ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 5, RIGHTEOUS RUTH

FIRST RACE

TACO WAYNE’S SHOT, third and second in two prior tries against low-end N2L claimers on the turf, is 1 for 14 but is among friends in a race in which most have comparable or worse records. MAKE BIG MONEY grew rank when rated off the pace on the stretch out to a route last time and ended up sixth; look for her to show more speed if cut loose today; 1 for 31...oh my. SHEZAWAVE faces winners for the first time after graduating with a dominant victory against maiden $12,500 claimers in her 13th start; much improved this summer.

SECOND RACE

Difficult to get excited about any prospect in this struggling maiden claiming field...giving a slight edge to PLANET ROCK, who quit to be sixth last out but whose two earlier races this year on dirt were respectable; speed her greatest strength. ANNAZELL just ran a close fourth while making up ground in a shorter seven-furlong race June 29; should move up a smidge on the stretch out to a mile. CHARMING HOSTESS has raced mostly on turf and always against classier; finishing a distant fourth of sixth when last on dirt June 8 in a race in the slop, with the 41 Beyer she earned in that race matching up with these.

THIRD RACE

LOOKIN FOR MONEY is speedy and consistent, though she does tend to settle for a number of minor awards; picks up Gaffalione and is well drawn in post 2 with a short run to the first turn. VERA’S FINALLY rallied to edge the top choice by a neck on June 18 - easily her best race since last summer. WHO’S THAT CHICK needs to make up a little ground on the top duo - having run three lengths behind them last out; had previously been only a nose behind LOOKIN FOR MONEY when third in a race on May 28.

FOURTH RACE

LITTLE SKY joins winning connections off the claim, and is aggressively spotted, which is typical for Frank Calabrese-owned runners. Although more experienced on turf than dirt, she has hit the board in three of four starts on dirt. AMERICAN TZAR, another recent claim, has hit the board in two straight and regularly runs Beyers in the 50s and 60s but is 1 for 21 over his career. QUENANE isn’t as fast as the top two n figures but is in good form and being a 3-year-old with nine starts might have room for further improvement.

FIFTH RACE

The well bred RIGHTEOUS RUTH, the day’s best, ran a clear-cut second at first asking and catches a struggling field of turf maidens; likely to move forward following her debut. MAURAS FOREVER has twice run fourth and once third in three races this summer at Gulfstream and seems to be on the upswing after losing by just 1 1/4 lengths with a troubled trip June 22. FIRST TOMOE likely needed her latest in her first start of the year, finishing fifth in a decent performance and should move forward second time off the bench.

SIXTH RACE

SATURADO and HE’S A LEADER are move-forward candidates after debuting last month. The latter ran third after getting bounced around at the break, and the latter was last of seven after a tardy beginning. RAJ is a first timer that is unveiled by Ralph Nicks, a skilled first-out and 2-year-old trainer; moderate works as one would expect for a horse debuting for a maiden $16,000 tag.