“A” selections:
Race 8: #4 East and Union
Race 10: #8 Crazed
Race 1:
#3 Blame the Gods 3-1 ML
#7 Nasq 2-1 ML
#1 Esfera 4-1 ML
#3 Blame the Gods returns to protected company after running a very good 2nd against 50k claimers in the 3rd career start. Should sit behind the expected pace setter Meetmeonline in a race that lacks much else early speed.
Race 2:
#6 Poesia 6-1 ML
#9 Glorious Mystery 3-1 ML
#7 Roses for Martina 12-1 ML
I’m going back to the well once more with #6 Poesia. This one takes a drop back down to 12.5 claimers off a 3rd place effort against tougher after pressing the pace. This field really looks suspect and none of these really have the distance foundation of Poesia. Once more.
Race 3:
#5 Blue Steel 2-1 ML
#6 W W Springtime 5-2 ML
#4 The Sicarii 6-1 ML
#5 Blue Steel returns to sprinting off a disastrous effort in the Kentucky Jockey Club in the slop going further in his last start. In his race before that, he was on the pace going 7F and ran a sharp 6F time in 1.10.1 before drawing off to stop the clock going 7 in sub 1.24. I am hoping Albarado has him sit right behind a few of the main speeds and works out a nice trip, but if the lead is there for the taking he is definitely fast enough.
Race 4:
#11 Sturgeon 12-1 ML
#4 Al Taweel 2-1 ML
#5 Lookin Forever 9-2 ML
There is very little early pace in here, and while #11 Sturgeon has faltered in the last two efforts heading into the stretch, he might be able to go much slower than he has on the front end. Look for Gonzalez to gun from the far outside post, and take them as far as he can.
Race 5:
#8 Candy Max 7-2 ML
#2 El Zeus 6-1 ML
#4 House of Commons 1-1 ML
#7 Candy Max cuts back a half furlong after pressing the pace after stumbling out of the gate in the last start. Although the fractions weren’t grueling, the trouble at the start took its toll and Candy Max succumbed late. With a race with little early pace, I see him getting a similar trip to his last start, but the cutback should help and hopefully gets a clean trip.
Race 6:
#8 Trenchtown Cat 12-1 ML
#2 Miahsolamiah 7-2 ML
#1 Broken Oath 6-1 ML
Taking a bit of a shot with the first time starter #8 Trenchtown Cat by Forestry for Leon Minott. Barn does ok with first time starters, and has been working well. Some bigger barns in here such as Walsh and Pletcher but not sure either of those horses want to sprint 5F, especially first time out. The Navarro firster Miahsolamiah has to be respected, luring Irad, but while Navarro wins at great clips in pretty much every category, first out of the box is not something he does well. Watch the board to see if the Minott runner takes any hint of money.
Race 7:
#8 Peace Points 6-1 ML
#10 Dizzy Gillespie 8-5 ML
#4 WW Concerto 8-1 ML
Banking on #8 Peace Points still being able to run. He’s been claimed out of the last two, and was with Walder two starts back who is generally a tough guy to claim off of. Trainer Gonzalez has had moderate success over the last year first off the claim (14%), takes the blinkers off, and this one did have some trouble at the start last time out. Gonzalez has had this one for close to three months, and might be able to fire fresh off the bench.
Race 8:
#4 East and Union 5-1 ML
#9 Lady Grace 9-5 ML
#7 Awesome Marq 8-1 ML
#4 East and Union goes first out of the box for Parcells/Englehart/Irad. Has some good sprint pedigree by Street Boss out of a Speightstown mare and Englehart does well first out of the box (21%)
Race 9:
#9 The Green Mo’ster 9-2 ML
#4 Bantu 8-2 ML
#2 Lemonist 5-2 ML
#9 Green Mo’ster should appreciate the cutback to a mile after the last two efforts going further. I’d like to see Irad get into him a little bit early on to try and rediscover some of the early speed he had before going to the sidelines over the summer.
Race 10:
#8 Crazed 12-1 ML
#2 Passionate Hachi 4-1 ML
#1 Astro Empire 1-1 ML
The likely favorite in here #1 Astro Empire was breathing fire in the lane in the last one, but managed to get the job done. I want to take a try against with #8 Crazed, who ships down from Maryland and drops for Pecoraro.
Race 11:
#4 Coniston 7-2 ML
#11 Electro 4-1 ML
#7 Rushin totheCircle 6-1 ML
#4 Coniston returns to the races off a 2 month layoff and a lackluster effort at GPW, but returns to a turf course he has a win and 2 2nds over in five tries and may provide some decent value.