ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 3, KITTEN’S ROYAL

FIRST RACE

Arabian race

SECOND RACE

Mule race

THIRD RACE

KITTEN’S ROYAL was well thought of earlier this year when he was nominated to the Triple Crown. He’s earned checks in his two dirt starts down south and ran third with a strong close in his Nocal debut over the GGF turf. He’s meeting older, but this is the lowest level he’s run at. Note the return to Northern California of jockey Kevin Krigger, who rides him. HALO EVERYBODYHALO turned in his best career effort is his lone main-track route. That was also his only start for a gag. He’s been off for two months but did wind up preparations with a brisk five-furlong drill June 21. CEDAR RAPIDS was outfinished on the turf by the top pick last time. He’ll be a factor in the lane again today, but the top pick has run consistently better than he has.

FOURTH RACE

CRIMSON CLOUD has picked up checks in her past six starts at this level. She’s winless this year but has hit the board in seven of eight starts. It’s been ages since she’s won, but, although she is making her debut here, she has a solid record on the dirt in the past. WARRENS GOLDNUGGET is coming off arguably her two best career starts with both races on the turf. She ran well against easier last year but did run third for this tag in her last start. Watch for her late. DEANNS MOJAVE is gunning for her third straight victory. She graduated on the turf and then won a starter allowance over Golden Gate’s synthetic main track. This is her dirt debut. She’s hit the board in all six career starts and should keep that streak going here. She does need to improve, but she is a “must play” in exotics.

FIFTH RACE

PETE’S SLEW was a beaten favorite at twice this piece last time. He’s cutting his claiming price in half here. There’s a lot of speed in this heat, and he’ll be sitting back early which should make him the one to beat late. He’s enjoyed success at the distance, and he is a proven winner on dirt. Veteran has a six-digit bankroll, earning more money than his three richest rivals. IN CONTROL returns from a nearly two-month freshener after dueling for the lead in a turf sprint at GGF. He’s never run here but did los a three-way photo at Fresno last year. Condition, of course, of course, is a bit of a question, but he’s been work well enough to be considered a contender. He did win his first two starts of the year going shorter. PAPA G was claimed from this tag and has earned checks against better in two starts since then. He has won over this track in the past and is another who will be a pace factor here.

SIXTH RACE

SOLOMON BAY has been running in good form with his past two starts on the turf. He’s a stalker who hasn’t finished all that well on the turf in has past two even though he’s a turf stakes winner. He ran second in his lone start here two years ago and should appreciate the return to dirt. He has speed and should be able to sit wherever he wants. HIDDEN ZENSATION is making his first start of the year but hasn’t run for this a claiming price for some time. He’s in a new barn that has given him a nice series of works that includes a pair of seven-furlong moves and a five-furlong bullet. He’s making his debut here but has won on the dirt in the past. KING BUDRICK has been running consistently picking up checks at this level. He’ll get a ground-saving trip although he will be back in the pack early. He’s never won here but could offer value on the bottom end of exotics.

SEVENTH RACE

NOT A KITTEN did nothing in her debut last fall and did not race again until one month ago when she came north. She stalked and ran evenly without seriously threatening. She has come back with a half-mile bullet and a decent five-furlong drill. There are a lot of untested runners here, any of whom could show major improvement today, but we like the way she came back. Three of her four siblings are winners, one of whom has earned $150K. PEQUENA MATY ran well in her debut at Golden Gate Fields but didn’t do as well meeting tougher three weeks later went sent south. She’s back for her first start in five months and has a pair of five-furlong bullets in preparing for her return. If she matches her debut effort, she’ll win here. LOVLEY SPY makes her debut as a 5 YO. She has five bullet works since starting training here. She’s interesting off her works so tab the tote.

EIGHTH RACE

MISSIONELLE graduated at such a low level that she gets to run again in this starter allowance heat despite having won at this level two back. She has more than twice as many starts as any of her rivals, and she’s been something of a money burner. Still, she hit the board in nine straight starts before running sixth after getting away slowly last time. Seizing on that regression could be good strategy since she will likely be well backed again, but she’s shown that she is a legitimate contender. PLAY NICE has run well when sprinting, including a runner-up effort behind a next-out winner two back. She couldn’t handle two turns last time but was a factor early. PULPIT GOLD lost to stablemate Intwo Mypossession two back on the turf. That was her debut, and she showed major improvement to graduate in her second start as she moved to the main track. She’s meeting older here but seems capable of more improvement.

NINTH RACE

SONG FROM ABOVE won the year’s first 2 YO race in a very professional manner. She was favored over stablemate Lucky Antares, who ran fourth that day and is entered again here. She’s worked steadily since her debut, and we like the two sixfurlong drills as part of her work pattern heading into this. VINAKA is the first foal of her unraced dam. She’s by Sky Mesa, a good win-early sire who won Grade 1 and Grade 2 races as a 2 YO. She’s been training down south for local trainer so running on the dirt will not be a new experience as it will be for the top pick. She was a $155K Ocala purchase in April and merits respect based on her fast works down south. MISS SHIRLEY C ran third behind a runaway winner in eye-popping manner two weeks ago. That winner is passing this race, and this one did have some traffic problems on the turn. She can turn things around and is by a speedy runner.

TENTH RACE

It’s been a great year for VALIANT FLAME after going winless in 11 starts ndin 2016. He had a fourrace win streak snapped in his last start when he led in the lane but was caught late and missed by a nose as the odds-on favorite. He has an easy work since then and drops a notch. Stalked did win at this level earlier this year. He’s run twice against better here, running third last fall and fifth 3 1/2 months later after a freshener. MACHO MARINI is a stablemate of the top pick. While the top pick has four wins and a second in six starts, he has a win and four seconds in six starts. He has met better than the top pick and overall has a 9-3-4-0 career mark as he makes his debut on the dirt. VAN LINGLE MUNGO is a solid runner and is making his first start in more than a year. He won at this level last June 3, and this is his first start since. He’s been working steadily, and barn does enjoy good success after long layoffs.