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Race 1: MdClm $25k 1 & 1/16^thM Turf

1^st: #4 Resident Liberal, disregard the awful name, this Tom Proctor trainee was competitive in much higher priced races in California earning the highest Beyers in the field which are still increasing. Simply can’t play against this one.

2^nd: #8 Noble Lion, George Weaver shipping down from New York and dropping in class. Would be the obvious pick if not for the Proctor horse.

3^rd: #2 Sir Smarty, this would be the pick in many of these Laurel MdClmrs; his first off the layoff and come back to the flat was decent going 12F and maintaining the lead for about a mile in MdSpWt company. Definitely a contender.

Race 2: MdClm $16k F&M 5 & ½F

1^st: #6 Capture the Light, O’Dwyer so strong with 2 year olds hitting at 18% and returning $4.45 for every $2 bet. Last breeze very solid and dropping down from the $40k level adding blinkers. A lot to like.

2^nd: #1 Naughty Thoughts, don’t understand the 3-5 ML on this one, 5 time maiden who I suppose has raced somewhat competitively. Best race came at Pim.

3^rd: #5 Dublin Megan, not much to say about this one, getting class relief.

Race 3: MdClm $25k F&M 7F

1^st: #3 Jump for Sally, draw a line through the last on the turf, best race of her life came in the 2 back on the dirt at the $40k level where she was just a length behind the winner closing nicely.

2^nd: #4 My T Talk, another to ignore the last out on turf, the two back was solid over at Pim closing strongly from 16 behind to lose by only 2 in what turned out to be a live race. The winner Foggy Dreams returned to win an OC$25k event, and the second place finisher broke her maiden next out. Adds blinkers.

3^rd: #1 Live Aid, debut effort saw her finish last 12 lengths behind against $40k company. Will improve second time out, but won’t be using this one.

Race 4: Clm $16k 5 & ½F Turf

1^st: #8 Electro, wary of Claudio Gonzalez’s 5% record on turf, this one was claimed out of a win at this level in the three back before a couple close finishes earning upper 60s and mid 70s Beyers. 2 for 3 on the local strip is too much to look past for me.

2^nd: #9 Benevolent Prince, toyed with putting this one on top, he scored at this level in the two back locally earning a 73 Beyer when the leaders blitzed away in 22, 44 and 2 and 55 second fractions. An honest effort last out at Del in a level above this one is good to see, but this barn rarely puts them up for sale, not sure what it means but I don’t love it.

3^rd: #10 Available, a sometimes competitor in the state-bred stakes levels, he finished nearly a length behind Benevolent Prince in that race at Del last out.

Race 5: Alw $42k 1 & ½M Turf

1^st: #1 Polished, tremendous marathon first level allowance event, this one tries to beat boys for the first time. She finished 4^th but just a length in her last up at Mth to Variance who is 3 for 3 lifetime including coming back to win a Stakes event. Looks like the type that should appreciate more distance, encouraged by Delacour trying her against boys, he must feel confident in her ability.

2^nd: #2 Mokheef, big time closer here, earning mid to upper 70s Beyers in his last three finishing very strong each time. I’m not sure the speed narrative he needs to win this one exists in this short field, but if one of these tears away and sets strong fractions, this one is the likely beneficiary.

3^rd: #4 No Man’s Land, strong case to make for this one who has been running exclusively at 10F in his past 5 races including the MdSpWt score in his two back at Bel. Definitely an interesting ship down for a barn I’m unfamiliar with.

Race 6: Clm $16k F&M 1M Turf

1^st: #5 Witch, won’t typically use a horse trying winners for the first time, but this one has the look of a horse that has woken up. Two starts this year significantly improvement from 2 year old form and she overcame a speed favoring strip to make up 5 lengths and win by 2 in her maiden-breaking win.

2^nd: #8 Artful Splatter, the speed of the field, she has gotten passed twice after setting the early fractions against similar company. Shortens a bit today.

3^rd: #10 Nevisian Sunset, 9-5ML favorite, she has shown strong ability to make up ground in the stretch. If she gets a really strong pace she could figure in the payoffs.

Race 7: Clm $8k F&M 6F

1^st: #5 Irish Lassie, throw out the last on the turf after switching to the Claudio Gonzalez barn, she gets back to her preferred surface, the sight of her 31 length (not a typo) win up at Suffolk on a track that had some water in it. Showcased her speed there, CG has her turning back to 6F today, think she’s a strong play on the turnback and back to dirt.

2^nd: #1 Sheza Handfull, hasn’t been able to replicate the form she showed breaking her maiden for $50k and attempting open stakes company over the winter down south. Drops to bottom class of her career, might find something.

3^rd: #3 Carson’s Hemphrey, winner at first asking at bottom level event at Charles Town. Not sure it means nything but she beat 6 horses and passed in the stretch on a speed favoring track.

Race 8: OC$25k 1 & 1/16^thM Turf

1^st: #4 Frathouse Music, tremendous improvement in his last two since switching to turf earning his two best career Beyer figures. Set tremendous fractions in the last before ultimately getting passed in the stretched but stayed up for third by less than a length. Second place finisher came back to win out of that one.

2^nd: #1 No Fly Zone, bonus here you get the 1a if he goes, this one adding a bit of ground which should help. Looks like the type that needs a little more space. If Frathouse Music sets another blistering pace this one would be the beneficiary.

3^rd: #11 Calamity Kat, two quality tries in claiming company up in New York. Running lines sort of look like a one pacer.

Race 9: MdClm $25k 1 & 1/16^thM Turf

1^st: #3 Burning Man, obvious play here is this Delacour horse stepping down from MdSpWt company who did beat 6 rivals in his last out. Almost broke the maiden in his debut even grabbing the lead at the 1/8^th pole. Should improve second off a bit of a layoff.

2^nd: #9 Sky D, two strong tries since switching to turf down in Florida including grabbing the lead in the last before surrendering at the wire. Second place finisher out of that race came back to win.

3^rd: #2 Dynastic, last out effort was his best grabbing the lead in the stretch going slightly longer than today’s distance.