Race 1: Clm $16k 6F
1st: #1 My Mans Pots and Pans, significant drop in class for this one who hasn’t raced at this level in his entire life. Shortens back up to sprinting, expect improvement on both of those angles for a trainer who improves horses.
2nd: #6 Buddy’s Crown, even money favorite should face speed from his inside and he tired and lost last out at 3-5 at this level. Enough for me to pass.
3rd: #3 Cast the Lot, lightly raced, Beyers moving in the right direction, will show speed.
Race 2: Alw $42k 1M
1st: #7 Let’s Play Nine, only a single race in his life but man was it an impressive one. Would prefer to avoid this type of second timer as they will likely be over bet, but not enough in this field and the Trombetta/McCarthy connection is too strong.
2nd: #2 Crouchelli, Beyers moving in the right direction now with two in a row in the 80s for this consistently underbet horse. Has gone off at 30, 40, and 20-1 in the last three and has hit the board in two of them.
3rd: #6 Absolved, just one for 10 locally but has hit the board 9 out of 10 times.
Race 3: The Dave’s Friend Stakes $100 6F
1st: #5 Threefiveindia, serious stakes horse shipping in from California for trainer Peter Miller. Took the first 8 months of 2019 off but has clearly found his gait in the last two registering high 90s Beyers. Back in 2017 he finished less than a length behind Whitmore.
2nd: #7 Home Run Maker, last winter I thought this horse was headed for graded stakes company before an injury kept him off the track for a significant amount of time. Has been training excellently at Belmont including the two back gate drill.
3rd: #1 Clubman, high quality but facing tougher in here today. Needs a ridiculous pace scenario to close into.
Race 4: OC$35k F&M 1M
1st: #7 It’s A Journey, just won this exact race a couple weeks ago locally by just running them off their feet. 7 for 15 going a mile.
2nd: #3 Warm, probably the highest class horse in this field but has lost form of late. Perhaps last out was a trough in the form cycle and she’ll improve today.
3rd: #5 Lady by Choice, definitely don’t see this horse as a miler, has tired going 6 and also 7, don’t understand why they’re trying a mile today.
Race 5: The Gin Talking Stakes $100k 2 Year Old Fillies 7F
1st: #4 Bella Aurora, last out got on dirt for the first time and turned in the best start of her life going longer than today’s distance. Many in this field have questions about the 7F, not this one.
2nd: #3 Ankle Monitor, similar running style to the 4, will be coming late.
3rd: #5 Precious, has shown big ability up at Penn National, will see today how well that transfers over to open stakes company at Laurel.
Race 6: The Native Dancer Stakes $100k 1 & 1/8thM
1st: #3 Monagahela, proven graded stakes winner who seems to be at the very top of his game. Has gone all over the Mid Atlantic and won including once at this strip.
2nd: #2 Major Cabbie, I’m very interested in all Peter Miller shippers today, this one didn’t get a fair shake last time after falling to his face but hopefully is no worse for the wear coming back just a week later. Miller thought highly enough of him to try the G1 Clark Handicap two back on his way east.
3rd: #7 Alwaysmining, sad to be picking this one third, if he is on his game he wins and I’m interested by Kelly Rubley bringing him back just a few weeks after his last start. Must go to the lead if he wants to win, riders have been more cautious of late and it hasn’t worked out.
Race 7: The Heft Stakes $100k 2 Year Olds 7F
1st: #1 Romanoff, in these two year old events I’m looking for something that has a lot of speed and has proven he can carry it for the distance. This one has done it two times in a row now.
2nd: #2 Lebda, this one has certainly had success prior to the graded stakes tries and in the two back event was running almost directly with Dennis Moment, the favorite in the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile.
3rd: #5 New Commission, this one definitely has a lot of speed and really came out nicely last out going this distance. Most recent drill was excellent.
Race 8: The Willa On The Move Stakes $100k F&M 6F
1st: #6 Majestic Reason, just a length behind the Queen of the Mid Atlantic Anna’s Bandit in their last 3 weeks ago. This one loves this track and distance.
2nd: #2 Cause I’m Edgy, Rubley has improved this horse in the two races she’s had her, definitely ready for the stakes try,
3rd: #9 Mess N Around, consistent allowance horse than has performed decently in some stakes events. Can’t ignore last out drill 46 and 1 breezing.
Race 9: Alw $42k F&M 1M
1st: #5 Twirling Liz, 3 year old filly ran very well in her first back off the bench, should improve here.
2nd: #1 Cassidy Avenue, consistent, looks ready for this level.
3rd: #2 My Queen Michelle, bad loss last out, should improve.