Race 1: StrAlw $5k 1M
1st: #4 Bobby G, the obvious play here—Corrales and McCarthy team up with a horse that has won 4 of his last 6, the most recent of which was a totally outclassed effort in the G3 Pimlico Special. He did earn an 83 Beyer in that just simply didn’t break well and was never in the mix going 10F with some of the best boys in training. 4 for 5 locally with the only loss being a second place effort at the $16k StrHdcp level back in March. Expect low odds.
2nd: #8 Federal Walk, should get the lead early and has won going this distance 3 times in claiming company. Depends how track is playing, first race of the day we’ll find out with this one.
3rd: #2 Runabout, big winner in claiming company, can compete at this level but not quite the same. Beyers don’t stack up with the best in here.
Race 2: OC$25k F&M 5 & ½F Turf
1st: #5 Cover Photo, I’ll usually take a lightly raced three year old in these 3yo and up races that has shown class over older horses that have piled up a lot of losses. This one tried a mile on turf for the first time and never really was in the mix in a strong stakes field on Preakness day, but I’m enthused by Trombetta sticking her back out on the turf in this much easier class. Going shorter today which she appreciated on dirt when she rallied from 14 back at the second call to win by more than a length at today’s distance in the two back.
2nd: #3 Goodnight Moon, just won at this level on this turf going slightly longer than today’s distance but was benefited by strong pace of 45 and 3 and 56 and 3 that she was able to close into. Don’t see that pace today, and she has less distance to make it up in, but she should come running.
3rd: #8 Cherokee Sky, another player in the early speed equation, today being sent out by Trombetta who is hitting at 24% with first time starters in his barn.
Race 3: MdClm $25k 5 & ½F
1st: #2 Smokin Princess, really wanted to play against this favorite in here but there just isn’t something worthwhile in the field. Has improved her Beyer figs from 31 up to 49 last time out at Del in a second place effort. First time out for Claudio Gonzalez.
2nd: #6 Alluring Prospect, this is the logical play against the ML fav, but her record isn’t inspiring. She lost by 14 albeit to a really good filly Zonda last time out at the $40k level so she gets class relief. Beyers are not moving in the right direction.
3rd: #4 Crossingthevalley, did run with leaders early in her first effort going this distance on turf in $40k company. Would need to improve significantly.
Race 4: Clm $16k F&M 5 & ½F Turf
1st: #3 Caterina One, clear difference once she got on turf last out in a really good effort going today’s distance in OC$50k company when she lost to Nightlife. Third in that race was Ying Yue, who came back to win an allowance on Preakness day in a 14 horse field that was loaded. This one was 102-1 in that effort, gets huge class relief here.
2nd: #1 Unique Humor, last out was a win on this strip at today’s distance on this strip beating 8 rivals and earning a 55 Beyer getting on turf for the first time. Can’t ignore that effort.
3rd: #6 Salt Pond, very tempting here as she was actually in that race with Ying Yue on Preakness day after getting claimed at today’s price in the two back. Last out she simply broke terribly in a huge field of 14 and did make a run but was too late.
Race 5: [R]Alw $35k F&M 5 & ½F Turf
1st: #2 Introduced, my best bet of the day. This one has shown her class in the past finishing second to multiple graded stakes winner and giant-slayer Concrete Rose in the debut at Saratoga. Stakes placed at Aqueduct last year and in the debut effort this year just nosed at the wire in OC$50k company finishing ahead of the aforementioned Ying Yue. 3-1 would be a gift.
2nd: #3 Misty On Pointe, yet another from that Preakness day allowance race, this one came in third behind Ying Yue just a length behind after breaking last and getting “bumped, pinch start” but rallying 9 lengths. 71 Beyer in that race, definitely a candidate to improve second time out this year.
3rd: #7 Magician’squestion, lightly raced Trombetta trainee gets out for the first time since April of last year when she won in allowance company at Woodbine after almost a year on the shelf then as well.
Race 6: Clm $5k 1M
1st: #6 Gotham News, looks to be getting back into form after the winter layoff, his first back this year he got the lead in the stretch but surrendered it by a nose at the wire earning a 62 Beyer going longer than today’s mile. That was at the $8k level, dropping to lowest level today, should appreciate distance relief.
2nd: #5 Gorbachov, trying to beat this favorite here, we picked Gorbachov a couple times during that awesome run this winter when he won 3 of 4 straight races. I have to question his fitness getting only one timed drill since being away for over two months.
3rd: #1 Free to Trump, like his versatility, has won on the lead and coming from behind. Best tries have come at Laurel.
Race 7: MdClm $25k 1 & 1/16thM Turf
1st: #5 Yes Means No, two straight really close efforts earning mid 50s Beyers since switching to turf. Last time out just missed by less than a length. 16 time maiden, beware.
2nd: #8 Closer Look, just 3 starts under his belt all on dirt and has the highest Beyers in the field. The past efforts do not scream more distance to me as each time has added a furlong and has tired even more than the last time. Maybe the horse just wants turf. Had to note Motion is only 5% with 1st time turfers.
3rd: #6 What About Shorty, love the improvement from 3 to 4 and moving from dirt to turf. Gets blinkers on today. Showed early speed last out, definitely needed some conditioning.
Race 8: OC$50k 1 & 1/16thM Turf
1st: #7 Utmost, wanted to play against this 9-5ML favorite for something that has been running more recently but I just couldn’t pick against a G2 winner. Motion has been working him consistently at 6F over at Fair Hill and today’s distance should be right in his wheelhouse for a seasonal debut.
2nd: #1 John Jones, Lacey Gaudet’s classy allowance horse tried turf last time out at this level and was just passed at the wire after setting a pretty strong pace of 1:10 and 4 going today’s distance. Breaking from the 1 post should get the lead, could be enough depending on how turf is playing, it’s been raining a lot and could be heavy.
3rd: #4 Pizmo Time, second out this year, the first effort was a winning one at the $35k level earning an 82 Beyer. Competitor.
Race 9: Clm $16k 1M Turf
1st: #8 Tracy With a Y, ignore the last, two back effort on turf was solid where he earned a 63 Beyer and missed by just a length. Not much in this field.
2nd: #12 Ego Trip, $600k purchase as a yearling son of Bernardini it hasn’t exactly panned out as Gary and Mary West thought. After some adequate tries on turf between Oaklawn, Kentucky, and New York for Steve Asmussen he was claimed away and tried fruitlessly on the dirt. Back to turf today.
3rd: #1 Jupiter Rising, has competed at the state-bred allowance level in New York, blinkers on today feels more like a Hail Mary than anything.
Race 10: MdSpWt $40k F&M 1M
1st: #3 Catwalk Whiz, mixed field here, like the improvement from first to second try taking her Beyer from 27 to 45. Think the idea of more distance should help rather than hurt.
2nd: #5 East and Union, first try over the dirt last time out was decent going 6 over the slop at Monmouth. Hard to know what conclusions to draw from that race, probably wants to go longer. Last drill was good.
3rd: #1 Our Star, took money in both of her starts, think she needs to be a little closer to the front.