Race 1
(2) Bobby’s Bday Girl – In a race where the first three horses are going to take the majority of the money, this one might be the best price of the three and has the least amount of questions. Has been a fairly consistent runner in the money 9/16 times, looks to go wire to wire.
(1) Flashy Patch – This 7 yr old will get his first try on dirt after the claim by Caruso, has been a consistent synthetic horse at higher levels throughout his career.
(3) Luna Azteca – This is the horse I would want to be against in this spot. Has a speed figure advantage against these but is taking a good size drop in class today and Stewart is 1/12 when dropping horses 50% or more in claiming price, half of those went off at odds of 3/1 or less.
Race 2
(4) R Showgirl – Has burnt some money at short prices in all four previous starts but gets another little drop today and might just be a little better than the others in here. Has two siblings that ran beyers of 90+. Will be another short price.
(7) Exclusive Express – Another taking a drop that has been a short price in all starts, should get an easier lead today but has had trouble finishing races.
(1) Dating – First time starter out of an unraced mare and only one sibling to race so far. Has a steady work tab since returning in mid November. Roberson is 1/7 with FTS, the victory coming this time last year at Tampa.
Race 3
(8) Calogero – Hasn’t shown enough early speed to keep up in a couple tries at 6f on the dirt, the lone try going longer was on turf and was pinched back at start and lost position. Hopefully can stay a little closer today stretching out to two turns. He is a full to Majestic Secret, who has earned 109k and ran a top beyer of 93.
(4) Big Maroon – Doesn’t appear to be any excuses for the poor last effort at this same level in last, if he can run back to one of his better efforts will put him right in the mix today.
(7) Si Si McD – Was allowed to set a slow pace early but wasn’t able to finish very well in the last.
Race 4
(10) Pioneer Maker – By Pioneer of the Nile they tried to get this one on turf last time, not a lot of turf on the Dam side. Although he drew an outside post there is a lack of speed to his inside and should be able to get a good position into first turn and the claiming price gets cut in half today.
(7) Sunset Beach – Treasure Beach has already produced several nice turf runners, they will try again to get this one on the turf today. The debut was taken off the turf, he raced 3/4w and then finished up decently.
(5) Keep Your Word – This one is a ½ to Admission who ran a 104 Beyer on Synthetic, he gets back to what looks to be his best surface today and should improve.
Race 5
(6) Lord Barna – The ML Favorite #5 (Dilettante) is coming off a 4 month layoff which was preceded by a year layoff, also is 1/18 lifetime so I will take a shot with some of the others. Lord Barna is coming back in only 9 days from a good effort on the turf, O’Connell bringing horses back in less than 10 days is 24% with an ROI of 6.31. His two wins have also came at Tampa.
(8) He Takes Charge – Casse thought enough of this one to try the Derby Trail for a brief period running in the Fountain of Youth off a maiden win. Hasn’t been able to stay completely healthy and now gets a trainer change.
(9) Chirping – Gets another trainer switch today, two races back cruised to a 17 length victory, his best gives him a good shot here.
Race 6
(5) English Laughter – Has been off slow in first couple of races, hopefully Castanon can get him off to a better beginning, if so he should be tough in here.
(3) Shafiro – Gets a new trainer, blinkers and a drop in class today.
(8) I’m a Cool Man – Showed some speed in his maiden debut victory, was claimed out of that race and new connections want to give him a shot on turf.
Race 7
(7) Caught Up in You – Cruised in a Md25 on debut then was maybe a little ambitious in the next and never factored. Now gets back to the claiming ranks and will be tough in this spot.
(1) Russian Roulette – Another horse coming in after an easy victory, might have a little more company on the front end though in this one.
(3) Shimmyshimmy Shake – Worth a bet on name alone, will be a decent price and with a little better start today should be competitive in this field.
Race 8
(6) Initiate – Had a hard time breaking through the N1X level but today might be the day, just seems a little faster than these. Coming in off a little break and has ran well when fresh before.
(9) Terrabyte – This filly is pretty fast when she decides to run, will forgive her last that was taken off the turf, Terranova is having a nice meet.
(2) Shalailah – Chad Brown trainee was off a year before his debut in the US and should improve off of that effort where she was bumped around at the start.
Race 9
(2) Lundqvist – A lot of things didn’t go so well in the debut, race was taken off the turf, broke slow then raced 3-4w. This one should have some talent, is a ½ to Bowies Hero a 664k earner.
(1) Regal Image – Godolphin bred is a ½ to Tizaqueena who earned 654k on the track and ran a 101 beyer routing on the turf. Now gets his change on the turf.
(7) Teddy’s Honor – With several horses in here having some question marks, I would take a shot with getting this one in the money, is coming in off a year and a half layoff but you get a 30/1 ML horse and if he comes back running might find himself in the money.
Race 10
(6) Dancin in the Heat – Consistent runner and hot barn, might find himself in the lead in a field that is lacking much early speed.
(3) Amace – Ran a better race in the last after moving to the red hot Arriagada barn.
(2) My Charming Clyde – This 12 year old veteran always gives a good effort and with a check here will surpass the ½ million mark in earnings.