ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 5, FAST PASS

FIRST RACE

Mule race

SECOND RACE

Quarter horse race

THIRD RACE

POSITIVE OUTCOME steps up a notch after two straight runner-up tries. Made his racing debut here 363 days ago, and he has picked up a check in all 11 career starts. He has run evenly in his past three starts while hitting the board each time. He gets the edge here because of his consistency. WEST COAST INDY has higher Beyers in his past two starts while running against better. He’s getting a drop while the top pick is moving up. The rub is that his past two starts have come on the turf, while his main-track starts haven’t been nearly as good. TWO THE PUNCH is stakes placed on the dirt at this distance, running third as the odds-on pick at Turf Paradise. He, too, is dropping and will likely offer enough value to consider seriously.

FOURTH RACE

THIRTY PEPPERONIS just scored a front-running win on the turf. He’s meeting tougher here, but he met better when sprinting two back. He’s won four of seven starts this year and has shown steady improvement in his starts. DAD’S A GAMBLER has never missed a check. He graduated for a higher claiming price two back and was a factor in starter allowance company last time despite being bumped at the start. This drop should make him a real factor as he uses his early foot to get a perfect trip with his outside draw. TCHULA SUNSET ran second in last year’s Everett Nevin to an undefeated runner last year. He also ran here in the fall and scored a nice win. He’s making his third start following a freshener. He did little in his comeback down south but scored an easy win against easier when favored in his Nocal return for his last start.

FIFTH RACE

FAST PASS has a win and a narrow, nostril defeat in two starts following a two-month freshener. The loss came in a sprint, and he’s been first under the wire in his three route starts this year. Unfortunately, he was a bad boy in his first start of the year, bothering rivals as he angled out in the lane and getting disqualified to fourth. He’s sharp and has a nice maintenance drill since his last start. STAR EXPRESS has been claimed in his past three starts as two trainers have taken turns claiming and then re-claiming him. He’s going in good form and has hit the board in six of seven starts this year. He’s still seeking his first dirt win. GIANT MARK was claimed when fourth at this level in his last start. He’s run only once on dirt but finished nicely while running second last year at Santa Rosa. Despite new barn, his regular rider sticks with him.

SIXTH RACE

TRULY PONTI returns to her best surface today. Her lone win came on the dirt. and her past two starts have been on Tapeta and turf at Golden Gate. She hit the board in her past two dirt start at Santa Anita. She met better in her two starts here and she has a speed-sharpening three-furlong drill since her last start. RUNNINFORHOODY broke her maiden and is also stakes-placed on dirt. That came as a 2 YO, and she hasn’t won since her juvenile season. She’s making her first start in nearly