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Race 1: MdClm $10k 5 & ½F

1^st: #1 Lawn Boy, can’t pick against this 4-5 ML fav shipping down from a $40k event at Aqueduct where he beat 5 rivals and 2 of the three who finished ahead of him came back to win. Cavaradossi beat him a nose and came back to win at the $20k level in New York. The winner of the last came back to win a StrAlw event. Flattering.

2^nd: #7 White Russian, Scott Lake always a threat, this one gets significant distance relief and he looks like he needs it. Has early speed.

3^rd: #5 Me Darlin Chessie, first back after a year and a half for Hugh McMahon who has a record of improving horses new to his barn. This one was competitive at $16k before an injury perhaps kept him out.

Race 2: Clm $5k F&M 1M

1^st: #8 Gallanor, don’t love this pick, but filly is slowly improving and thought is she appreciates an added panel. She faced a speed bias in her last.

2^nd: #5 Graveyard Shift, trainer’s debut this year (probably first starter ever), gets Trevor and drops to lowest level of her career.

3^rd: #3 Priss, close in each of her last two while closing in shorter races than today, simply cannot pick a trainer that’s 0-28 with a jockey that’s 4 for 121.

Race 3: MdClm $10k 7F

1^st: #7 Coffee Please, ugly loss at 3-5 last out, but clearly they’ve been working on this one’s stamina and he only got passed late in the last surrendering very little ground going a mile. Distance relief today, plus the third place winner out of the last came back to win.

2^nd: #6 Talented Dr. B, obviously a good choice today, has been close both of his tries on dirt, a little concerned about the decrease in Beyer, probably worth a bet if he’s really 7-2 at post time.

3^rd: #10 Leading Man, early speed, gets Trevor for Hammy Smith.

Race 4: Clm $16k 1 & 1/16^thM

1^st: #3 Junior Senator, absolutely hate betting cheap-o MdClmers off their first win but this one looks like the only one that really could appreciate two turns. Trainer + rider give me confidence, but this is a wide open race.

2^nd: #1 Benandjoe, first off the bench for Tim Wooley, this time gets blinkers and has won going two turns previously but it was on turf. Your guess is as good as mine.

3^rd: #7 Tappahanock, big fan of this town in Virgina located alongside the Rappahanock river which drains into the Chesapeak Bay. Showed improvement in his last?

Race 5: Clm $10k 1M

1^st: #3 Last Chukker, two back won at this distance and this class level while 22-1. Last out didn’t quite get the trip and only had 7F to do it in. Added distance, gets Julian Pimentel to ride, gets it done.

2^nd: #1 Nick Papagiorgio, ran a distant second last out but seems to be back in the right direction under Jamie Ness.

3^rd: #8 Sapphire Shilling, seems to do his best work on the synthetic up at Eerie, last out at this level was not pretty, going to pass today.

Race 6: MdClm $25k Fillies 2 Years Old 6F

1^st: #8 Meet Michelle, Corrales filly has shown some quality previously, was second at this condition in the two back where she earned her career best figure. Back on her home track today.

2^nd: #9 Rockin Anna Rollin, Beyer improvement from first to second but was left in the dust last time out on a muddy track.

3^rd: #1 Stylish Ninetynine, second out for Ness/McCarthy, expect improvement.

Race 7: Clm $8k 1 & 1/16^thM

1^st: #8 Whole Lotta Lucky, just have to look back two starts to see a win at this distance at similar class level down at Kee, which might have a big stiffer competition. 4 wins at this distance, don’t love the post draw but he should be able to save ground around the first turn and get a decent stalking trip.

2^nd: #2 Linda’s Nekia, I really don’t understand the 20-1ML odds, I was tempted to pick this one on top. Last out she was outclassed…at much higher class clevel. So? She was 45-1 that day. You just have to go back to late summer at Del when she was winning at the $12.5k level around two turns.

3^rd: #7 Earned It, seems to run honestly and decently every time he steps down to this level. Only 4 wins in 41 lifetime races.

Race 8: OC$35k F&M 7F

1^st: #8 My Star Potential, really a standout in this field, surprised to see only a 5-2ML, expect she’ll be even money at post time. Comes back off the bench last out and wins going away at 5 & ½, gets the added distance she’ll love today and will be better. 3 excellent drills since her last. Best bet of the day.

2^nd: #6 Limited View, just won going shorter and has early speed. Last drill is eye opening and you can toss the MdMill start where she was declared a non-starter. Would need to step up in figure to win this.

3^rd: #5 Cee Bee Gee Bee, showed clear improvement in her first for Kelly Rubley when she hit the board behind the Queen of the MidAtlantic Anna’s Bandit in the MdMill Distaff at 12-1.

Race 9: MdSpWt $40k 1 & 1/16^thM

1^st: #1 Liam’s Fire, Sheldon Russell jumps ship from the ML fav to take the mount here for Gary Contessa shipping down from New York. This one had been facing much, much stiffer competition in open MdSpWt events in New York and he wasn’t fast enough but didn’t embarrass himself. Especially love the significant Beyer improvement from first to second, thinking more improvement wins this one. Good rail draw for him.

2^nd: #2 Security Breach, was gaining in the stretch going one turn in his debut for Graham Motion, this will be a step up in competition certainly, but he’ll be there at the end.

3^rd: #4 Order for Porky, not really sure why this one gets such favoritism, but he was certainly coming for them going one turn in his last and showed clear improvement. Contender for sure.