Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
ANALYSIS
FIRST RACE
DARKWINGSOVERDUBAI went 2 for 2 going short on the Tapeta at Golden Gate, before running third in the G3 Bourbonette Oaks over Turfway’s Polytrack. In her first try for trainer Roger Attfield, she should be prominent in this allowance prep for the G3 Selene Stakes. GALE FORCE didn’t show much after graduating at first asking here on the Tapeta in the G3 Mazarine in October, but is worth a long look after wintering in Florida. DIADURA romped in the seven-furlong Arlington-Washington Lassie in her last synthetic track excursion on the Polytrack at Arlington in September. Her trainer had a first and a third with his two stakes shippers here this spring.
SECOND RACE
FLASHINTHEPANTS broke slowly before saving ground over an outside-biased track en route to beating $10K maidens Nov. 19. She’s worked five-eighths twice this month, and could be fit enough to double up in this inflated $20K NW2 tilt. MIDNIGHT BREW completed her 2016 season in decent form. Her trainer sent out a comebacker who finished third the other day. NINETEEN SIXTEEN dusted $20K maidens in slow time going long Nov. 18, and could garner some of the scraps.
THIRD RACE
MISTY SPIRIT was bumped at the break before racing wide over an inside-biased track when fourth on the second day of the meet. She was previously a bit player on dirt and turf at Gulfstream, and should improve with a race over the Tapeta under her girth. CATCH ME BABY came up empty against OS maiden special stock in her final ‘16 outing, but her previous form in claimers was good. TALLAHASSEE is halving in value following a winter layoff, and has done her best running while fresh.
FOURTH RACE
ROYAL KATY had a wide trip over an insidefavoring track when fifth while returning from a vacation in a recent maiden special. The drop to $32K is significant, and she should be dangerous with Boulanger taking over. Professional maiden MOLINARO DEPUTY is a must-use underneath in exotics, in her second start back. INSIDE RING prevailed in a front-end battle before tiring in the final sixteenth at first asking vs. $40K maidens.
FIFTH RACE
KAYEZ benefited from an inside bias when a closing third in his five-furlong comeback. That race should set him up nicely for this six-furlong sprint, in which he’ll be ridden by the accomplished journeyman Alex Solis. IRON SHORE placed in two of his last three outings in the fall, and wasn’t beaten all that far in a higher NW2 event Nov. 26. MILWAUKEE FLASH raced wide throughout on an inside-favoring track while rallying for second in his return to action. Use him on the bottom of vertical wagers, along with PREBILL and LUMBER MAN.
SIXTH RACE
PURE PURITY wintered in Ocala after finishing seventh vs. males in the restricted Vice Regent Stakes Oct. 2. She earned Beyers in the 70s in the majority of her seven outings last year, and should be prominent in this NW3 combo contest with top jock Da Silva aboard. The win-shy BILKY BLUZ is tagged for just the second time in her first run of the season, and can acquit himself adequately when fresh. PERFECT ELLA raced quite wide throughout before checking in a close eighth vs. OS N1X types Dec. 2.
SEVENTH RACE
DIAMONDS AND ROSES had worked well prior to his lone 2yo start on the grass, in which he finished a flat sixth behind the future stakes winner Channel Maker. The first-time gelding wintered at Gulfstream, and could hit the ticket as a longshot in this seven-furlong maiden special on the Tapeta.
Queen’s Plate prospect MALIBU SECRET ran second to Channel Maker the only time he saw action in the restricted Vandel Stakes on the lawn. His connections won the G3 Whimsical Stakes last Sunday with Southern Ring. ENGLISH CLASSIC is by a low-percentage debut sire, but his G2-winning dam dropped stakes winner Regal Conqueror and stakes-placed Classic Bryce. Use Gulfstream shipper WILSHIRE STAR underneath in exotics.
EIGHTH RACE
SMART SPREE’s readiness is in question off a long layoff, but his trainer has begun the meet with a bang. The son of Smart Strike is getting some significant class relief, and the gifted Hernandez has the mount. TOO MANY EGBERT’S led the way en route to finishing second in both of his races this year, most recently in a tough $20K starter allowance. BEAR’S PROFIT completed his ‘16 campaign in decent form, and should be a factor. Use KITTEN CANDY in the tri and super.
NINTH RACE
DUPES had a productive 2016, while competing under a variety of conditions. He had a three-wide trip over an inside-favoring track when third in his seven-furlong comeback, and is moving out to a more suitable distance in this easier starter. DANGER BAY had a disappointing winter stint on the dirt at Gulfstream, but perhaps the surface change will snap him out of his slump. The frontrunner has a fitness edge on most of these. FINAL OFFER set a lively pace over an anti-speed track before fading to fifth in an OS allowance Nov. 30. A less-aggressive approach could be more effective this time.