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Race 1: Clm $16k 1M

1^st: #3 Expect Drama, last four efforts have all been quality, he broke the maiden in the two back going this distance. Last out second place effort was decent as M G Broker has proved to be running above this level. Second time against winners should improve.

2^nd: #4 Charging Lion, kind of the same angel, was just a length behind Expect Drama, couple times getting beat big by M G Broker, no shame in that. 

3^rd: #1 Be Like Boston, red card on the name, the two back effort earned him a 51 Beyer. Might not enjoy this strip.

Race 2: OC$25k 5 & 1/2F

1^st: #3 Fearless Trap, set the fractions in the last, his first time out this year, and tired going slightly longer on a track that favored closers. He earned a 70 Beyer for that effort and I expect improvement second time out as a 3 year old. You won’t get even money most likely. 

2^nd: #7 Rip Rap Riley broke his maiden at the $25k level in the two back and tried the OC$50k level where he got beat by Wendell Fong, a borderline stakes horse. Should improve second time against winners getting some class relief.

3^rd: #6 Petion Night, this one has graced these pages plenty of times in the past, always an honest effort, hasn’t won against winners yet.

Race 3: OC$25k F&M 1M

1^st: #1 Mortal Storm, has a couple quality performances over the strip including the last out at this condition, her first against winners, in which she acquitted herself well earning a 62 Beyer and missing by just a neck, albeit in the mud. 

2^nd: #6 Cherryandthehawk, not much here, retains Vargas after getting beaten 4 lengths by Mortal Storm in the last. We’ll see if that form carries over.

3^rd: #3 Liz’s Smile, perhaps I’m partial to the name, she might set the early fractions. 5 times in the money in 7 starts locally.

Race 4: Clm $5k 1 & 1/16thM

1^st: #3 Vicar’s Chalice, don’t think you’ll see 10-1 here, although the last race was ugly. Goes back to his preferred distance at which he broke his maiden and followed it with a win at this condition. Inside draw helps, he’s 2 for 3 going two turns locally.

2^nd: #7 Kierland, drops to bottom level here after some past success going this distance. Retains services of McCarthy. Tough outside draw.

3^rd: #1 Accusing, ML 2-1 favorite, came close on a speed favoring track last out attempting to close. Rail draw could be tough for one that comes from so far back.

Race 5: Clm $5k 6F

1^st: #8 Dr. Cerrato, Claudio Gonzalez sends this one out and it’s plain as day the horse just needs a dry track. Weather looks decent, given a fast track this horse should be 3-5. If wet, avoid.

2^nd: #3 Dr Bolt, 8-5 ML favorite has the nicest Beyers in the field–a steady diet of low to mid 70s. But hasn’t won a race since 2017 and didn’t perform the way you’d like when dropping down to this level, albeit in the mud. I’ll look elsewhere today.

3^rd: #5 Tipit, three of the last four efforts have been second place finishes including last out just nosed while closing from outside. If he gets the trip, could take it.

Race 6: MdClm $40k Three Year Olds 1M

1^st: #6 One More Drink, popular phrase for many of us, Jevian Toledo remains aboard, i’m going to toss the last one where he attempted two turns and didn’t handle the distance. Shortening back to 1M should be the right move, and dropping into claiming ranks gives major class relief. The pick.

2^nd: #4 Benandjoe, Graham Motion trainee takes similar route as the 6 here dropping back from two turns to one and from MdSpWt to claiming. Two straight mid-60s Beyers, but you’d have liked to see some more improvement from first to second attempt.

3^rd: #5 Dynastic, I like that first effort earning a 50 Beyer in a race that had some live horses in it. He came in 8th but should improve significantly and appreciate some added distance. 

Race 7: Clm $5k 5 & 1/2F

1^st: #6 Brightest Star, I was wrong to question the class of this one that Potts brought up from Charlestown in the last. He dominated that day earning a 50 Beyer, though the track was muddy. He’s the pick today after a strong performance and an unmistakeable positive trend.

2^nd: #7 Top Czar, throw out the last two races on the mud, the horse is actually a decent performer on dry surface. Once very highly thought of, descends to lowest rung of the class ladder.

3^rd: #3 Iwishiwaspecial, first time out in 2019, the last effort at Charles Town was solid over a sloppy track at the $8k level. His only in came locally.

Race 8: Clm $5k 5 & 1/2F

1^st: #4 Lucacito, another mention of M G Broker, Gonzalez sends this one out a second time against winners, shortens up and gets class relief. 

2^nd: #5 Townie, coming out of the allowance ranks down at Charles Town after being a long time turfer down in Florida. First try locally.

3^rd: #2 Buster’s Brother, sharp last couple efforts including maiden-breaking win last out at this distance. Retains services of Cedeno here, but will need to improve off the 40 Beyer.

Race 9: Clm $5k 6F

1^st: #9 Gorbachov, close readers of these pages will recall we had this one on top in his win on January 19 when he took control early and rode the mud to a 10 length romp. He followed that up with a win at the $14k level and Carrales didn’t lose him. Drops back down to $5k today, don’t know why, would expect him to get claimed.

2^nd: #7 Divine Dancer, two nice efforts in a row narrowly missing and earning Beyers in the low 60s. That performance could be good enough to win here.

3^rd: #1 Swing Step, 3 wins locally including last time he tried this condition. Last time out attempted an open allowance and wasn’t embarrassed! Back to his level today.