ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 11, DUROCHER

FIRST RACE

RORY rates a consistency edge in the opener, having hit the board in three straight races when matched against similar; high-percentage jock in Zayas up. SECOND STREET finished 2 1/4 lengths behind the top choice when third last out in the same Aug. 6 race in which RORY was second; earned a 62 Beyer that day but ran some faster races earlier in the year. SANFILIPO was a non factor for $16,000 in his first two post-maiden starts but then managed a second last out when dropped in for $10,000.

SECOND RACE

ROLL IT GAL owns good numbers and has performed well in four of her last five starts, including when fourth in a starter last out; now back in an open $6,250 claimer, a level at which she was a clear second in the slop two back; a standout. ELUSIVE HARMONY is a 10—time winner with speed, though she is just 1 for 20 in 2016-2017 - with that victory coming at Tampa. GRAN CHAMA was recently reclaimed by trainer Victor Barboza, who campaigned her earlier in the year to a victory in a conditioned claiming race; been inconsistent lately but more appealing than many others in this weak race.

THIRD RACE

DINO DUDE has upside as a second time starter; managed a close seventh first out in a similar race after a troubled start; barn is 4 for its last 11 with second timers. DISCO MAN comes off a fourth and a third in a pair of similar races in which he was beaten by a combined margin of only 2 1/2 lengths; 0 for 11, though. CANTACLARO is dropped in for his cheapest tag and cut back from 7 1/2-furlong turf races to dash five eighths on the lawn.

FOURTH RACE

FRANCESCO APPEAL goes first time for a tag and has been on the board in four of five starts with the one exception coming last out in New York; well suited to running for $30,000. ILLUSTRIOUS SON, another dropper, likely goes favored off some flashy figures; rates behind the top choice due to being away since May, though he is a horse that has fired fresh previously. CHARLIE THE GREEK was a narrow winner last out in a conditioned claimer, turning in his second straight promising race for a winning barn after being claimed.

FIFTH RACE

ARIDAIOS has been an honest performer on the grass and had a right to get a little tired when fifth most recently when overeager when rated behind a fast pace. GEAR JAMMER has been fourth or better in seven straight races; earned a fine 75 Beyer last out but more often runs in the 69-72 range. TURKOMANI was third as the 4-5 favorite without much of an excuse July 29, suggesting he needs to step up his game to win here; still stands a good chance of a minor award given his history of such finishes within the N3L claiming ranks.

SIXTH RACE

PLAYERS LUCK is a layoff-prone horse that has made only four starts into August of his 4-year-old year - which likely explains why he is running for a $12,500 tag. He has been a dependable horse when he has turned up in the afternoons and should outclass this group. LIL’S FAST BOY began his career 0 for 10 but has since rattled off three wins from his last four starts; only loss over that recent four-race stretch came in the slop. GOLDEN KANTHAROS was no match for LIL’S FAST BOY when second to that rival July 28, but could move forward in his first start for a successful claiming stable.

SEVENTH RACE

MAURAS FOREVER rates a narrow edge in a competitive maiden race on the grass. Third in her last two starts, she has nice bloodlines and seems to be getting her act together. QUEEN JILL outlasted the top choice by a neck for the place July 9 and then returned on the dirt and finished second again after chasing the pace; 0 for 9, though. AUNTY MO is by an elite sire in Uncle Mo and has trained forwardly for her debut for Casse.

EIGHTH RACE

TONI ANN’S MIRACLE debuted with a third-place finish August 4 in which she was only beaten a neck for the place; barn is 4 for its last 11 with second-time starters. QUICKLUCKYCOCO has plenty of experience, having started four times and finishing second in her latest, just getting caught late after spurting clear early. BAYLOR was well backed for her debut but did nothing after a troubled start; likely capable of better with the experience behind her.

NINTH RACE

SUNSET CATCH is a lightly raced class dropper, and such types typically make the best plays within the maiden ranks. NEVER BURN A COPY keeps finishing right there but is 0 for 18 and therefore seems best used in the 2-3 spots in the gimmicks. COUSIN TINO was second in a race July 15 but has since responded with a pair of sixths, though his most-recent sixth can be forgiven since it came in an off-the-turf race.

TENTH RACE

TAVERNI BAY looks appealing in this $6,250 N2L claimer if one forgives his slop failures this summer; his two races at Gulf on fast tracks in 2017 resulted in a pair of fourths, including once for $25,000. SHOT JAK is a speedy, consistent runner that just finished second in a July 22 race; only earned a 54 Beyer for that race, though. WISE WARRIOR overcame stumbling at the start to break his maiden last out, though it took him 13 starts to get that elusive diploma.

ELEVENTH RACE

DUROCHER has won four of his last five starts, including an allowance July 22 in which he quickened nicely from behind slow splits. KROY was a fast, dominant winner of his latest with first-time blinkers, though it came vs. Florida-bred allowance runners, not open company; overall body of work doesn’t compare to that of the top choice. LOVE CONQUERS keeps producing with hard fought victories but his numbers are a few points behind the regular Beyers of the top choice.

TWELFTH RACE

Difficult to like anyone much in this struggling field of maiden $10,000 claimers...giving the slight nod to CHIEF BOW NO MOVE, who should be a price and has a degree of speed and somewhat respectable form of late. SAINTE THERESE has a second and a fourth in her last two races since being moved to the main track and racing without Lasix. MISS MASERATI ran a couple competitive races earlier in the year but must shake off the rust from being out of action since March; blinkers on for her return.