Race 1: OC$25k 1 & 1/16thM Turf
1st: #8 High Noon Rider, of course we always opt for horses with a trip over the grass already this year, this one finished a half-length behind last out. Really have to look through that running line closely, he was dead last and 21 lengths behind after a half mile that was brisk in that event and rallied incredibly strong to be narrowly beaten having to go 5wd. Consider a slightly better trip today. He earned an 80 Beyer for that race.
2nd: #2 Prime Time Man, solid try over the Laurel turf last out earning an 82 Beyer and finishing 2 lengths behind.
3rd: #10 Bank Float, a lot to like including a past win over the Pimlico turf. First time with Trez Abbot who is hitting at 35% with debuters to his barn. Nearly 3 years since his last race, guess is he needs a couple races under his belt.
Race 2: Clm $5k F&M 6F
1st: #6 Slewzer, not an inspiring favorite given that his last race was such a poor finish going shorter than today. But the claim by Ness and the addition of McCarthy gives confidence and this one is one of the only ones in the race you know will be on or near the lead.
2nd: #5 Splendor Girl, 9-5ML second choice, I don’t think she’ll go off that low. Distance relief will probably help, she’s earned some of the most consistently decent Beyers in the field.
3rd: #1 Telesa, ran some improved races recently at Charles Town last two times, should be forwardly placed.
Race 3: Clm $16k F&M 1 & 1/16thM Turf
1st: #10 Cat Link, probably the classiest in the field is this one out of the Michael Gorham barn. They thought highly enough to try a couple juvenile stakes last year and he got smoked. But the first start at 3 was solid and he earned a 52 Beyer that day and you have to expect significant improvement today. Wouldn’t be surprised to see a claim here.
2nd: #7 Hey Mabel, broke her maiden on the dirt two back at the lowly $10k level but the first attempt against winners on turf proved to be solid beating 6 rivals and finishing pretty close earning a 57 Beyer.
3rd: #11 Janelle Dreams, always gives a good effort, rarely a winning one. Usually comes running but so poor out of the gate. Will need to be closer to the lead.
Race 4: StrAlw $5k F&M 6F
1st: #5 Truly Hot, two really solid tries recently including a 6th place finish behind Anna’s Bandit but not embarrassed in State-bred stakes company. Last out was just 2 lengths behind winner Musabaqa who came back to win. Consistently earns Beyers in mid to upper 60s.
2nd: #2 Prank Call, what to make of that last out effort where he ran them all off their feet to win by 15 lengths on a heavily speed favoring Charles Town track when in for a tag of $4500? Potts has been known to take horses out of Charles Town and have success, think this one runs a little bit more normally this time.
3rd: #8 My Chesa Charm, the two back effort when in for the $5k tag was terrific grabbing the lead and never looking back. Last out a bit more pedestrian when made the 2-5 favorite at this condition.
Race 5: MdSpWt $40k F&M 1M Turf
1st: #5 Perfect Kind, wish she’d gotten a run under her belt before picking on top but can’t avoid this one. A $235k purchase last March as a 2 year old, the juvenile campaign saw her competing against the top of the top in New York and at Kentucky Downs where she finished 2nd. Clearly the class of the field, one thing I can’t take my eye off of is her debut effort where she was way behind early and rallied to finish 3rd, just 6 lengths behind Concrete Rose, who we know as the horse that just beat Newspaperofrecord, the Breeders Cup winner, in the Edgewood down at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby day.
2nd: #7 Ledecka, Arnaud Delacour sends this one away for the first time this year after trying once last year on yielding ground at Laurel and finishing 2nd with the 3rd place finisher coming back to win. Gets Lasix for the first time and Delacour is hitting 30% on horses over more than half a year.
3rd: #3 Giulia Ammannati, obviously the hottest local turfer in this field, she was third after taking the lead in the stretch in her debut going shorter than today’s distance. Should improve, will it be enough?
Race 6: OC$25k 1 & 1/16thM
1st: #3 Shortlist, a lot to like here including the 3 lengths win at this exact condition in his first off the 3 months layoff last time out earning a 75 Beyer. Retains services of Vargas here, 2-1 is a decent price.
2nd: #6 My Good Man, 9-5ML favorite was second at this condition last time out after winning two back on a muddy track. Obviously will be tough, McCarthy rides.
3rd: #4 Johnny Banks, a couple 70s Beyers in last two including two back winning effort going one mile. Definite contender.
Race 7: Clm $12.5k 5F Turf
1st: #8 Not a Chance, has a turf try this year recently under his belt and he set the early fractions before getting passed going slightly longer than today’s 5F. Earned an 89 Beyer for that effort.
2nd: #5 Bibbo, after three tries over the hurdles this one came back to turf sprinting and ran decently just a length behind Not a Chance in that last out effort earning an 87 Beyer. Hard to know how he’ll improve or not.
3rd: #6 Get a Valentine, another out of that same race as the two above, this one finished 6th that day.
Race 8: OC$25k F&M 1 & 1/16thM
1st: #2 Monaco Princess, Cluadio Gonzalez sends this one away for the first time since claiming him out of his Maiden $20k win by 9 lengths down at Keeneland. I typically bet against Maiden breakers trying OC company but 9 lengths is serious and for Claudio to scout him down in Kentucky means something. Gets Victor Carrasco to ride.
2nd: #4 Toma, consistently mid-60s Beyers which is tops in the field and extends to two turns for the first time since last May.
3rd: #5 Mae Sai Princess, always gives an honest effort going short, definitely like trying two turns and gets the blinkers.
Race 9: MdSpWt $40k F&M 1M Turf
1st: #1 Pepper Pot, not a great favorite but the Beyers are improving each time out, second time out this year should mean the biggest improvement and definitely has built in advantage as a 4 year old against a field of mostly 3 year olds. McCarthy rides after getting the blinkers for the first time last out.
2nd: #4 Alleria, first time starter for Delacour, always a threat on the turf winning at 18% 1st time turf.
3rd: #5 Madding Crowd, can’t ignore any Claudio Gonzalez horses, this one spent the summer and winter trying MdSpWt events in New York and Florida under the tutelage of Bill Mott, goes back to turf