Best Bets:
Race 3- #6 Grace’s Drama
Race 9- #3 Wildwood Dancer
Race 1: 11-4-5
#11 BREAKING BREAD exits a 6 length optional claiming win after fading in a G3 two back. Has a little bit of early speed. #4 PERU is a stakes winner who runs consistently high Beyers. I think she will be pretty well backed in this spot. #5 LUCKY LONG looks to make it three in a row after capturing the Mary Todd stakes last time out.
Race 2: 4-1-7
#4MIDNIGHT MIRACLE faced tougher last time and couldn’t rally enough to catch them. She drops back to the 25k level where she won at odds on two back. #1 ELISSAS SECRET is sent out from the Navarro barn after breaking her maiden last time. Third and fifth place finishers in there did come back to win. #7 STRONGER KAT won impressively in her last two. Steps up a touch from 12.5k to 25k to try and make it three straight.
Race 3: 6-2-3
#6 GRACE’S DRAMA steps into optional claiming company as the 6,250 fillies and mares cannot seem to beat her. She is 5 for 8 at the distance and 6 for 9 at GP. #2 AMALUNA gets a slight drop in class as she has been racing against tougher recently. 37 times in the money lifetime is enough for me to have her somewhere underneath on my tickets. #3 RADIANTRITHYM seems to be the one to beat and is a proven winner at this level. She doesn’t catch an easy field here. I’ll try to beat her but she will definitely be used in horizontals.
Race 4: 7-3-8
#7 LISA MILA goes first off the layoff for Barboza who has good numbers with this move. I think the cutback in distance will help a bit. #3 GLOTONASA has been right there at a similar level in the past. She tried a bit tougher last time and held her own. Dropping back down today. #8 GARDENCITY GAMBLER is the likely favorite and horse to beat. I’m just not super comfortable taking a likely short price on this one. Broke her maiden nicely last time and faces winners for the first time today.
Race 5: 9-6-8
#9 VIOLENT TIMES has been on the shelf since September, but if she can get back to that form she will be very tough here. #6 SPEED STAR is consistent at this level and just came up short last time in a race that came up fast. #8 CUCCIDATI broke her maiden after missing significant time from the races. Second off the layoff and eligible to improve. If she improves she is dangerous.
Race 6: 6-4-8
#6 FLORIDA COTTON has four consecutive second place finishes including one last time at the same level. Falcone is great off the layoff. #4 VINNIE VAN GO has been consistent of late albeit at lower levels than this. However, Sano will have this one ready off the layoff as he is great with this move. #8 TRUE BOOTS lost by a length last time at this level and goes out for the top barn.
Race 7: 8-2-10
#8 UNCOMMON FACTOR goes dirt to turf, drops in class and gets blinkers. Maybe that’s the needed recipe for a wakeup call. #2 SONOMA STORM gets class relief which may just be the key to break the maiden. Has shown a little bit of early speed. #10 MICHIGAN MISS will need to show more today, and makes her first grass start. Interesting to see Gaffalione take the mount.
Race 8: 6-9-4
#6 WILDCAT’S LEGACY drops in class after being claimed by Zerpa who is unreal first off the claim. Hasn’t seen a fast track in his last four starts. #9 SCAM ran a good race last time to finish second at this same level. #4 EMPEROR JOHN got it done after the big drop down. Moving back up in class today.
Race 9: 3-4-1
#3 WILDWOOD DANCER is getting better with every race. Coming in off a three-race win streak and has very good tactical speed. #4 DUPREE ran second to stablemate Wildwood Dancer last time. 5 of his 6 wins have come at this distance. #1 ROYAL SQUEEZE is getting a little stretch out and switch to dirt after a good race last time. 8 for 11 in the money at GP.
Race 10: 5-4-10
#5 EILA goes first off the claim for Barboza. Runs right back at the 16k level after winning last time against similar. #4 ICE SHOW seems to like the GP turf and gets back on the green after catching a sloppy track last time out. #10 SUMMER FROCK has two second place finishes at slightly higher levels. Drops in today and seems well intentioned.