RACE 1- 5 ½ F dirt 5000clm
8-WILLTHERESAWAY- Looks much the best in all factors on the drop. Able to stay close to pace and close sub 26:0. Only entry to run at par on the dirt. Good single for small horizontal tickets. 9-CASTANUELA- Has run some very even races in 2020 and could be the speed of the speed here. Tested in 2 of her last 3 races with quick pace to first and second calls. Horse loves to finish in the money. 11-HI SKOOL SWEETHART- My top ability rating set back on synthetic on 1/20. Closed willingly last out after a slow start at a step above today, after a hiccup two-back. Horse looks like she is figuring out the dirt surface and should be at a nice price today.
Selections (My Value Line)
8-WILLTHERESAWAY (5/2) 9-CASTANUELA (9/2) 11-HI SKOOL SWEETHART (6/1)
1-SKIRT WARNING (10/1)- Longshot Play
RACE 2- 5 F turf 15000clm
4-DOCS DENITA just may be coming back onto the grass at the right time. Figures are improving and seem to like this LS turf. 6-MISS B may be everyone’s favorite. Cutting back from the mile distance and dropping out of allowance company. Wire to wire maiden score at 5f on the grass in 11/19 make this horse a real threat. 9-MS MEER is another one who like the grass and has proven to be a threat. Threw in a clunker two back at a higher level but otherwise has been very game in 2020. Trainer Hartman in 20% when 2nd off the layoff.
Selections (My Value Line)
4-DOCS DENITA (7/2) 6-MISS B (9/5) 9-MS MEER (4/1)
5-RIKKI’S GIFT (7/1) Longshot Play
RACE 3- 6 F dirt 7500 MCL
A race without a lot of intrigue that is lacking evidence of both early as well as overall speed. 1-WITT NINE is the only horse to come close to matching par figures for the surface and distance and comes out of a RACE where she ran evenly at this distance and level., but not overly impressive. Past form shows she may be the one looking to take the lead. 6-QUEEN ARCANA will probably take the public’s preference dropping out of MSW after two turf attempts. Move on the turn two back at 1 mile and a fast paced last out may be all this horse needs. 5-PAULA’S PLAYLIST drops from MSW company and cuts back to one turn. Showed brief early interest last out and may also vie for the lead.
Selections (My Value Line)
- WITT NINE (5/2) 6-QUEEN ARCANA 5-PAULA’S PLAYLIST (7/1)
RACE 4- 6 F dirt 5000clm
I am taking a bold stance here and leaving out both ML favorites. I am making 5-SINGING ACES my top selection off his strong last out. Despite a slow start, he made a strong wide move on the far turn and finished an honest 2nd. 9-JESSICA’S ARCH is looking to make it three in a row in 2020, putting up the best final ¼ of the field last out. 8-DON’T BE FOOLISH rounds out my top three while stepping up in class after putting up his best lifetime figures his last two races.
Selections (My Value Line)
6-SINGING ACES (5/2) 9-JESSICA’S ARCH (3/1) 8-DON’T BE FOOLISH (9/2)
7-GET THE BLING (8/1)- Longshot Play
RACE 5- 1 1/16 mile turf 15000clm
3-ORATORY GLORY gets the nod as my top play here. Moving back to the grass after a strong effort two back against better company. 8-NOTORIOUS GAL in for Broberg who is 26% off the claim. This filly made a nice mid-race move last out at this level and finishing with top final ¼ of today’s field. 4-SHAKE IT UP TRACY is a bit of a stranger to the grass. The drop in class along with three strong consecutive tries on the dirt make this horse a threat. The surface is the question for me.
Selections (My Value Line)
3-ORATORY GLORY (3/1) NOTORIOUS GAL (7/2) 4-SHAKE IT UP TRACY (4/1)
2-LOTS OF MOXIE (8/1)-Longshot Play
RACE 6- 7F dirt 7500 MCL
7-EL CHOCOLATE cuts back to one turn today and drops out of MSW last out. This horse has shown early in the year that he can stay just off the pace and close with a kick. Stretching out at MSW level was a bit of a bold move but is back in the right company today. 9-CORD’S KOKO NIGHT makes a drop in class today coming out a quick early pace last out. Trainer Garcia is 14% off the layoff with a positive ROI in this category. Horse figures as my top ability rating although out of a 5 ½ F race. 6-RB TOO drops down for his second career race. Could have the early speed of this bunch and comes out of a fairly quick race. Response second time out is my only question which is why he is my third choice here.
Selections (My Value Line)
7-EL CHOCOLATE (5/2) 9 CORD’S KOKO (3/1) 6-RB TOO (7/2)
3-IVAN’S HEART (15/1)- Longshot Play
RACE 7- 6 ½ F dirt 34000 MSW
6-TAPALIST shows a nice 3 length move two back at 1 mile where he finished a strong second. Strong late figure last out and gets Stew Elliot today. Asmussen trains and is at 20% with his shippers. 7-FAIRWAY MAGIC comes out of three consecutive races where this horse has raced honestly against good fractions. Horse made a move and fade last out and should return in better shape today. Bret Calhoun is 20% when 2nd off the layoff. 3-SUSPIROS shows top figure last out running a respectable even 6 furlongs. However, I’m thinking this may have been a ceiling for this horse and could bounce a bit today.
Selections (My Value Line)
6-TAPALIST (5/2) 7-FAIRWAY MAGIC (3/1) 3-SUSPIROS (7/2)
1-BOBBY DON (7/1)- Longshot Play
RACE 8- 5 F Turf 15000 CLM
6-COVERT SPECIAL is not stranger to the grass. Comes off a strong performance two back at two turns and follows up with a strong outing last out at this level. She has shown early interest in every race in 2020 with improving figures. 5-JUST BETTY should be a nice price; set the pace last out at CLM25K at the today’s distance on the grass. Alone on the lead could make this horse much the best. 9-HALLMARK GIRL broke her maiden last out in an impressive gate to wire win at Sam Houston in February. Trained by Asmussen; gets Elliot today.
Selections (My Value Line)
6-COVERT SPECIAL (9/2) 5-JUST BETTY (6/1) 9-HALLMARK GIRL (3/1)
8-SHIAASGOLD (15/1)- Longshot Play
RACE 9- 7 F Dirt 7500 CLM
Contentious race loaded with class droppers cutting back to one turn. There are four horses that I find difficult to separate.
Selections (My Value Line)
7-DON’T FORGET (4/1) 9-TROY OUNCE (5/2) 8-DANCE KINGDOM (9/2) 5-COLOMBARD (5/1)
You can follow Dave Vaccaro on Twitter at MatrixDave@followthefigures.