutchmen Forever (5) and Danegeld have stayed running good in this group, and the first time starters don’t say much. I will go with these three, along with Emcee Prince (2), who drops from straight maidens. His works are better that the ones for this bunch, apparently needs to get his mind on the race.
2nd race: 1 Mile. ™OClm 50000 Purse $55,000 (UP TO $9,570 NYSBFOA) FOR FILLIES THREE YEARS OLD
3-2-6
Hot Little Honey (3) has shown steady improvement with each new race and the step up to twice the tag she won most recently speaks volumes to the confidence they have in her. Eric Cancel once again will have the assignment and she should be tracking the early speedsters. Vibrancy (2) will wear blinkers for the first time and goes second time out for Steve Asmussen. I think she can be the early pace setter here and its dangerous if alone on the lead. Make or Break (6) drew the one hole last time out, now draws outside and Alvarado and trainer Atras score at close to 40 % over the last two months.
3rd. race: CLAIMING $32,000 Purse $50,000. (up To $8,700 Nysbfoa) For Three Year Olds. Six And One Half Furlongs.
1-2-5
Valid Quest (1) runs better each time and this group is one in where he should be considered a top contender. Its Alvarado and Asmussen in combo. Future Book (2) flunked last time out, but the one before that is good enough to win in here. Maybe he is the fastest out of the gate in here. Dan the Man Can (5) completes the tri in here, but I feel good with the top two in the horizontals.
4th race: 6 Furlongs. ™‘Clm 25000 Purse $46,000 FOR FILLIES AND MARES FOUR YEARS OLD AND UPWARD
5-3-7
Bustin to be Pleased (5) overcame a tough post last time out and gutted out a win in a group tougher than this one. Now returns to the claiming ranks, but still for a higher tag that what she was claimed for. Carmouche repeats on her. Letmetakethiscall (3) will be part of that early flight from the gitgo and always gives a good account of herself. Lezcano will be riding her for the fifth time in a row. Archumybaby (7) drops immediately for Brad Cox, looking for the quick return on investment. You can draw a line over that most recent effort, she will be much better today .
5th race: 6 Furlongs. ‘Mdn 60k Purse $60,000 FOR MAIDENS, THREE YEARS OLD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
2-6-4
Wardenofthenorth (2) goes first time out for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, who hits at a solid 18% clip debuting. Works don’t say that much about him, but this is the norm with Asmussen. Saratoga Pal (6) improved dramatically second time out and the horse that beat him goes in the feature today. Slash Gordon (4) has nice works for his vow run and his pedigree says he should be a solid horse, being the half brother of a stakes winner. .
6th race: 1 Mile. Clm 30000n2L Purse $38,000 (UP TO $6,612 NYSBFOA) FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD
8-9-3
This race should be decided between the horses which have faced this non winners of two lifetime the least amount of times. Our Last Buck (8) returns from a short break dropping in class. His two races under the training of Michelle Nevin are enough to win in here, and Franco and Nevin are a hot combo lately. Tiz Morning (9) receives a good upgrade in the jockey department and goes first time for Tom Morley, which scores at 17% dropping off the claim. 1 for 20 is not something to feel proud, but these horses are not a gem of consistency. Bebe Banker (3) completes the selection. He should be prominent from the start and the drop in class will definitely help him.
7th race: 1 Mile. Alw 70000n1x Purse $70,000 (UP TO $12,180 NYSBFOA) FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD
6-7-1
Freedom Prince (6) is an interesting proposition in this race. He ran fast at every point in his most recent start, I think in this race there is not that much speed, and Correa has been aboard him on his last two victories. Scoreswhenhewants (7) was not able to display his customary early zip on his last start, now drew much better and should be right on that early flight from the start. Flying Curlin (1) can be the one that lights up the toteboard. I think he is the one that has more upside in here and Alvarado at 10-1 seems very juicy.
8th race: 7 Furlongs. ‘DamonRnynB100K Damon Runyon S. Purse $100,000 FOR THREE YEAR OLDS FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
4-2-5
Scilly Cay (4) returns to a distance much better for him and with Lezcano, he should be much more closer to the pace than in his most recent. I like him on the cutback. More Graytful (2) is the up and comer in this race and the additional furlong plays well into his style of running. Chowda (5) surprised everybody going wire to wire in his last, today he will not be allowed to do the same, but I don’t think he needs to be in front to perform at his best.
9th race: 6 Furlongs. ‘Mdn 60k Purse $60,000 FOR MAIDENS, THREE YEARS OLD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
8-1-4
Ernie Banker (8) comes from a very productive race. The winner ran in the stakes today and the second place finisher already won his maiden. Alvarado replaces Davis and the outside post is beneficial. Midnight Whiskey (1) goes first time out for Asmussen and three bullet works in preparation for this race. Don’t leave him out. Gandy Dancing (4) debuts for Chad Brown in the dirt. He is such a dominant trainer on the grass that when you see one making his debut on the main track, you know he is live.