Race 1: Maiden Special Weight, 2yo, 1 Mile (Turf)
1- Mega Bucks: He was in it till late last time out, taking the lead down the stretch before getting run down in his turf debut. Faces a tougher field here than last time, but has shown enough promise to merit respect.
9- Pep Talking: Exits the same race as Mega Bucks, a race where he had a difficult trip and was gaining steadily late. With clear sailing today, he is very dangerous.
2- Golden Nougez: Gets a major jockey upgrade from Tais Lyapustina to Edgar Prado, and is expected to show speed from the inside post. He went off at 14/1 last time against similar, and you’ll be rewarded with higher odds here if you still believe.
Dirt:
10- Confessor
5- Tolaga Bay
7- Hall Pass
Race 2: Claiming $16,000 (n/w3L), 3yo and up, 1 1/16 Miles (Turf)
9- Alkasser: In his stateside debut last November at Aqueduct, he lost by less than four lengths while earning a very competitive brisnet figure of 82. He tried to run at this level last out, but the race was washed away to the dirt. He failed to factor in that race, but getting back to his preferred surface second start off the layoff should be a big help.
8- High Society: He’s run competitive speed figures as of late and has shown fantastic late pace. His 2-for-33 lifetime record is unsightly to be sure, but do not discount the possibility of him coming in underneath at a price.
6- Uhwarrie Sky: Has never lost a n/w3L claiming race on the turf, and won at the n/w2L level emphatically back in early July, in his most recent try over the surface.
Dirt:
3- Mandel
2- Mokheef
13- Hayne’s Fever
Race 3: Maiden Special Weight, 3yo and up, Fillies and Mares, 7 Furlongs (Dirt)
3- Shanghai Jewel: She would almost certainly have broken her maiden at Gulfstream Park back in December, but crashed into the rail very late in the race with a clear lead. Now, she returns to the race and has a string of bullet workouts under her belt. In her only dirt race so far, she earned a sharp figure of 79 last October at Belmont Park. Looking for her to run a big one first off the bench.
6- Atlantic Avenue: Chased a loose leader last time out, but ran a solid second, finishing 1 1/2 lengths clear of third. She is dropping down from the maiden claiming level, but this race is not much tougher than the field she ran against last time. Two races ago, she managed to close significant ground at Timonium, a feat that may go down as one of the greatest in sports history.
7- Ms Amethyst: Gets lasix for the first time and has shown some closing ability. Jorge Vargas picks up the mount on this Monmouth Park shipper, which is always a good sign.
Race 4: Allowance Optional Claiming (n/w3x), 3yo and up, Fillies and Mares, 1 Mile (Turf)
7- My SIstersledge: In a race almost totally devoid of early speed, she gets some points for showing some early foot earlier in the year, both here and at Gulfstream Park. Julian Pimentel wasn’t aggressive with her last time, but it may serve him well to put her on the lead here.
1- Last Promise Kept: Rallied strongly last out to finish third in the One Dreamer Stakes at Kentucky Downs, earning an excellent brisnet figure of 102. She’s a dead closer, however, so she may be compromised if the pace is dawdling.
2- Quick Witted: Gets some mild class relief after a fifth-place finish in the All Along Stakes last time out. Crushed a n/w2x allowance field three races back over a yielding grass course, and she may encounter another course with some give in it here.
Dirt:
5- West Coast Bias
4- Moon Virginia
3- So Innocent
Race 5: Starter Optional Claiming $25,000, 3yo and up, Fillies and Mares, 1 1/16 Miles (Turf)
6- Raspberry Swirl: Finished second last out at Delaware Park with a strong closing rally. This lightly raced filly stretches out around two turns for the first time, and looks to have lots of upside.
3- Liberale: Not the greatest win bet in the world, as she’s finished second or third a whopping seven times in a row. However, her figures match up well with the major contenders. Definitely a strong exacta and trifecta contender.
8- Aunt Mitzi: Broke her maiden over this track three starts back at 87/1. Ran a career-high figure of 77 when finishing third against n/w2L claiming company last out. Looks like a very live longshot play.
Dirt:
10- Eighty Six Mets
7- Mixways
2- Goodnight Moon
Race 6: Maiden Claiming $10,000, 3yo and up, 1 Mile (Dirt)
5- Stevie’s Joy: Steadily runs figures in the upper 60s and drops down from the $16,000 level. Had a bumpy time of it on the turn in his last race, and will look to steer clear of such trouble here.
1- Painter’s Pride: Stretches out to one mile for the first time. Ran one of his best figures, a 67, when going seven furlongs at Parx as a two-year-old. It remains to be seen if he’ll like the relentless one-turn mile here.
4- Glenn’s Caper: 0-for-15 maiden has superior speed figures compared to the rest, but has also lost his last three as the favorite by less than a length each time. Caveat emptor.
Race 7: Allowance Optional Claiming (n/w3x), 3yo and up, 5 1/2 Furlongs (Turf)
10- Triple Burner: Showed good closing kick late last out to finish third by a length. Earned a huge figure of 98 over this track earlier in the year when losing by a half-length.
9- Bold Thunder: Finally gets out of stakes company for the first time in more than two years. Will show speed from the far outside.
6- Sheikh of Sheikhs: Crushed a n/w2x group last time out, stalking the pace and drawing off to win by 5 1/2 lengths. He’ll be seeking his fifth win in a row here, and should sit a great trip rating off the pace.
Dirt:
3- Mai Ty One On
6- Sheikh of Sheikhs
8- Mr. Brix
Race 8: Starter Optional Claiming $25,000, 3yo and up, Fillies and Mares, 6 Furlongs (Dirt)
2- Bridgewater: Gets a much-needed distance cutback from one mile. Her two races at six furlongs this year have been terrific, with figures of 83 and 77 in those two races. A similar performance here would likely put her in the winner’s circle.
7- Lady Vicki: She broke her maiden very impressively at Saratoga last out, battling on the lead and drawing off to an easy win. Will have her third trainer in three starts, as Lacey Gaudet takes over training duties from Danny Gargan.
4- Sleighbelle: Has run improving figures in each of her last three races, and gets back to natural dirt after a string of synthetic tries at Presque Isle Downs. In her lone career start on dirt, she crushed a maiden claiming field at Tampa Bay Downs, earning a figure of 78.
Race 9: Maiden Special Weight, 2yo, 1 Mile (Dirt)
3- Trion Wings: Closed very well to finish second at Delaware Park last out, while going a mile for the first time.
6- Reds Winning Call: Broke slow and was forced wide in his last race. Faces an easier maiden field than last time, and gets a jockey switch to Jorge Vargas.
4- Inorbit: Has shown speed and faded in his last two races at Indiana Grand, both of them going a two-turn mile. Perhaps cutting back around one turn will help him out.
Race 10: Maiden Claiming $25,000, 3yo and up, 1 1/16 Miles (Turf)
7- Makeanentrance: Rallied sharply last out at Suffolk Downs, to finish second by just 3/4 of a length.His figure of 77 in that race is by far the best of his career.
1- Electro/1A- Bay Hill: Either half of the Three Diamonds Farm entry has a good chance in this race. The former raced very wide against tougher last out at Belmont Park. Now, he gets some class relief. Trainer Mike Maker is also very strong with his Laurel shippers. The latter was a complete non-factor at Saratoga last out, but has run figures of at least 75 in three out of his last five races.
3- Carbonated: Made solid ground late last out, when running for the first time in 6 1/2 months. He’ll come in here off a six-week break, and is lightly raced, making just his third career start.
Dirt:
5- Relentless Lion
8- Lunar Boogie
9- Quality Choice