Race 1: Maiden Claiming $16,000, 3yo, Fillies, 7 Furlongs
1- One Odd Story: Couldn’t last at a mile last out, but ran fairly well at six furlongs against tougher two starts back. Looks like the primary early speed in the race, and may forget to stop.
2- Lucky Dilly: Another one who should enjoy the cutback in distance. She’s been coming close and just missing in her last few, then was a non-factor in her first start back from a spill. Can she improve here?
6- Queens or Better: Her speed figures are the best of anyone’s, but can you bet Yomar Ortiz at low odds? I don’t think so.
Race 2: Maiden Claiming $16,000, 3yo, 6 Furlongs
4- Higher Purpose: He looked vastly superior on paper last out, but fell behind a loose leader who zoomed away on a biased track. If the track is playing fairly, he should dominate.
5- Lucky Leonard: Was well-backed on debut, and battled on well down the stretch to miss by just a length. He faces slightly tougher here, but should improve second time out. He’s one to respect.
3- Samadi Blue: After two ill-advised starts at a mile, he’ll cut back to a sprint, where he ran good speed figures last year. Looks like the type to close mildly late and round out the exotics.
Race 3: Claiming $16,000 (n/w2L), 4yo and up, Fillies and Mares, 1 Mile
3- Gemlover: This Mahoning Valley invader faces winners for the first time and should be forwardly placed early. In contrast to the heavy favorite, she’s not a proven loser yet. A worthy upset candidate.
4- Turing Machine: On class, she lays over this field, but the 1-for-16 record is a bit alarming, as is the fact that she’s going from a n/w1x allowance to a n/w2L claimer in the space of three starts. She absolutely can win, but is she worth a win bet at near her 3/5 morning line? No way.
6- Brushing: Leading jockey Trevor McCarthy gets back aboard after this horse had a brief flirtation with Victor Carrasco. Another one who will be coming from far out of it; she can get a check for sure, but might be left with too much to do.
Race 4: Claiming $5,000 (n/w2L), 4yo and up, Fillies and Mares, 1 Mile
4- Louise: Broke her maiden last out with a big speed figure. On the brisnet scale, she’s got the highest last-out number by ten points. Should show early speed (the only time she didn’t was when she acted up pre-race) and will be hanging around late.
2- Cisco Bay: Looks to be the stronger half of the Kevin Dove-trained entry. Ran better than usual at Charles Town last out, now comes back to Maryland and faces a weak field. Dove hasn’t had a winner in Maryland for a long while, but this one could break the slump.
5- Shall Try: Lightly-raced filly raced wide throughout in her first start against winners last out and had no chance. Ran a relatively big race two starts back to break her maiden. Willing to give her another chance.
Race 5: Maiden Claiming $50,000, 3yo, 1 1/16 Miles
6- Glorious Weekend: He ran well in his first two races off the layoff, including a respectable five-wide sweep last out where he earned a decent brisnet figure. Gets a slight jockey upgrade to Carlos Villasana. Worth a shot if you’re looking for an upset.
2- Padrino’s Heart: Ran huge first off the bench last out, earning a big late pace figure while closing in a small field, no easy task. The big question: can he go two turns?
3- Giant Viking: Was well-supported on debut but didn’t fire. If you want to get creative, he might be worth another chance.
Race 6: Maiden Claiming $10,000, 3yo, Fillies, 6 Furlongs
2- Shezalemondropkid: After two ineffective tries on turf, plunges in class and switches surfaces for the first time. It’s definitely a bit strange that she’d be dropped to the bottom level right away after running against maiden special weights at Kentucky Downs and Keeneland, but everyone else is so problematic, she could win this race on muscle memory.
9- Pictura: Ran a respectable figure first off the long layoff while encountering traffic trouble. Could improve with a race under her belt.
3- Gateau St Honore: It’s risky business betting a horse who’s lost as the favorite three times in a row, but she’s held her own at the level, and has consistently run among the top figures in the field. Is this finally a group she can beat? We’ll find out.
Race 7: Claiming $12,500, 4yo and up, 1 1/16 Miles
5- Dynamax Prime
6- Rare Eagle
2- Dazzling Okie
Race 8: Claiming $25,000, 3yo, Fillies, 1 1/16 Miles
4- Nana’s Shoes
2- FIfteen K
1- Swirrlie Shirlie