ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 1, HAY LISTEN UP

FIRST RACE

HAY LISTEN UP went better than it looks last time after getting steadied back at the start and then sent up to chase what was a fast pace going longer; turns back with speed into a spot where his best race makes him tough. CANIFORM a closing sprinter who will be looking for some pace to run at late; didn’t get much last time in race that was taken wire-to-wire, but he was finishing well at the end. LE GRAND WARRIOR has speed, and his two best races have come sprinting on dirt, though those good efforts were also over wet, sealed tracks; turf to dirt off the trainer change.

SECOND RACE

MAJESTIC MIST dropping off the layoff, but this is likely an appropriate level for filly whose best race came in lone try sprinting on grass; right kind of field assuming she is ready for trainer who excels off of layoffs like this (past two years, 180+ day layoff, sprints: 10 for 23, 43%, $3.53 ROI, and 3 for 5 on turf in that sample, $8.18 ROI). EMERALD QUALITY closed for third in turf sprint off the layoff, and she had little chance behind a slow pace in race that was wired last time; blinkers on. QUANIQUE has had her chances already, but she is finally back to sprinting on turf vs. claiming company for the first time since string of decent efforts last summer.

THIRD RACE

PRIVATE CLIENT bred to go on, and she aired when shipped in here to try added ground for the first time last year; caught stretch traffic when returned from the layoff in fast-paced race at KEE, and she also went well in her second start back despite being unable to get to a front-running winner, while out-finishing Lottie, who won her next start and then finished a close 3rd in a Belmont stakes; showed once again last time that distance is what she really wants. GRATEFUL was unlucky not to win after taking over on a fast pace for the distance two starts back, but she had no such issues last time while just powering along in front, and staying strong through the stretch; stretches again. QUEEN BLOSSOM a one-run type who will be looking for an honest tempo, at the very least; just short with a good finish last time.

FOURTH RACE

BORSA VENTO dropping for the first time while also turning back to a preferred sprint distance; two bets races have come over seven furlongs, and he has enough speed to get forward from rail draw with switch to an aggressive rider. JAVELIN has run two of the fastest races in this field, and he is also getting a powerful drop in class for the first time; blinkers on after chasing the pace to no avail in each of his first three starts vs. better horses. ONE MORE ROUND has his issues, but he has also run some races that would make him competitive with this field; will give him that last one off the long layoff in the slop where he missed the break before rallying some for 3rd behind a longshot winner.

FIFTH RACE

MOTOWN SOUND may be heading the wrong way after a productive winter, but he does fit this race well if he has one more in him, especially with his off the pace style, as this race contains some speed to go along with a field of horses who are questionable at the distance; will try to get him to close it down late. NOBLE DOSS one of the speeds, but can’t question his current form, as he has won three in a row, and 7 of his last 11 around two-turns at Finger Lakes; has run his race on this circuit in the past. CASTAWAY projects for a nice trip in this race, and like that he has been re-claimed by shapr connections, but he does tend to struggle with distance, and it’s been a while since he has

managed to get there first.

SIXTH RACE

BARELY IMPAZIBLE will have to be able to run a little as he lands in field vs. some horses with experience, but he went for $285k following :21.1 breeze at OBS March, and was subsequently turned over to Chad Brown; by a sire who gets forward 2yos, he is a half-brother to Grade 2 Dwyer winner Teeth of the Dog, as well as four other winners from this dam. COLLECTIVE EFFORT hasn’t managed to win either of his first two starts but he has run well enough to win both of them; tries again after getting closed down by a very promising colt last time. RAGING FIRE caught a wet track and chased three-wide after a fast and contested pace before settling for 3rd in his debut; can come forward with that one behind him, as can UNBRIDLED CHARGE, who was part of the contested pace in that race.

SEVENTH RACE

ANNIE ROCKS equally effective on either surface, so don’t mind her switching back here after getting in a bit too tough over a distance a bit too far on grass last time; seven-furlong trip is good for her, as she possesses a handy running style, and packs a strong kick in the stretch. TEJANA got off to a good start to her career last summer as a 3yo, but she did not run her race after taking up a nice tracking position off the layoff; tough if she can bounce back. NONNA MELA won pair of dirt sprints easily as a 2yo, including the Grade 2 Adirondack over this track for Pletcher; starts back over a difficult distance, but this race didn’t come up nearly as tough as it could have.

EIGHTH RACE

BLUEGRASS JAMBOREE won first two starts of her career from just off the pace, and she took a game run at her fast and talented stablemate from off a fast pace when returned from a short layoff last time; figures tough if she can repeat that last one in this spot. SHIMMERING MOON back to sprinting on dirt after failing to handle distance or turf in her last two starts; didn’t run well when they tried to rate her three starts back, but her speed plays, and she should be sending here. VERDANT PASTURES posted lone win so far when able to get loose on the lead around two-turns, but she is one of the few in this field eligble to improve following a bit of a layoff, and career debut sprinting was a good effort despite her causing all kinds of trouble at the start.

NINTH RACE

One more chance for well-bred SMART AND SASSY stretching out on grass, this time with blinkers on, after appearing to run in spots before getting up for 3rd in her turf debut; had some speed before dropping her rider in that sloppy track debut. PHOTOGRAPHER got bet for her debut before failing to fire, but she improved last time to make some ground sprinting; stretches out with pedigree for excellent trainer. TULIPS GALORE debuts for trainer who is just 2 for his last 80 with first time starters, but Bush sent out a firster to just miss here last Wednesday, and this filly has pedigree being a Giant’s Causeway out of the winning mare Tulipmania, who is a sister to the very good turf horse Straight Story (multiple graded stakes, over $700k in earnings).