ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 10, NOBLE DAVE

FIRST RACE

C J’S AWESOME looms the controlling speed in a seemingly paceless opener, and that scenario would of course give him a huge pace advantage, especially with the ever-opportunistic Joe Bravo aboard; drop in class makes him all the more dangerous. INFORMATION CENTER comes out of sprints and gets the rail, and he can be expected to be more prominent from the start given those facts and the expected race flow. JUST ACE exits two-turn sprints at Charles Town and he’s another who stands to benefit from a forward trip and a controlled pace.

SECOND RACE

SHADES OF GREY is a completely different filly on turf than on the main track, and though her most recent try was ugly on paper she is easily forgiven for that dull dirt sprint try; turf figures put her in the middle of this and she’ll be tough with a stalking trip here if this race does stay on the green. ROYAL CASHMERE has positional speed and while her lone win came on the dirt she has better figures on the grass; she’s been away but that most recent turf Beyer gives her credibility. MISS JACKSON could be overbet today but she’s the one to beat as she drops in class for trainer Joe Orseno.

THIRD RACE

HIGH HEELED HOOVES needs an alert break from the rail but given that she has a solid chance to steal this, as this field is light on pace and she looms the lone speed; she was off the board in her latest but she was caught up in a race-long duel there. ROCKET BOTTLE didn’t break all that well in that last one but given a clean getaway she should be expected to be more involved from the start this afternoon; that will be an edge if the pace is in fact controlled. KAREN’S CHIANTI comes out of 5 1/2 furlong races and now goes slightly longer, which should mean she’s a little closer from the start today.

FOURTH RACE

CRAZY DAISY was a game 2nd when in for this same tag when last seen, and she figures tough to reel in today if she can get clear immediately and control the pace; picks up Paco. BEACH TAG has the speed to stay close and she also has decent back figures; dangerous if she’s able to run back to her best Beyer. COUNTESS GERALDINE is in for a tag for her first start off the layoff and she could be the main threat in the lane.

FIFTH RACE

EPIC LADY was a neck short in her most recent and the resulting Beyer puts her squarely in the middle of this; she closed there without the aid of swift early fractions but she figures to get an improved race flow today. ONE TOUGH ANGEL is one of the speeds in this field; she has hit the board in all three of her turf tries to date, and she was game in defeat in her latest, her first try around two turns. EXPRESSLY didn’t run badly in her two dirt tries and she’d likely be on the short list of contenders if this race is rained off the grass.

SIXTH RACE

GREED IS GOOD will be looking to close but there does seem to be ample speed to her inside, especially the innermost three, who all should be closeup from the start; comes off a game score at a big price at Parx, a race run over a muddy strip. MOUNTAIN CRY cuts back from routing and this may be his best distance; he’s another who’d appreciate a quick, contested pace up front. HERRIOT moves into a claimer as he makes his local debut and he’ll be a factor from the bell; needs to avoid a racelong duel with POMEROY’S PACKAGE and perhaps

ROCKET MAN RICHIE.

SEVENTH RACE

RITHM BOX is the first starter out of the dam, who was winless in three starts, but the sire clicks at 16% with his firsters, which is above the average, which is about 11%; sports a decent work for this and she may be overlooked a bit in the wagering. DAY BY DAY is the one to beat on the strength of her figures, and though she was a beaten favorite in that last one she ran well in defeat; main concern is her tendency to settle for lesser awards. WISE STRIKE is out of a dam who won three races, including a stakes race, and while all of her wins were on the turf she produced a twotime dirt sprin twinner in Summer House.

EIGHTH RACE

If this race is moved to the main track TOO CLEVER BY HALF is going to be a handful. She not only comes off a game 2nd but she did it while against the race flow, and the prior Beyer was strong; not sure who will be left in here if the race is switched from the turf but it’s likely she’d be one of the main speeds. POOCHY is the pick on grass; she’s a proven turf sprinter and her tactical speed should mean she’s in a good spot behind the pacesetters once again. MY COUNTRY was off the board in both of her two turf tries to date but the Beyers she posted there make her a contender against this group.

NINTH RACE

MANIPULATED is very well spotted by trainer Rudy Rodriguez as he makes his first start off the claim, with his recent Beyers giving him a good-sized edge on the others; he was with the pace last time but he can also come from behind, and that versatility should lead to a favorable trip regardless of how the race flow develops. MELLO GROOVE could be the main threat despite the respite; he likes this track and has a solid late kick when he gets enough pace, which should not be an issue here. TOWN POLICY is one of those likely speeds and his last couple of Beyers make him dangerous if he’s able to shake loose again.

TENTH RACE

NOBLE DAVE was off the board in each of his last two starts at Gulfstream Park but he was racing against the flow there, with both races favoring those runners who were close to the pace, as evidenced by the “S” symbols in his last two PP lines (inverted “S” indicates a severe edge for speed); he has license to move way up here given a quick, contested early tempo. JOYWAVE disappointed in his last appearance but he merits respect off is best prior figures; main threat to the top pick. GIANT TWO STEP returns from the long break as a gelding and while there are certainly risks to taking a short price on the drop following the layoff he’d be no real surprise here; note that he was favored in his bow last year, where a slow start cost him.