Race 1: MdClm $25k F&M 5 & ½F Turf
1st: #9 Tyche, usually avoid debuters but Capuano is hitting at 20% with them and the most recent drill from the gate is solid. Tough draw, but there should be some pace for her to stalk.
2nd: #1 Sea Candy, would probably be my pick if not for the rail draw. Filly struggles tremendously out of the gate and from that draw will likely get swallowed up. Definitely showed great improvement in her first on turf and she came running but it wasn’t nearly enough to overcome the “awkward break.”
3rd: #7 Starlet Lady has some consistently decent figures, first time out this year don’t expect much from this 6 year old maiden.
Race 2: MdClm $10k F&M 5 & ½F
1st: #4 Gaby Vee, toss the last on turf, had improved a lot earlier this spring notching two second place tries at this level. 3 in the money performances in 3 starts on this lawn. Claudio gets the nod here.
2nd: #6 Bonnie Kate, again toss the previous two on turf, was just a length behind Gaby Vee in the three back on dirt and owns one of the highest Beyers in the field, albeit on turf.
3rd: #10 Bodhicitta, couldn’t blame you if you look here for a bit of a price at this rock bottom level, filly has clearly improved from early spring form.
Race 3: MdClm $25k F&M 5 & ½F Turf
1st: #7 Clover Bottom, gets top local pilot McCarthy and shortens up from two turns where stamina was an issue. Dropping from solid effort in the $40k claiming event two back a third place finish at 42-1.
2nd: #4 Silver Sides, solid improvement on the switch to turf last out when she made a run despite having to take up 3/8ths and checked at the 3/16ths. Should get a better trip today. Bullet drill on last day of May, ready to run.
3rd: #3 Sunday Red, notice the Beyer improvement on first try on turf. Ran a very even race, think this one needs more distance. Charter comment “no rally.”
Race 4: [R]Alw $35k F&M 1M
1st: #2 Well Hello, once highly thought of enough that Mike Smith rode her in a graded stakes race last year, she has moved back to the state of her birth permanently to take advantage of these restricted races. Has best Beyers in the field, last out in first back east was solid on a wet track. Candidate to improve.
2nd: #5 Cherryandthehawk, two straight wins coming at the OC$25k level earning mid 60s Beyers. Definitely like the versatility winning on the lead in the last and coming from behind in the two back. Will be tough.
3rd: #6 Liz’s Smile, partial to this one, the two back effort on a wet track was terrific sandwiched in between two inexplicable tries on turf.
Race 5: OC$25k $&M 1 & 1/16thM Turf
1st: #4 Lunar Rile, second time being sent out by Claudio Gonzalez who shortened her up in the first attempt where she nearly won. Goes back to two turns today.
2nd: #5 Shrew Meaning, stepping up from a loss in the claiming ranks is not usually a winning strategy, but she ran well last time out and gets McCarthy today.
3rd: #7 Little Song, first time on turf being conditioned by Kelly Rubley, gets blinkers. Candidate for improvement, likely needs some conditioning.
Race 6: OC$35k TM Turf
1st: #3 Dover Clifs, last race was really high quality considering the company kept—Hawkish the winner a G2 winner and Projected the second place finisher also a G2 winner. This one was right behind them earning an 89 Beyer, have to like his chances against this field.
2nd: #4 Dharmaster, debated putting this one on top, clearly they figured him out last time when he got on turf and led the whole way around at this distance and earned an 83 Beyer with the second place finisher coming back with win an allowance race at 5-1. A candidate for improvement definitely, could be in trouble if someone challenges him on the front end.
3rd: #1 Ghost Hunter, hard to know what happened last time out, chart comment is “faltered.” Previously was running well in high allowance levels earning mid to upper 80s Beyers and a couple in the 90s.
Race 7: OC$35k F&M 7F
1st: #3 Timeless Treasure, Michael Trombetta trainee who is 2 for 2 locally and was the victim of a speed bias at Del last time out. Improving Beyers in each race. My only question in this entire race is who will take the lead? This one might, but this race could also get stolen by an enterprising rider who gets a lead if the track is playing fast.
2nd: #8 Margie’s Money, 5 for 16 locally and most recently second a length and ¾ in front of Timeless Treasure. Don’t necessarily envision improvement but of course a contender. Another one that doesn’t want the lead.
3rd: #5 Rumor Ridge, just lost to Timeless Treasure in the two back by 4 lengths but improved significantly last time out albeit on a wet track.
Race 8: [R]Alw $35k 1M
1st: #1 Trifor Gold, massively overlooked on ML, think that 6-1 will be more like 2-1 come post time. Was second (a ways) behind Alwaysmining in the Tesio at 47-1 in the two back. In the three back effort he was second by just a half length to Majid who came back to win an allowance at Belmont at 13-1 and is entered in the Easy Goer on the Belmont Stakes undercard.
2nd: #3 Tappin Cat, really nice last out effort earning a 77 Beyer over at Del at 7-1 in a short field where he opened up the lead to 4 and a half lengths in the stretch. Love that Capuano is bringing him back this quickly. Notice the ever improving Beyers.
3rd: #10 Top Line Growth, really strong first effort which was a quasi-MdSpWt event. The Sir Barton field came up really salty being won by a high quality Pletcher trainee. Returning to a single turn here should help.
Race 9: Alw $42k 1M Turf
1st: #3 Back to Back, should mention here that if #15 Megacity gets in off the AE list he is my pick. Back to Back ran solidly in the last out where he almost grabbed the lead in the stretch on Black Eyed Susan day and finished 4 lengths behind Eons a high quality Delacour colt.
2nd: #1 He’s One Wild Dude, gained the lead in the stretch last time out going slightly longer than today’s distance, 5 for 12 locally.
3rd: #8 No Knock Raid, solid first out effort last time earning a 78 Beyer, should improve off that one.
Race 10: Alw $42k 5 & ½F
1st: #7 Cerulean Springs, 2nd time out now as a 4 year old, this one was earning Beyers in the 80s before the winter lay off in similar company. 8 times in the money in 9 local starts. Considering how much speed there is in this race, I liked that he has shown the ability to close numerous times in her career including both of her wins.
2nd: #10 Dirtyfoot, strong effort on Preakness undercard race where he earned an 81 Beyer in this condition finishing third. Passed a few tired horses during the stretch in that one.
3rd: #3 Nico Bree N Teej, one of the many members of the early speed contingent in this one, think he has the class to run well at this distance but stamina is definitely a concern.
Race 11: Alw $42k F&M 5 & ½F
1st: #3 Marvelous Martina, ran really strong in the last out on Black Eyed Susan day finishing just a length behind Majestic Reason at 14-1. Still improving three year old, expect continued improvement.
2nd: #2 Olive Kat, Second time out this year, was also in that allowance that Marvelous Martina was in but finished 7 lengths behind.
3rd: #4 My Star Potential, first time out in 2019, field is decent enough where I don’t think she’ll win but she’s going to run for sure out of that Gonzalez barn. Won on Maryland Million day last year.
Race 12: Clm $12.5k 5 & ½F
1st: #4 The Great Provider, sort of an obvious chalk play here. Horse has 8 wins and 9 seconds in 24 starts locally and his last 5 have all been firsts or seconds at the lower rungs of the claiming ladder. The last three specifically have all earned him mid 70s Beyers. Retains McCarthy.
2nd: #7 Lion Lord, definitely a bit of a price play with this one dropping from allowance company to lower claiming levels. Last time he ran for a straight tag last fall he won going longer. Definitely a contender.
3rd: #2 Rockin Cowboy, 6 in the money finishes in 6 local attempts, last couple at StrAlw level have been decent, looks to prefer a wet track.