Race 1: OC$16k 2 Year Olds 6F
1st: #3 Little Harbour, first off the claim for Claudio Gonzalez who is hitting at 23% with 1st claimers. Dumped the rider immediately in the last so his last real race was over 2 months ago. Little break can’t hurt, goes as a gelding today for the first time and gets the 5lb bug boy Rosales.
2nd: #6 Mega Millions, first back after 4 months away for Pecoraro, improved mightily when given Lasix in his last. First against winners will be tougher.
3rd: #2 Munsoor, Tim Kreiser having a superb season, this one crushed PA-bred Maiden 16s at Pen last out. Good race, but this is much deeper water.
Race 2: MdSpWt $40k 2 Year Olds 7F
1st: #3 My Friends Beer, like the improvement from sprint to a mile, ceded some ground late going longer, horse is moving in the right direction and O’Dwyer as hot as they come.
2nd: #5 Tapping the Glass, first back off the break saw him considerably short. The debut was excellent however in an event where the two finishers ahead of him immediately came back to win and he looked like he wanted to run on. Been working well.
3rd: #1 Montauk Traffic, guess is Linda Rice figured this one needed easier company as they have these events at Aqueduct, her record isn’t strong with debuters but always have to pay attention when Linda ships to Maryland. 3 for 7 so far this meet shipping in.
Race 3: Clm $16k F&M 7F
1st: #6 Nevisian Sunset, don’t hate the turf to dirt angle here, this one has had a brief freshening, and although his form on dirt last year did not measure up, his 2019 campaign shows he is a different horse now. Easily the highest Beyers in the field.
2nd: #1 Swirrlie Shirlie, a lot of early speed with this one, but stepping into class she hasn’t seen thus far in her career. Might struggle with 7F.
3rd: #2 Nine Martinis, first off the claim for Ness/McCarthy always an intriguing angle, 26% for Ness 1st timers.
Race 4: Alw $42k 7F F&M 7F
1st: #7 Takechargmatriarch, little bit of a price play here, don’t like much else in this field and this one has clearly figured out how to run early. Last out maiden breaking win was pretty big albeit at even money and on a speed favoring track. But that’s how this track starts to play in winter, especially if its wet.
2nd: #1 Rockstar Girl, not sure what happened in the last, gets distance relief here today, the two back she ran a very respectable third behind a high quality Warm and Cause I’m Edgy who came back to win.
3rd: #4 Firth, think she improves second time back, has a lot of early speed, but 2-13 locally is ugly.
Race 5: OC$25k 1M
1st: #10 Rohrbacher, really respectable in open stakes company last out just 4 lengths behind that nice Chad Brown colt. Previously two wins, once over sloppy and once on turf, both at this distance. Most consistently high figs. Best bet of the day. Hoping for even money.
2nd: #3 Cape Lookout, always makes his run late, which you’d think over a winter sloppy track would be difficult but yesterday proved horses could easily come from off the pace and there’s a lot of cheap speed in this field. Expect one late run, some added distance today should help.
3rd: #7 Closer Look, trying to get this 10-1ML long shot in the exotics, another closer type who runs incredibly consistently late.
Race 6: Clm $5k 6F
1st: #6 Allthewrongreasons, after 14 month layoff, Mark Reid got this one to finally break his maiden at $10k. Runner up came out of that to win, hopefully improves some more today.
2nd: #3 Bucked Tooth, Trombetta gelding has stamina concerns, but drops to lowest level of his career, might make the difference.
3rd: #5 Alphatest, always have to pay attention when George Weaver ships in and gets McCarthy to ride, this one has been tremendously out classed in New York turf events, his lone dirt attempt last December doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.
Race 7: [R]Alw $35k F&M 1M
1st: #2 Artful Splatter, seems to have figured it out recently, especially love the last out win over the slop “driving”. Biggest Beyer of her career.
2nd: #3 Esterina, moving in the right direction, 2-2 at this distance and shown can stalk and pass late.
3rd: #6 Yesterdaysplan, MdMill have shown to be great races moving forward, another last out winner there gets her shot today.
Race 8: OC$50k 7F
1st: #3 Aveenu Malcainu, 1-2 locally 1-2 on wet including last out 5 length win at this distance in OC$35k territory demolishing 9 competitors at 9-2. Repeat? Englehart inspires confidence.
2nd: #5 Eastern Bay, obviously does his best work over a wet track, 5-7 lifetime. Does have 5 wins on the Laurel dirt and had a great summer on the turf.
3rd: #4 Senior Investment, no shame being 16 lengths behind Spun to Run in the last out event at Parx, shortens up a bit today.
Race 9: Clm $5 6F
1st: #6 Baytown Glory, first Lasix and first time out for Keiron Magee who claimed this one off two nice scores over at Del. Got a brief rest out of a race where the top two finishers came back to win, best figures in the field.
2nd: #3 Shadow Boxer, two straight wins, one over this dirt course at this distance when sent away at 20-1 beating 13 rivals. Early speed.
3rd: #4 Determined Vision, improving gelding, last out solid second locally.