Race 1: Clm $16k 1 & 1/16thM Turf
1st: #1 The Magical One, the obvious case for this one is that he just won at this condition and distance in his first back off the bench. Positive sign that he’s being wheeled back in just 19 days and should be better for that effort. Clearly showed a turn of foot on turf coming from way back and that scares me in that I don’t see much pace in this race. Great claiming opportunity here probably, I’m surprised John Robb didn’t look for an OC event for him.
2nd: #2 The Walk, best Beyers of his career came last year when they got him out on the turf. Adds blinkers today and should be better for the exercise he got on June 8.
3rd: #5 Jericho Marsh, does have some turf speed, there isn’t much other speed in this race, should be sending hard early.
Race 2: OC$25k 6F
1st: #7 Throw the Fade, have long been an admirer of this one and here’s an opportunity for him to pick up the pieces of an outrageous speed duel up front. Possible that his best distance is a little longer, but there is an excess of speed here and he’s shown his ability to sit off the pace and take over late. Won’t take nearly as much money as some of the speed balls ahead of him, hope they run each other into the ground. 5 for 8 on the local strip.
2nd: #6 Colonel Sharp, has yet to duplicate his triple digit Beyer effort in December 2018, but was heading in the right direction before the break. Like Throw the Fade, has shown ability to stalk and pass.
3rd: #3 Stoney Bennett, don’t think he’ll be quite ready but probably the class of the field. Winner in open allowance company in New York last year.
Race 3: MdClm $10k 5 & ½F
1st: #12 Dr. Rusty Raymond, earned a 58 Veyer after settubg tge oace giubg 6F at the Md40 level getting passed at the wire going 6F. Drops to lowest class level of his career, second off the bench today.
2nd: #5 Kevin Witte, showed decent speed in his debut in December at this level, made the lead in the stretch before tiring. Andrew Simoff always been a reliable presence in Mid-Atlantic.
3rd: #9 Yes Man, respectable Beyer figures in his races over the winter even getting a 60 once. First back was eased, but that doesn’t mean too much. Most experienced in the field as well.
Race 4: MdClm $40k 1 & 1/16thM Turf
1st: #10 Sandy Lane Kitten, turf race? Kitten’s Joy offspring that ran well in open company in New York now on turf in Maryland? Ricky Hendriks knows turf racing better than almost anyone, no doubt he can do just as well as Trombetta, if not better.
2nd: #8 Back Charge, twice ran on turf last year, both times in New York, one good one bad. Decent figures last year for a two year old. Should be improved now.
3rd: #12 Call Me Plucky, probably will be over-bet for a debuting 3 year old due to the Sheldon+Brittany connection. But a homebred son of Lookin At Lucky by a Malibu Moon dam is well meant; tough post.
Race 5: Clm $10k F&M 5 & ½F
1st: #5 Chicken Dinner, infrequently do you see a low level claimer display the passing ability that this one has. Stalks hot paces and passes in every race, most recently at the $5k level it was a winning effort.
2nd: #7 Starting Tour, quick early speed, last scene last July but Capuano more than capable off the bench.
3rd: #2 Always Talking, another early fast one, 4 times a winner in last 4 claiming efforts.
Race 6: MdClm $10k 7F
1st: #5 G Man, I always look for things that aren’t exactly apparent in the low level MdClm races. Here’s a horse that tried once as a two year old and did absolutely no running. He’s come back as a three year old and showed a little quality, earning a 42 Beyer on the turf. Trainer completely switching it up going back to the dirt and only going around one turn with the blinkers. He has shown ability in the mornings, most notably on the 10th of May with a 48bg workout. Bit of a shot in the dark, but that’s how these go.
2nd: #10 Rare Notion, ran decently in significantly higher quality races in 2018 and 2019. Soundness problems for sure, maybe was a little short in the first back off the bench.
3rd: #2 Just Chill Out, probably the post time favorite, fresh off his best career Beyer.
Race 7: OC$35k 5 & ½F Turf
1st: #1 Sky Magician, looks like a future stakes horse to me. Trombetta got him on the turf twice at the end of last year and he won both with Beyers significantly popped. Hopefully he’s ready.
2nd: #9 Joseph, an outrageous amount of speed in this field and this one has shown over and over the ability to make up lengths in the stretch. He won at this level last year, albeit littered amongst some losses, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this one make a serious challenge at the wire.
3rd: #3 Clever Triad, two Merryman horses with a lot of ability in this race, this one has earned hefty figs in the past and has an eye-popping breeze recently.
Race 8: Alw $42k 3 Year Old Fillies 6F
1st: #3 Hello Beautiful, I picked this one on top in her 2020 debut thinking Brittany and Sheldon knew she wanted turf better. That 95 Beyer last December on the dirt is jaw-dropping, this should be a perfect spot for her to get back on track. 4-5 ML looks right to me.
2nd: #6 Pretty Edgy, essentially wired the field and earned a 77 Beyer at 9-2. Has done nothing wrong in her career so far.
3rd: #2 Fifteen Royals, nice debut last year at 2, will improve this year but these waters may be a little much for her today.
Race 9: Clm $16k 6F Turf
1st: #8 Cooke Brothers, broke his maiden over the dirt last November at Churchill, but best career Beyers and some of the top Beyers in the field were his two tries on the turf to start his career. Now 4 and a gelding, looks to be back to his preferred surface.
2nd: #1 Shelley Island, another that prefers turf finally getting back to it for the first time since October. Can make up plenty of lengths in the stretch.
3rd: #9 Alleria, probably belongs around two turns, this likely a stepping stone for a two turn race.