Race 1: MdClm $16k 5 & ½F Turf
1st: #5 Winston’s Way, this looks like the spot Dale Capuano was waiting for when he claimed this horse back in March for $10k. Last year showed some quality on the turf and with more experience since then he should put forth an improved effort. Not much in this field in terms of turf experience, this would be an enterprising claim for another owner at $14k, assuming turf is where he wants to be. Benefits from the 7lb apprentice as well. Some turf pedigree via Stormy Atlantic, the Damsire.
2nd: #7 Hezawinnerwithme, drops significantly in class and gets on the turf for the first time. Gets Victor Carrasco to ride, must be his last week in Maryland before moving to Monmouth when they open. He’ll be better for that debut experience.
3rd: #2 Junior Jumper, don’t expect much from this 0-10 lifetime horse. Epper usually knows her way around the turf, hitting 22% with 1st time turfers.
Race 2: Clm $16k 1 & 1/16thM F&M Turf
1st: #7 Stiva, I’m really thrilled about this horse and bet, hopefully we can get something like the 3-1ML. She clearly woke up for that beginning of February race which she was a heavy favorite in a 4 horse field on the dirt. But what really matters is that it was the first race of her life where she grabbed an early lead, compared to a come-from-behind style previously. That speed came through again in her 2020 turf debut last out where she set really blistering fractions of 22 and 3 and 46 and 1 (!) going today’s distance and though she faded she still stayed up for 2nd and lost by only a length in a 10 horse field. She’s going to be better conditioned for this distance based on that race and I don’t see any speed that is going to run with her early. The winner of that race came from 15 lengths back and the horse that came in 3rd behind her was 12 lengths back but couldn’t pass. If she gets an easier pace she could win this race by open lengths.
2nd: #3 Dynamic Miss, mentioned above she was 3rd last out behind Stiva and was way way back but still couldn’t rally past Stiva late despite a torrid pace. Maybe she gets there today with her second out effort of 2020.
3rd: #4 Valle Luna, showed some ability last year as a two year old on the turf, probably needs a race.
Race 3: MdClm $10k F&M 6F
1st: #6 Any Minute Now, try to avoid playing top choices in these low level MdClmers, this one showed last out that she can pass and gain ground late. The 2 and 5 to her inside and the 9 to her outside should put each other to the test early, this one could pick up the pieces late.
2nd: #5 Keeper in Spite, set a sensible pace last out and still got passed as the 6-5 favorite. Faces aforementioned speed from inside and out.
3rd: #2 Eloquent Lady, stamina simply isn’t there with this one. Blew a tire half a mile in last out on turf, but previously was heavily bet and couldn’t carry speed 6F.
Race 4: MdClm $40k F&M 5 & ½F Turf
1st: #6 Beacon of Truth, the Dam Awesome Elle was lightly raced but comes from the Awesome Again sire line and is a full sister two grade 1 winners. Elkstone Group homebred that they met with American Pharaoh to produce this one for top local connections Trombetta and Pimentel.
2nd: #3 Lemon Drop Kiss, comes from a family of winners, the Dam Parlez has produced 7 winners including millionaire and graded stakes winner International Stars.
3rd: #7 Summer Hours, clearly well meant filly bred by Brereton Jones purchased by Glen Hill Farm for prodigious turf trainer Tom Proctor.
Race 5: Clm $5k F&M 6F
1st: #4 Ba York, showed a bit of improvement and speed in her first back from the lockdown break. Faded a bit going slightly shorter, but her conditioning should have improved and she may have the lead to herself.
2nd: #10 My Lila, was rallying late which was previously not her style at all. Looks to be going in the right direction to me, a very inconsistent horse.
3rd: #3 Just for Spite, lightly raced and dropping to lowest level, does have some speed.
Race 6: MdClm $40k F&M 1 & 1/16thM Turf
1st: #9 Mona Luna, was clearly headed in the right direction before the lockdown and got a career high 59 Beyer in the first back which happened on the turf in MdSpWt company. Did not seriously contend for the win but gets Pimentel here, who seems to have chosen this one over Trombetta’s other filly, and the most recent breeze is lovely.
2nd: #5 Anima Gemella, extremely well-bred filly by Ghostzapper and a Street Sense mare, she was mediocre at best on the dirt but has since moved into Graham Motion’s barn and we all know what he’s capable of on the lawn. Gets Trevor McCarthy to ride, and she’s a Maryland-bred so she gets to waive the claiming tag today.
3rd: #3 Beckon, showed some speed on the turf at Monmouth last year. Has the advantage of being a 4 year old with 8 lifetime starts. Turf is definitely where she wants to be.
Race 7: OC$35k 1M Turf
1st: #6 Outofthepark, 2020 debut was a winning one on soft turf and was also his career best Beyer. Second back at 4 off a strong effort always one of my favorite angles, and he’ll have a conditioning advantage over a number of these who haven’t started yet this year. The improvement from dirt to turf is notably, but perhaps more so is the improvement from one to two turns on the turf. Clearly has found his sweet spot. There’s a good deal of speed and I like that this one has shown the ability to sit just off a pace and clear and finish. A couple of “driving” finishes noted in the track comments.
2nd: #10 Playing Hooky, best efforts have come when on front end and expect nothing different this time especially breaking from the outside post. Conditioning will be suspect first out of 2020, Duarte and Colts Neck have been absolutely on fire between Maryland, Delaware, and New York, think this one just out of range today considering the other speed in this field.
3rd: #1 Papal Law, one of the heavy duty speed horses, this one has done his best work on firm turf on the front end and will need to use plenty of horse early to get out of the rail draw clear.
Race 8: MdClm $10k F&M 6F
1st: #2 Deirdre of Legend, nothing cute or fancy here. Capable trainer with a filly that has shown speed dropping to the lowest class level of her career.
2nd: #5 Meet Michelle, always scared of Corrales horses at low level claimers, this one has shown some early speed but not much. Better efforts recently have come going longer.
3rd: #6 Fille d’Espirit, a fair debut. Eligible to improve.
Race 9: OC$25k F&M 6F Turf
1st: #6 Bath and Tennis, ignore the $5k claiming crap on the dirt, this one has real speed on the turf and the Beyer figures just pop on the grass. Notably was 93-1 last out and had the lead in the stretch before tiring to finish 3rd. The evidence was her turf tries last year including a stakes try when she was only beaten 5 lengths.
2nd: #3 Lunar Rille, best work came on turf last summer locally which included 2 wins and 2 close second place finishes. Hasn’t been out since January and may need conditioning. Probably prefers longer distance, but this isn’t a very strong field and her speed figures are superior.
3rd: #12 Pursuit of Lute, I’m intrigued by Trevor McCarthy hopping on this one for an unknown (to me anyhow) barn and the horse doesn’t look like a world-beater.
Race 10: OC$25k F&M 1M
1st: #1 It’s a Journey, Ness/McCarthy teaming up, this one got a race under her belt at Del just 10 days ago and has shown plenty of competence locally winning 3 of her 6 starts and 8 of 17 at this distance. She’s ready.
2nd: #3 Daria’s Angel, 8-5ML, these types coming down from New York always take too much money. She hasn’t been seen since a winning effort at Aqueduct in February on the front end at 6-5. She’s come down to Laurel previously at similar condition and ran to the front but tired. Simply take too much money.
3rd: #6 Monaco Princess, Claudio Gonzalez trainee that showed her preference fot the dirt last summer winning three in a row between Laurel, Del, and Parx. First back since February.
Race 11: OC$16k 1 & 1/16thM Turf
1st: #5 Chocolate Ride, the old saying “when someone shows you who they are, believe them.” This horse is just a classy, classy winner. 4 Beyer figures in the 90s on this page, he’s 12 for 34 lifetime including 2-2 locally. His first start of 2020 at the ripe old age of 10 was a closing win at this distance in claiming company. He’s in for the tag today, a safe move considering his age, but all he does is show up and win. Once placed in the G2 Wise Dan back in 2017.
2nd: #4 Lucky Ramsey, high quality claiming type who puts up upper 70s to mid 80s Beyers on the turf routinely. Claudio got this one for $12.5k last out.
3rd: #9 Dashing Lou, nearly wired the field last out at this condition about a month ago. Expect a similar attempt.