Race 1: Clm $12.5k Fillies 3 Years Old 6F
1st: #2 Perfect Exchange, the last out effort was decent as she made up lengths in the stretch and the winner came back to win again at the $25k claiming level. Connections thought highly enough of her to attempt the Jamestown Stakes against colts and she only lost by 3 lengths. There’s no way to know how much the addition of blinkers will help here, but if it means a quicker break she will have found her spot.
2nd: #1 Di, shortening up again after a couple attempts that say her fade in the stretch should help. At this level I just like any horse that has shown ability to be consistently forwardly placed, especially at 6F. All 4 local attempts have been in the money.
3rd: #4 Mimic, you always have to pay attention to Rudy Rodriguez’s shippers down here, this one broke her maiden at the state-bred $30k level at Aqueduct so some class dropping still. The lone win in such an outlier in her running lines and the odds were 38-1. I’m skeptical of the 9 length romp.
Race 2: MdClm $25k 3 Year Olds 1 & 1/16thM
1st: #3 Canal Point, love the Beyer improvement from 31 to 48 in his second attempt at the $50k level. It was a pretty even try at today’s distance. Breaking from closer to the rail should help him get better positioning going into that first turn with the short run up.
2nd: #1 El Rojo, Gerald Brooks takes over this one who has been racing at the higher claiming levels and even the MdSpWt level respectably. Rail post position should help him here.
3rd: #5 Tri Try Colors, this one appears to be able to make up lengths in the stretch sometimes, which should acquit him well at this two turn event. Second off the freshening he’ll be improved.
Race 3: MdSpWt 40k Three Year Olds 5 & ½F
1st: #4 Baptize the Boy, the debut effort was really strong going longer than today’s distance and earning a field-best 71 Beyer. Last out he stumbled at the start which doomed him but he made up 4 lengths in the stretch going 6F. An even start and a finish like that should win this one.
2nd: #6 Big Boots, was tempted to put this one on top for Cathal Lynch as he’s working so well since the gelding on January 26th. 4F 47 flat and 4F 47 and 3 since, he should acquit himself much better in today’s race.
3rd: #5 Homeofthe Lombardi, Jorge Vargas has been working this horse out for John Servis up at Parx in the morning and he’s put in a few good breezes. I like Servis’s debuters a lot, this one was purchased for $100k last spring. Should be a contender.
Race 4: OC$25k F&M 5 & ½F
1st: #5 Mae Sai Princess, this is out of the realm of my normal plays, but the even money favorite has serious stamina concerns and the 3 Scarlet Tanager looks like she’ll challenge her on the lead. Expecting that speed duel, I looked for one that has shown ability to close at all and that led me to this three year old in a race carded for three year olds and upward. This one was born in March so there’s the likelihood that she is still two years old facing older horses. Usually unwise, banking on a heavy speed duel up front. Her last she closed one length in the stretch at this same condition against older horses that ran honest fractions. Banking on fractions of 45 and 57. 10-1ML. Her maiden breaking win came on sloppy track, she drew away to win by 7.
2nd: #1 Baccarat Fashion, I will concede that if this one doesn’t win she’ll likely get out to the lead and only get passed by maybe one horse at the most. Like I said, she has speed, but she won’t be alone up front.
3rd: #2 Crystal Clear, first time out as a 4 year old for Scott Lake, has thrown some decent Beyer figs up at Parx.
Race 5: MdClm $10k 3 Year Olds 6F
1st: #1 Buster’s Brother, stamina concerns here as well, but there doesn’t look to be much in the way of challengers to the speed. At this lowly level I prefer anything that has shown ability to be forwardly placed. Two solid Beyers in last two efforts.
2nd: #5 Top Hat Ragtop, second out this year, he was close at this level last time out in a very even 4th place showing.
3rd: #7 Watchmeneighneigh, clever name, another one with improving figures, albeit small ones. Last out winner came back to win on General George day undercard.
Race 6: Alw $42k F&M 1M
1st: #7 Setubal, she’s been such a serviceable filly finishing in first or second 6 times in 9 tries locally. The last out she narrowly lost to Oxhilirating who is a very classy horse. She has shown that she doesn’t mind a wet track which we are almost certainly to see.
2nd: #4 Musqaba, another one with preference for wet track, she’s finished right behind Setubal before. Think that might be the scenario again today.
3rd: #2 Aikenetta, probably the classiest horse in the field, certainly doesn’t look to enjoy the mud.
Race 7: MdClm $10k Fillies 3 Years Old 6F
1st: #10 Foggy Dreams, tough outside draw, she narrowly missed last out going 4 wide at the turn at this level after gigantic Beyer improvement from first to second. Winner of the last came back to win. Checks all the boxes.
2nd: #8 Queens or Better, basically just the one with the next best Beyers, 12 time maiden. Not pretty.
3rd: #7 Cierra’s Vineyard, first time Lasix for Ed Colleti.
Race 8: Restricted Alw $35k 5 & ½F
1st: #7 Nico Bree N Teej, first out for the season for Claudio Gonzalez, this one has been working spectacularly as a 4 year old including the two back 4F in 46 and 4 breezing. Soft spot for him here.
2nd: #1 Torch of Truth, 2 narrow misses at this exact condition recently including last out loss by just a nose earning a 77 Beyer. Definitely in form, wonder why they chose a shorter distance.
3rd: #6 Sonic Boom E Jet, another from Claudio, very consistent runner, last out finished just behind Torch of Truth.
Race 9: MdClm $10k 6F
1st: #5 Telecommunication, best start of his life came on the slop back in November, just narrowly missing at this condition. He beat Dr. Cerrato in that race who came back to win.Got caught up in a ridiculous speed duel last out, given a more honest pace should be a player.
2nd: #8 Brightest Star, has been improving down at the lowliest of the low at Charles Town for Wayne Potts. Would need to improve again to win here. Doesn’t look like he enjoys the wet surface.
3rd: #6 Orient Point, here we come back full circle, this one lost to Dr. Cerrato in his last back in December, the race that Dr. C came back to win after losing to Telecommunication. We’ll see if this theory holds up.