Race 1: MdSpWt $40k 3 Year Olds 7F
1st: #4 Smile Bryan, earned field-best Beyer 70 in the 2 back second place finish to Olympic Village who came back to win. Graham Motion decides to put the blinkers on. Last effort was derailed by a stumbled start, expect better this time.
2nd: #3 Chilly in Charge, a wise man once told me that 2 year olds (3 year olds in this case) run to their workouts. The last gate drill going 47 and 3 was spectacular for this $170k 2 year old purchase trained by Miguel Vera who is hitting at 25% with debuters.
3rd: #1 Red Gum, last effort was strong on a drying out track and two back he actually won at the $40k claiming level but was DQd.
Race 2: MdSpWt $40k F&M 6 & 1/2F
1st: #1 Mary’s Jewel, like the first out attempt very even over a sloppy Parx track and she adds Lasix here for the first time. Nov 24 drill is excellent.
2nd: #10 Atlantic Avenue, have to have this one in your exactas and trifectas with 4 straight second place finishes locally. Tough to use on top.
3rd: #9 Bash, couple of decent tries in the claiming ranks recently and the last out workout was nice. Two tries since adding blinkers much nicer.
Race 3: Clm $5k F&M 7F
1st: #9 When It Reigns, 2 for 3 locally with a third place finish as well, has shown ability to run on a good surface and a fast surface, John Robb simply going through the conditions with this lightly raced 5 year old. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him lose her after this one.
2nd: #10 Rockin Ruth, descending class ladder, this one was competitive in the OC$25k level as recently as October, two recent tries at the $12.5k level not inspiring confidence.
3rd: #1 Given Achance, Claudio Gonzalez magic hasn’t prevailed with this one but she has the ability to be forwardly placed.
Race 4: OC$25k 6F
1st: #2 Global Citizen, doesn’t seemed to be bothered by brief freshening as this one won off a similar layoff last out at Parx at the $25k level where he won going away earning a field-best 83 Beyer. I’m going to throw out the 4 races where DePaz tried blinkers as that clearly did not work. Otherwise, the record is nearly spotless: MdSpWt win locally, second in open stakes company in New York earning a 73 Beyer and the last out win. Dec 30 workout tells me he’s in form.
2nd: #10 Glengar, a favorite of mine after the Nov 8 maiden-breaking win where he showed heart being ridden from way back on the turn to weave through and get the win. Like the Beyer improvement. Given a really strong pace this one has a definite shot. Wish he didn’t come from so far back.
3rd: #1 Dirtyfoot, the speed of the field, expect this one to set those early fractions and if he gets away easy and the track is favoring speed he could easily take this one. Definitely like the distance relief he gets after his first try against winners which was pretty good and he earned a 73 Beyer.
Race 5: StrHcp $16k 1 & 1/16thM
1st: #3 Sacred Walk, probably never been a more convincing argument for Gonzalez magic than this one: he was claimed out of a Md $10k event at CD where he won and since has turned into a winning machine going 3 for 3 all locally for the top local barn. He destroyed a small field in his first against winners and followed that up with massive efforts at this condition winning by 11 in the two-back event earning a field-best 91 Beyer and the last out just keeping his nose in front earning an 88 Beyer and a 106 (!) DRF Speed Rating.
2nd: #6 Divine Interventio, one of my favorites here out of the Lacey Gaudet barn. Has ability to close and has gotten up more often than not recently. We’ll see how he handles some added distance than he’s used to. Gaudet looking for that first win of 2019 has a shot here.
3rd: #2 Joy Drive, just beat Divine Interventio in the last by a neck but over a sloppy surface and was probably going to lose if run at today’s distance. Still three straight wins for this one who is definitely dangerous here.
Race 6: Alw $42k 1M
1st: #7 Flying the Flag, lightly raced 4 year old out of Malibu Moon was a $675k purchase as a two year old and the early returns are looking good. Got the debut win at CD where he attracted Jose Ortiz to ride and earned a 75 Beyer. Gets top local pilot Vargas who is 6 for 13 here in the early going.
2nd: #5 Sparty, 2 for last 3 locally both wins coming on off track so if the surface is wet today this one should be your play. Most recent effort was very nice at the OC$25k level winning by 3 at 6-1.Should set early fractions.
3rd: #9 Eagle Pass, can make a case for this one on top also and seems to like the wet track as he broke his maiden over a sloppy Belmont surface earning a field-best 88 Beyer. Would’ve liked to see a better effort in the last event where he was sent off as 9-5 favorite and tired after achieving the lead.
Race 7: Clm $5k 7F
1st: #3 Gorbachov, last two tries both high quality as he broke his maiden at the $10k level by 6 lengths running away and last out made up 7 lengths in the stretch to get second in first try against winners at this level. Jose Corrales (3 for 9 so far this year) gets his first try with him here.
2nd: #11 Dr. Cerrato, hard to explain why he tired so badly in the last out after being near the front. Two back maiden-breaking win was excellent at the $14k level, goes for cheapest of his life today, don’t rule out. Tough draw.
3rd: #9 Pro Riot, Trombetta always a threat, this one starts so far back, would have a much easier go if he could be more forwardly placed. Two back made up 17 lengths to finish just 4 back of the winner at 10-1. Made up 9 lengths in the stretch alone.
Race 8: Alw $42k F&M 1M
1st: #3 Three Hawk, Beyers improving significantly in each try, last out first level allowance try in New York was solid just 2 lengths off at nearly 12-1 after going 5-6 wide. Comes back to preferred track. The pick.
2nd: #7 Turing Machine, call it Gonzalez magic again, this one broke his maiden at the MdSpWt level in first out for CG and came back against winners and nearly come on to win with a charging rally. Couldn’t blame you for taking this one on top.
3rd: #4 Setubal, clearly likes the surface a win and four seconds in 7 tries locally. Last effort at the OC$25k level was solid closing for the win at today’s distance going 7 (!) wide. With better trip a definite contender.
Race 9: MdSpWt 3 Year Olds 7F
1st: #1 Candy Store, we’ll take this one out of the Graham Motion barn after two decent tries. Experience should help here. Debut he finished just behind Smile Bryan, our pick for the first race today. Beyer improvement would help.
2nd: #5 Big Boots, another with a race under his belt, it was a decent try on Thanksgiving day where he tired. Only two drills since then, think this one needs another race or two before going on top.
3rd: #7 El Rojo, 0 for 5 so far lifetime bt the most recent was a solid effort to get 2nd going off at 9-1 at the $40k level. Steady improvement.