Race 1: Maiden Claiming $25,000, 3yo, 1 Mile
3- Honor Run: Shook off a dueling partner last out and got clear in the stretch, only to be run down in the last few strides. It doesn’t look like there’s any speed to run with him, so he should get loose and run away from the field at his will.
6- Mr. Tilch: Claudio Gonzalez is better known for his older claimers, but he’s sending out this first-timer here. The horse has been working solidly, but may not have a lot of foundation, with just four works to his name. Even so, Gonzalez usually has his jockeys ride aggressively, so he could be a pace factor.
7- Tri Try Colors: Ran some good races as a two-year-old, now makes his three-year-old debut. He should at least pick up a check, but he must take some steps forward to win this race. He tended to flattened out at a mile a few times last year.
Race 2: Starter Optional Claiming $25,000, 4yo and up, Fillies and Mares, 6 Furlongs
5- Liz’s Smile: Gets a much-needed cutback in distance from 1 1/16 miles, a distance that she clearly couldn’t handle. She also gets a big jockey upgrade from Felix Pinero to Rosario Montanez. Broke her maiden three starts back at seven furlongs, so she should enjoy the distance here.
1- Citi Party: Blew away a cheap maiden claiming field last out, rushing up after a slow break and moving powerfully on the turn. She hasn’t raced since November 18, but if she rebounds first off the layoff, she’s got a huge shot.
3- Paz the Wine: She’s a deep closer to tends to fall too far behind to win. In her last race, she flew from eleven lengths out of it to miss by a nose. If nothing else, she’ll at least have an extra half-furlong to play with compared to last time.
Race 3: Claiming $16,000 (n/w3L), 4yo and up, 1 Mile
8- Incorporate: Trainer Jeremiah Englehart has been scary good at the meet so far, hitting at 47% with his seventeen starters. McCarthy picks up the mount on this one, who ran what was visually a flat race last out. He still earned a big figure, and it was his first race off a seven-week layoff. I’m optimistic.
4- Kopper Wired: This Penn National shipper has early speed, and jockey Sheldon Russell has been improving after a rough start to the meet.
6- Broad Expanse: He’s got the second-best last-out brisnet figure, earned with a strong closing rally in his last race. He laid an egg in his race two back, so it’s hard to say which version of him will show up.
Race 4: Maiden Claiming $10,000, 3yo, 6 Furlongs
3- New Stones: Raced off the pace over a speed-biased track last out, and unsurprisingly didn’t look like much of a factor. Even so, he ran the best last-out brisnet figure in the field, of 72. Now, he’s drawn closer to the inside, and will hopefully be a little more forwardly placed.
1- You’ll Like It: Improved sharply in his last race despite a rough wide trip. Now gets a much more favorable post. The main downside: Trevor McCarthy jumps off in favor of a rival.
4- Top Hat Voyager: Not unlike New Stones, he was compromised by the track in his last race. Two starts back, he battled gamely to just miss at this level. With a fair track here, he’s got a good chance.
Race 5: Allowance (n/w1x), 4yo and up, 7 Furlongs
1- Dirtyfoot: Made his first start at the level last out after breaking his maiden two starts back. He zoomed to a clear early lead, but was run down in the last quarter-mile. Cuts back from a mile here and has a sharp bullet workout since his last race.
6- Sacred Walk: He won three races in a row going long, before he got caught wide on the first turn last out and stopped badly. Cuts back in distance, drops in class, and is a Gonzalez trainee with early speed.
4- Field Advantage: Has won four of his last six races, but his only poor race in recent times came at this level. Should stalk the pace just off the rail.
Race 6: Maiden Claiming $10,000, 3yo, 6 Furlongs
6- Baravelli: He had been in great form prior to his last race, when he was very wide every step of the way and flattened badly. Now, he drops in class. His post isn’t ideal, but hopefully he can save more ground and put himself in a winning position.
3- Lucky Bull: Ran a career-best figure last out, in a visually unimpressive race. He improved that much when cutting back to six furlongs, so the sprint distance should be what he needs.
2- Lucacito: Ran a solid sixth in his debut, after a wide trip and a failure to change leads. Carlos Carrasco stays aboard, and he always does well when riding for Claudio Gonzalez.
Race 7: Claiming $12,500, 3yo, 6 1/2 Furlongs
2- Vorian: In his last race, he made a premature move into the heat of battle, and faded when going a mile. He showed some good heart battling down the stretch, and earned a career-best figure. Should enjoy the cutback in distance.
7- Glad Dad: Takes a much-needed drop in class after some dull tries at the $25,000 level. He fits right in with these.
1- Vegas Tycoon: Both him and his entrymate Kitchen Soup look intriguing. In Vegas Tycoon’s case, he broke his maiden at Parx two races ago, then struggled against winners last out. He sat a great trip just off the leaders in his victory, and should get another good setup here.
Race 8: Claiming $5,000, 4yo and up, Fillies and Mares, 1 Mile
4- Lonely Drifter: Chased a loose leader in her last start and had no chance. Her figures have been dominant and the pace looks to be more honest.
3- Greasedlightning: After a long string of races where she fell just short, she finally scored last out. That long stretch makes me a bit wary of her here, but she is a good candidate for underneath spots.
2- Miss Nosy: Was forced to show speed after a rough beginning, but gave way. Don’t know if she can handle the longer distance, but should at least contend for the underneath spots.
Race 9: Allowance (n/w1x), 4yo and up, 7 Furlongs
4- Won and Done
2- Autostrade
1- Calvi