ANALYSIS

FIRST RACE

CHERRY LANE makes a couple of notable moves. For starters, she tests the maiden claiming ranks for the time. She also picks up a bit more real estate and she gets pedigree support for the added ground. As for the race CHERRY LANE exits, note the runner-up came back in her next start to win a maiden allowance at Oaklawn with a Beyer Figure of 70. BOARDROOM DRAMA should be sharp for the move back to two turns off the pair of sprints to start the year SIMPLY GREAT exits same race as top choice, and like that one will make the meaningful move to the maiden claiming ranks for the first time.

SECOND RACE

ARROGANT ran a credible fourth last out in his first start since October, and would seem to have reason to move forward in his second start back. He also faced steeper last time and for the effort earned what ranks as this field’s best last-race Beyer Speed Figure. GUSKA MON SHOES exits same race as top choice, finishing right behind that rival. ALL ABOARD was competitive against similar last out and could be sitting on a peak race in his third race since June. The race DRAMATIC BRASSY exits has produced two next-out winners.

THIRD RACE

ANNUITY has class appeal as one who has seen steeper. She’s also shortening up some to a mile and note her last two wins on form have come at the trip, one of them at Oaklawn. WILHELMINA is an eight-time winner facing some less-experienced rivals. She figures to be sharp for the move back to two tuns off back-to-back sprints. FOR ALL THE GRANDS has hooked quality winners in each of her last two starts, and note the runner-up from the race she exits came back to win an optional $40K claiming race Friday at Oaklawn. The race THAT’S EXCITING exits has produced three nextout winners.

FOURTH RACE

FREESTYLER gets the nod in part for his company lines, as he has faced a number of quality runners. He also is a 10-time winner and has reason to move forward in what will be his second out since May. TRUE TEN was saddled with the 10-hole going a route of ground last out, but made the best of the situation and finished third in a competitive race. He looks like the one these will have to catch. HUNTER’S STRIKE was third against similar last time and is a logical choice back. Another of interest is PORT AGGREGATE.

FIFTH RACE

POWER PLANT makes the move back to two turns after the sprint start to his season, and in addition to getting good pedigree support for the added ground, he put up his best career Beyer Figure in a route. One of his starts came against an eventual Belmont Stakes winner in Creator. AWESOM CHAMP brings a nice foundation of races to the table and like top choice, he’s stretching back out around two turns. SUSPENDERS will be first Lasix. Others of interest are HOTTERTHANAPISTOL and INCLINED TO DANCE.

SIXTH RACE

SUPERSTAR LEO has shown versatility, winning from both on and off the pace, and he could get a stalking trip behind a few of these. WINGS LOCKED UP moves back to the main track following a pair of turf stakes starts and note he is a winner at Oaklawn. MEDAL OF COURAGE steps up in class, but owns the field’s best last-race Beyer Speed Figure. STORMY PACIFIC is a full brother to multiple stakes winner Conquest Tsunami ($357K). RANK is from a Grade 3-winning mare who ran out more than $350K.

SEVENTH RACE

These go a mile and a half in a fun kind of race. WILD ABOUT YOU is proven at the marathon trip, having rolled by more than 11 lengths in a starter last August at Indiana. Note he will be spotting these between five and 10 pounds each as he’s in at 125 per the conditions of the race. SYLVAN HILLS BOY ran second at this distance in the final race of the meet at Louisiana Downs last September. DYNABEAVER fits with these, while another of interest is CLASS PRESIDENT, who is a full brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Student Council ($1.5M). MOJO STREET seeks to make it four in a row.

EIGHTH RACE

CASTLETOWN could get hooked here by FIRST THOUGHT, who breaks to his outside, but going with CASTLETOWN for his back class. He also could be sitting on a peak race in his third start off the layoff. LONG STATION can take advantage were the aforementioned runners to duel. CHOIR DIRECTOR added blinkers last out and popped a careerhigh Beyer Speed Figure. He draws a useful sort of post. CHOIR DIRECTOR is from a Grade 3-winning mare who earned $162K. COWBOY U KNOW is a half-brother to Now I Know, a Grade 3 winner of $461K that was trained by this one’s conditioner, Von Hemel. ADMIRALTY is a half-brother to Tapizar, a Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner who banked $972K.

NINTH RACE

ME N LOGAN RAY showed improved speed in his second career start last out and for the effort earned what ranks as this field’s best last-race Beyer Figure. QUIK WAY ROAD has natural speed and a post that might give Vazquez options. BUD’S MR. B has a nice foundation of races. He figures to be making his case through the later stages on the cutback from two turns. NOT FOR TRUTH is from a mare who won 11 races and banked $237K.