Race 1: Clm $16k F&M 5 & ½F Turf
1st: #6 Controllingthegold, very little speed in this race outside of this one who has stalked hot paces or been on the lead since getting on the turf in last 4. If he gets away easy he should be able to hold off the closers.
2nd: #5 Polished Gal, just won at this exact condition locally 9-15 closing from 4 lengths back after a half mile against a not incredible pace of 23 and 3 and 47 and 1 at 24-1 that day. The second place finisher came back to win herself. Clearly a much improved 3 year old.
3rd: #4 Missimard, last out was the best race of his life at this condition when he made up 6 lengths in the stretch but couldn’t quite get there in time. Gets Carrasco this time.
Race 2: Clm $8k 5 & ½F
1st: #2 The Great Provider, 5 and a half on the dirt? One word: speed. This one seems to have the highest quality speed in the field. 9 for 26 locally, 10 seconds.
2nd: #4 Here’s a Jetpack, not part of the speed, if the pace falls apart, this one should benefit having stalked recently and closed ground before.
3rd: #5 Spartiatis, not every day you see a starter in the Tom Fool entered at Laurel for $8k. Showed big improvement in his second back off the layoff. Back class, improving?
Race 3: MdClm $16k 2 Year Olds 1M
1st: #5 Five Star Perfect, Hammy Smith throws the blinkers on this gelding who improved significantly in his second time out. Couple nice breezes in the morning, drops in class.
2nd: #6 Start a Fire, Kelly Breen probably wouldn’t ship down from Mth if he thought he just needed a race or two.
3rd: #1 Runner Runner Indy, Gary Capuano will improve his colt more.
Race 4: MdClm $40k F&M 5 & ½F Turf
1st: #8 Bethabara, 46 Beyer to start her career, she got behind 11 lengths but roared back to miss by only 3 at the wire. Was just ahead of the 7 here in the debut but will probably take less money.
2nd: #7 Twirling Wind, hotter sire, more expensive purchase, plus the Matz “allure” will drive the price down on this one who was passed by the 8 in the debut. Matz only 7% with Mdn2ndStarts.
3rd: #4 Lady Fire, Mike Stidham trains this homebred daughter of top Maryland sire Friesan Fire for Five Ring Stables. Has been drilling at Mth, Stidham brings him down here to waive the tag. Could play this one on top as well.
Race 5: OC$35k 5 & ½F Turf
1st: #8 Pagliacci, bit of a ringer coming down here for Linda Rice. Couple 90s Beyers of late and runs really fast times with high end horses. Just needs a bit of pace to run at, shouldn’t be a problem in this field.
2nd: #5 Jammer, one of my favorite local horses, he has risen the ladder this year earning Beyers in the mid 80s and consistently closing massive ground down the lane. Needs to be a little closer than he was last time out, if he’s only down 10 or fewer lengths he definitely has a shot.
3rd: #11 The Critical Way, ignore at your own risk, definitely not the post draw Kelly Rubley probably wanted, but this gelding certainly has back class from his younger days in California. Still only 5, should contend for a placing.
Race 6: OC$25k F&M 1M
1st: #4 Warm, Brittany Russell taking a risk putting this nice looking 3 year old filly up for sale but she had to to enter the race given that she’s won 3 races in her lifetime so far. The rest are older or 3 year olds that haven’t won 3. This one was claimed for $16 out of a winning effort at Sar in which it looked like she wanted to run on and then won down here going 7. We’ll see how she handles the distance.
2nd: #3 Perfect Pitch, the pace-setter in the last, was passed by Warm in the stretch, could see today shaping up similarly.
3rd: #6 Wicked Awesome, has shown desire to run late. 1M should be her distance.
Race 7: Clm $12.5k F&M 5 & ½F Turf
1st: #9 Missworldvenezuela, came back from nearly a year off and ran decently in StrAlw company at Del with a mild rally. Last year was close in allowance company before being sidelined, but 2 for 3 locally. Should improve.
2nd: #6 Two Hot Betty, just claimed out of a win at the $16k level by Dale Capuano. Gets back to turf for first time in two years, she did break her maiden on the grass at Aqueduct.
3rd: #10 Market Money, last out effort was strong, she was passed at the wire and earned a 71 Beyer.
Race 8: Clm $30k 2 Year Olds 5 & ½F
1st: #7 Promising Pistol, what more can you really ask for? Claudio Gonzalez has gotten this 2 year old to wake up. Massive Beyer improvement of late and this time he shortens back up to 5 and a half.
2nd: #6 Little harbor, Trombetta and Vargas team up with this improving son of debuting sire Liam’s Map. Trombetta not a huge player in the claiming game.
3rd: #1 Naughty Thoughts, not sure she’ll run here, would think they’d get her back among fillies but she can run. Has the highest Beyer in the field.
Race 9: Clm $10k F&M 1 & 1/16thM
1st: #5 Ortinola, has won at this distance in her maiden-breaking win, was second in an allowance race in June that earned her the best Beyer in the field.
2nd: #1 Nosey Josey, improving and has a win over this course. Winners of the last two have come back to win, including the two back going just about this distance at Del.
3rd: #6 Ravenel, maybe Proctor knows this one wants dirt but kind of get the feeling he’s just throwing it out and seeing what sticks.
Race 10: MdClm $25k F&M 5 & 1/2F Turf
1st: #2 Sunniva, begrudgingly taking this one on top. I know they were MdSpWt events at Pen, but losing those doesn’t look good. Banking on the added distance in this one getting it done.
2nd: #6 Kitty Zip, improving performances since the drop down in class, with this quality of field that third place in the last two should get the job done.
3rd: #9 Honorable Profit, figures were consistently improving before the last out try on the dirt, gets back to preferred surface for Wayne Potts for the first time.