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Race 1: MdClm $25k 6F

1^st: #4 Eliav, always reliable Scott Lake sends this one out who has been in the money 3 times in 4 local tries. Last out earned decent 51 Beyer. Needs to mirror the three-back effort where he was close to the lead from the get go.

2^nd: #5 Rising Perry, stepping down from the $40k level after giving some honest efforts. Last out second place finisher came back to win.

3^rd: #1 Rhinestone Cowboy, first time back to the track in nearly 2 years for the Ness barn, adding Lasix this time. I would like to choose this one but only 3 published works and the times are slow. Ness hitting at just 5% on horses laid off over 180 days. Probably needs a race or two.

Race 2:Clm $16k 1M

1^st: #4 Can He Shine, appears to be flourishing in the last couple months, a switch to the Kieron Magee barn saw a solid increase in Beyer figs including last out 68 best of his career. He set a solid pace in the last out at $12.5k, definitely want to see him on the lead again but wonder if he can get away with going a little slower this time. Some speed to his outside.

2^nd: #2 Incorporate, last out was solid losing to Gorbachov, a proven winner, by less than a length and earning a 65 Beyer. Just two races removed from a 70 at this level, will be a tough competitor for one of the top trainer and jockey connections.

3^rd: #7 Zip Van Winkle, 2-1 ML favorite, has the best Beyers in the field a couple recent 74s at higher quality races which might play into it. Last out at this level just narrowly missed to Crush It, who is entered for $12.5 later on this card.

Race 3: MdSpWt $40k 3 Year Old Fillies 7F

1^st: #8 Madding Crowd, Claudio Gonzalez taking over the training of this son of Giant’s Causeway from Bill Mott who was running him longer on turf down in Florida. He popped some pretty decent Beyers including a 70 with John Velazquez on board. Think he’ll appreciate trainer, surface, and distance switch.

2^nd: #6 After Jody, has some experience and the first time out was even if not fantastic earning a 48 Beyer. Second place finisher from her debut came back to win, should improve second out.

3^rd: #4 Cyclical, perhaps slightly overmatched at this level but was close at the $50k claiming level and the improvement in her second time for Chuck Lawrence was obvious. Retains services of Vargas.

Race 4: Clm $12.5k 5 & ½F (reexamine)

1^st: #4 Field Advantage, this was extremely tough to pick a winner in, I went with this one as he’s dropping into the claiming ranks after being competitive and earning solid figures. Last time out in the claiming ranks was a win locally at this distance earning a 79 Beyer. 2 wins locally in 6 tries. Not a lot of speed in this field, most horses want to come from 4^th or 5^th, this one typically more forwardly placed.

2^nd: #1 Crush It, always consistent including three wins in 6 tries locally among them a win at the OC$25k level in December rating on a speed favoring track. Last out effort back in the claiming ranks was a winning one in which he closed down in a sub-12 second final furlong going 7. Might need more distance, but I think it’s a great spot.

3^rd: #7 The Great Provider, Jamie Ness and Trevor McCarthy join up for this one coming off 4 wins in his last 7 efforts, many of which earned mid-70s Beyers. Mostly was racing in sub-$10k claimers, I’ll take my chances elsewhere.

Definitely think this is a great trifecta and superfecta box opportunity. I’ll use 4-1-7-8-3 in both trifecta and super.

Race 5: OC$50k 3 Year Olds 7F

1^st: #4 Sunman, Gonzalez starter who just earned his career best Beyer of 75 after an steady diet of improving figures. Second out at age 3 will improve big time, hoping he’s a little closer to the front. Just narrowly missed behind Wendell Fong last out a sometimes stakes horse. 47 and 4 breeze last Saturday is nice. Hammer this if 2-1.

2^nd: #6 Still Dreaming, definitely like Motion turning this one back from a couple of two turns tries where he just couldn’t get involved in the early pace scenario and definitely didn’t have the stamina for it. Still got improving figures each time out, have to like him. Interesting that Vargas didn’t keep this mount.

3^rd: #2 Danz a Rebel, here’s the mount Vargas kept. Narrowly missed also in that same race as Sunman against Wendell Fong this one was a length behind Sunman. Third time out this year could move forward.

Race 6: Clm $5k 6F

1^st: #1 The Mason Factor, definitely want to see him out on the lead, Vargas retains the mount, I’m going to put a line through the sloppy track last out, Vargas needs to send this one early out of that rail draw just like he did in the three back maiden-breaking win.

2^nd: #3 Quickhatch, narrowly missed at 5 & ½ last out at this level earning a 55 Beyer going off at 11-1. Definitely a lot to like, form sort of all over the place recently.

3^rd: #5 Top Czar, was just a half-length behind Quickhatch in the last and earned the same 55 Beyer. Hard to separate.

Race 7: OC$35k 1M

1^st: #6 Flying the Flag, definitely a tough choice here, this one got blinkers for the first time and you can see the difference, set the pace the whole way going two turns and wired the field. Smart of Motion to turn him back to just the one turn mile, expect Vargas to send him again. Big 82 Beyer in the last and the second place finisher Tattoed, also in this field, came back to win his first level allowance next time out.

2^nd: #3 Tattoed, like I said came back from the second place to Flying the Flag and won in the slop. Tried this level next and narrowly missed by a neck. 4 for 8 at the mile distance.

3^rd: #4 Stoney Bennett, love the name, we picked this one in the last race coming off that 86 Beyer in the New York stakes event but he did not show up. Surprised Linda Rice sent him back to Laurel, I’m not sure this is his surface.

Race 8: StrAlw $5k F&M 6F

1^st: #6 My Chesa Charm, a deserving 7-5ML coming off the massive 7 length win at the $5k claiming level. She appears to be back to her peak level which was winning these type of races and even higher quality. Great claim of $5k by McMahon and great spot here for the purse.

2^nd: #7 No More Excuses, draw a line through the last at much, much higher quality, she was competitive at the restricted allowance level previously even winning one of them on a sloppy track. Solid figures.

3^rd: #1 Dat Dares Gold, actually just beat My Chesa Charm before MCC snapped for the 7 length win. Should be competitive here, the Beyers aren’t high enough.

Race 9: Clm $5k 1 & 1/16^thM

1^st: #4 Hot Sriracha, led gate to wire going longer than this last out in New York breaking his maiden for $20k, it looks like switch to two turns made all the difference. Was popping 70 Beyers last summer at Del and Bel, horse should get claimed out of this one.

2^nd: #6 Curlin’s Knight, obviously son of Curlin, this is the “other Englehart” in this field. Wasn’t competitive in his last at GP at the $12.5k level although he did attract Jose Ortiz that day. Spotty form, can’t imagine Englehart is thrilled to have claimed this one for $12.5k.

3^rd: #2 Escrow Finnidilly, did manage to break his maiden at two turns last out at the bottom level. Form has picked up considerably since the switch to two turns. A lot to ask today.