ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 6, LANEY

FIRST RACE

MANHATTAN MISCHIEF, a winner of two straight starters, looks set to three peak in the opener; speedy enough to lead throughout. RHYTHM PARK should benefit from being cut back to a sprint after showing speed and fading in a twoturn mile race at Indiana Grand May 12; no match for the top choice when third to that rival at Keeneland but still 7 for 16 in 2016-2017. FOURTH OF JULY has been first or second in all four races this year after being claimed for $10,000 last fall at Keeneland; two lengths behind ‘MISCHIEF over this strip May 20.

SECOND RACE

BLACKBERRY FARM was well beaten in her latest against allowance company, but nevertheless encouraged by the speed she flashed in that mile race without any urging. That bodes well for her chances of handling the cutback from a mile to six furlongs; well suited to this starter $40,000 N2L company. BLAZE STAR and NAUGHTY LITTLE NUN ran third and fourth, respectively, in a $40,000 claimer for 3-year-olds June 3 and owns some of the highest recent dirt Beyers in the field; they form a formidable entry. Also worthy of attention is recent maiden graduate AWESOMETASTIC, whose two races under Corey Lanerie have been promising.

THIRD RACE

Strictly debuting horses in this maiden race for babies going five furlongs...BAFFIN sold well at auction earlier this year for $170,000 is prepped for his debut by Asmussen for owners that like to race precocious types; two local works at Churchill after getting started at Keeneland, as opposed to uncoupled stablemate WYATT’S TOWN, whose works have been exclusively at the Big K. The latter is by a win-early, speed sire in Speightstown, though the rail can sometimes be a tricky draw for a first timer. Some horses break inwardly or slowly from the somewhat intimidating position down on the fence. CALL A COP fetched $175,000 at auction at OBS this year, though given his popular sire, Into Mischief, that is not a crazy number; is a half to the twice stakes placed Baby K, who was a winner at 2, though not first out.

FOURTH RACE

ANGELO’S ASHES ran well last year on the grass and then came to Churchill and dominated on the lead in a maiden $75,000 race on dirt; as well as she ran that day, get the feeling she is even better on the lawn. IRON MANE performed well to be third, a head away from second, in his first start of 2016 in an allowance after being away since October 2016; likely to benefit from the race and part of an entry with recent maiden winner INDY HILL. The latter was a good-looking maiden winner over this course June 11 but is returned on short rest and seems at risk of regression following a race that was head and shoulders better than anything he had done in nine prior starts.

FIFTH RACE

SWORDFISH, second on two of three starts in Kentucky this spring, owns a large-race Beyer edge, coming off a 73 while none of his rivals enter this following anything more than a 65. ARODG was sent to the lead in his second race and first for trainer Brad Cox and hung on pretty well to be second, beaten a length; having drawn the fence, probably hustled again. DREAMMEISTER picks up a more experienced rider after an erratic stretch run with an apprentice up in his latest when third, a half length behind ARODG; plenty of pace to put himself in the race early.

SIXTH RACE

LANEY ran surprisingly well at 49-1 odds in the slop in the Grade 2 Eight Belles when third, beaten a length and a half by Benner Island and Union