Race 1: Clm $16k 5F Turf
1st: #3 Stroll Smokin, 7-5ML and you’ll be lucky to get even that. This one has figures that far outpace this mediocre claiming field and was very close last out getting back on turf. He even took the lead in the stretch and faded at the wire going longer than today’s distance after setting blistering fractions of 21 and 3 and 44 flat.
2nd: #1 Native Flora, high quality first out effort this year earning a 59 Beyer and finishing 7th but only 3 lengths behind the winner going longer than today’s distance. Should continue to improve as a 4 year old.
3rd: #8 Telecommunication, faded after dueling for the lead in the two back on that occurred on the lawn at Laurel going pretty quickly. Like the switch back to turf.
Race 2: MdClm $10k 1 & 1/16thM
1st: #6 Wisconsin, new Michael Gorham trainee gets his second lifetime start after a try at the Fair Grounds back in March going shrot on turf at the $30k level. Guess here is that switching to long on dirt and switching barns will make her a winner today.
2nd: #9 Queen of Muskoka, even last try going one turn at Laurel earning a 31 Beyer. Looks like the type that wants to go even longer.
3rd: #1 Iam a Dancer, bless this 6 year old 21-time maiden. She has been beating a number of rivals of late although still several lengths behind.
Race 3: Clm $16k F&M 1M Turf
1st: #11 Jersey’s Kittens, like the last out effort which was going longer than today’s 8 furlongs in which she earned a solid 71 Beyer and missed by 3 lengths. Last summer was solidly competitive in OC$25 company and expect her second start over the lawn this year will show some improvement.
2nd: #6 Holiday’s Prayer, first time out for new trainer Jamie Ness who is hitting 20% on first timers in his barn. If you look back at last summer when she was running these distances against this competition she was always competitive and even broker her maiden going slightly longer.
3rd: #3 Reitlin Oir, best efforts have come on turf last fall at Laurel and in Florida over the winter when the racing is highly competitive.
Race 4: Clm $5k 6F
1st: #7 Top Czar, really like the last 3 and half efforts where he showed his ability to get out to the front or close to it. Stamina is definitely a concern but he was still gaining at 5.5F last time out and the horse who finished behind him came back to win. Grandson of Tapit shows his ability especially early on.
2nd: #8 Bobo Jones, would probably put this one on top if he had a run under his belt since coming back, think he probably needs some seasoning off the 8 month layoff. Jersey-bred MdSpWt company probably is still better than open 5k claimers here.
3rd: #3 Fire Marshal, you can toss the last out effort on turf although even that came back with a solid 58 Beyer. The two back maiden-breaking effort was really strong and a switch back to the dirt should continue to show his ability.
Race 5: OC$35k 5F Turf
1st: #7 Showalter, really tough choice here, went with this one who has no career tries on turf. Simply put he has the highest speed figures in the field and my guess is that in this field loaded with speed the classiest of the speed horses will prevail. There doesn’t seem to be any closers in the field so I’m going with this one based on his ability to run on dirt with some really classy horses like Saratoga Bob, Colonel Sharp, Lewisfield, and Something Awesome.
2nd: #3 Jarvis Steel, have to like the last out race over this same lawn registering a 77 Beyer at today’s distance. Second time out for the season should yield improvement.
3rd: #8 Tale of E Dubai, one of the aforementioned speed candidates, will be interesting to see how he handles the turf, don’t think he’s quite as fast as Showalter.
Race 6: Clm $16k F&M 6F
1st: #1 Snippety, lightly raced 5 year old goes back to the surface of her dynamite maiden-breaking score and subsequent win against OC$25 company before inexplicably being shifted to turf. Back on her preferred strip going longer which looks like it should suit her. 6-1ML would be a gift by post time.
2nd: #2 Two Hot Betty, consistent performances between Maryland and New York at this level. Doesn’t seem to be quite up to the level she was before the layoff, does have ability to stalk pace or come from way behind.
3rd: #4 Swirrlie Shirlie, wanted to take this one on top on the improving three year old angle but she doesn’t quite have the class I’d look for in a 3 year old against older horses. Two back win by 13 was probably aided by a significant track bias, but 13 lengths is still an achievement.
Race 7: OC$35k F&M 5F Turf
1st: #10 Not in Jeopardy, fractions of last race have me hopeful in that going only 5F they weren’t really that fast: 22 and 4 and 45 and 3 and she was still able to close really well into them to finish 5th by only three lengths in open stakes company a week ago on the Preakness undercard. Not to mention she went off at 20-1 against a really tough field. Give some pace I think she can sweep the turn and win.
2nd: #9 Unaquoi, this one does have a win over this Pimlico strip although it was a few years ago. Compare her efforts at closing to Not in Jeopardy: they ran ridiculous fractions of 21 and 1 and 44 and 1 and she couldn’t up any ground in fact she lost ground in the stretch. Won’t out close the 10.
3rd: #3 Silver Slivers, another one that likes to come from the back, she’s out of the Gorham barn and was close last time out her first of 2019. Will improve second out this year.
Race 8: OC$35k F&M 1 & 1/16thM
1st: #3 Daria’s Angel, has more or less the best Beyers in the field including an 80 in a stakes win at Aqueduct back in march going slightly shorter than today’s distance. 10 lengths behind in last out but against much tougher competition that went very fast up front. Should get much needed class relief that will allow her to run her race.
2nd: #4 Moon Virginia, steady performer at this level all fall winter and spring, figures still improving. Two back effort at this condition a really strong win by 4 lengths.
3rd: #5 Aikenetta, last time out at first level allowance condition was strong going today’s distance. Can’t go wrong with any of these three.
Race 9: Alw $42k 5F Turf
1st: #5 You Can Never Tell, have to like the last two efforts, especially the last one setting some solid figures and just getting passed at the wire earning a 76 Beyer. Showed clear improvement from his previous career best improvements, continued improvement should mean a win here.
2nd: #4 Love You Much, was just ahead of You Can Never Tell in the last but you can’t exactly predict more improvement considering his past performances and age. Solid contender, possible exacta opportunity.
3rd: #2 El Dulce, once very highly thought of when he was in the Pletcher barn as Todd tried the Skidmore up at Saratoga in 2017 followed by the G2 Summer Stakes which he finished just one length behind the leaders. First time back to the track in 8 months he probably needs some seasoning, but obviously there’s ability in there.