Race 1: MdClm $16k 6F
1st: #4 Goodluckchuck, early speed, dropping in distance and class with a solid recent drill and the top local pilot? Even money if we’re lucky.
2nd: #6 White Russian, will challenge the 4 for the early lead but he has been racing at lower class levels and doesn’t seem to have the stamina either.
3rd: #3 Garrison’s Charge, has been out in over a year, if he’s ready he probably wins but…
Race 2: Clm $16k 6F
1st: #3 Kosher Kontract, I have long undervalued this horse, and his most recent race is really solid after a brief freshening earning the best Beyer of his year when sent away at 17-1.
2nd: #6 Cape Lookout, trying to beat this one who seems to be going off-form and probably didn’t like the slop last out. Still plenty of case to be made for others in here to avoid this favorite who has never won over this strip.
3rd: #5 Big Boots, sharp improvement in his last and was flattered when the third place finisher Seany P came back to win.
Race 3: MdSpWt $40k 3 Year Olds 6F
1st: #5 Amen Corner, love Masters reference in the name, this one has been breezing very well for Jeremiah O’Dwyer who does very well with Maidens. A son of Malibu Moon out of a More Than Ready Dam, certainly the breeding is major league.
2nd: #6 Souper Highvoltage, has the “look” of a nice one. Trombetta trains the Live Oak Planation homebred and gets McCarthy to ride. Breezes are nice but nothing eye popping.
3rd: #2 Day of Honor, $130k purchase from Keeneland September 18 sale, has some nice drills.
Race 4: Clm $5k 1M
1st: #5 Stucco, bottom dwellers here, this one was really close trying to close against a speed bias in his last and still almost made it. The two-back maiden win was excellent.
2nd: #6 Dreamin N Schemin, was just a half length behind Stucco last out despite going off at 37-1 and was gaining. Gets Cintron today.
3rd: #3 Elevated Forever, been a steady performer at the $10k level so far but missed by a length as the favorite last out. Could get it done today.
Race 5: MdClm $10k 6F
1st: #8 Make Us Smile, maybe the shortest price of the day, this one just narrowly missed at the $16k level when he was claimed from O’Dwyer for Robert Klesaris. By far the best Beyers in the field.
2nd: #7 Two L’s Meow, like the improvement from first to second. Steps back down to 6F which I don’t love.
3rd: #1 Just Chill Out, made up some ground in his last, will need to improve here.
Race 6: Clm $12.5K 1M
1st: #6 My Eminence, ignore the last in the slop, two back was a 71 Beyer effort in OC$16k company. Each time he’s stepped back into claiming company he’s been highly competitive.
2nd: #3 Run for James, bounced back nicely from essentially being eased at Parx in the two back, expect further improvement.
3rd: #2 Pumpkin Star, wanted to pick this one on top, but a StrAlw $5k win at Pen just isn’t that impressive especially considering he was favored there. Will be competitive given the figures.
Race 7: Alw $42k F&M 6F
1st: #5 Ten Oaks Miss, gate to wire winner in the most recent at the OC$25k level was culmination of a bunch of improving performances in a row. Continued trend?
2nd: #1 Bye Bye Bertie, 2-1 ML fav has been on the bench since August of 2018. It was an impressive maiden score, but this would be a tough ask. Has been drilling well.
3rd: #2 Well Hello, has hit the board 4 of 5 local starts and consistently competitive in this class.
Race 8: MdClm $25k F&M 6F
1st: #2 Hydra, Graham Motion trainee looks to be the classiest in the field and should improve nicely off that first time back effort in the slop last out.
2nd: #4 Tapittizer R V F, finds her way into a new barn and she’d been improving over the bull ring at Charles Town in the fall in MdSpWt events.
3rd: #5 Mighty Molly, debuter for Jamie Ness shows three mediocre breezes.