ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 1, SIDE TRACKS

FIRST RACE

SIDE TRACKS has a layoff and surface switch to overcome as he makes his second start, but he goes for a trainer who is solid with horses returning from this kind of break, and he has some turf in his pedigree being out of a dam who is a sister to a pair of stakes winners sprinting on grass; liked his debut where he nearly overcame a trip. DISCRETIONARY MARQ the one to beat, especially if moving forward off of his debut where he just missed, though his trainer is strong with first time starters, and he did work a nice trip in that race to hold a late lead. SPACE KEY off a long layoff, but he has some things in common with Fire Key, a good turf sprinter who made the same trainer change after beginning her career at Delaware to break her maiden in her NY debut sprinting on turf.

SECOND RACE

NORTH EIGHT STREET has made two starts on dirt this year, facing way better in the first one back in April, and then cutting the pace and staying gamely for 2nd behind favored Luna Rising; good post on the outside with speed. LYNNIE B started out okay early in the year before finally breaking her maiden in the mud; dropping for this after failing to make an impact vs. allowance horses on turf. DESIROUS didn’t earn any kind of figure for easy score over maiden claimers on July 4th, but she had run faster figures prior to that one; logically spotted for first start with other winners.

THIRD RACE

A FLEET ATTITUDE made a nice return from the layoff to score over a field of $50k claimers while getting an aggressive ride, and he got in pretty tough at Parx last time; hard-hitter fits well in this spot and doesn’t need the lead to be effective. CAUTIOUS GIANT had no shot in the Whitney last time, but he has run some races sprinting that would make him tough in here, and liked the win two starts back in the slop, which was accomplished under strong handling. FUTILE started out winning four of his first five, including his first start back from the layoff this year; drops off the trainer change after trying two stakes and a spin over synthetic since.

FOURTH RACE

GREVILLEA was away toward the back of the field first time out before making her way over to the inside, and she traveled well through the turn of that race while in some traffic before flattneing out a bit late; good spot if she can build on that one. BIXBY LOU didn’t fire over a wet track when dropped back in class last time; half to two-time turf winner Laquesta switches to grass in first start for Linda Rice, who is 7 for her last 13 off the claim on turf (54%) with a $5.68 ROI. CLEO and AIFE both dangerous dropping in class for top trainers; thought CLEO ran well up here last year vs. MSW rivals, and she was off the layoff when finishing behind AIFE at Monmouth, who making her career debut in that spot.

FIFTH RACE

BIG GEMMY debuted in a strong race behind Friday’s Funny Cide winner Aveenu Malcainu, and he took money in that race before getting shuffled out badly in traffic and then left alone by his rider from there; gets another chance. HONOR UP also debuted in a solid field behind a well-meant and imnpressive winner; didn’t quite have the speed in that race, while left him to chase, but he may be sharper this time. GOLDEN SEAL and MANGO M both interesting firsters for top trainers, though getting the seven first time out is tough for 2yos. GOLDEN SEAL out of a dam who has dropped nothing but good horses, including Albany winner So Lonesome, while MANGO M is a half to the fast sprinter Awesome News.

SIXTH RACE

INDIAN SCHOOL returned from the layoff and gave way to finish last in his NY debut on the opening Saturday of the meet, but only after chasing a fast pace set by Voodoo Song, who has returned to win twice since then; thought he ran well in both turf starts at Turf Paradise prior to shipping in, including

that second one on a short turnaround where he had trouble getting clear in the stretch. HOT AND HEAVY dropping in with dangerous speed after trying stakes company at Monmouth last time; has been facing better right along, and he may not be easy to catch if able to clear from the outside post. THIRSTY ACTOR failed to make much of an impact in NY racing on dirt for Pletcher; returns after finding himself on turf out of town, and he is perfectly drawn.

SEVENTH RACE

VIGOR ran well without winning in each of her first three starts, all the while appearing to be a horse who wanted shorter; got it last time and was an easy winner after a stalking trip. FIRE KEY clearly at her best sprinting on grass, as she showed once again when dominatiing a field of modest NY-breds most recently; still not sure what happened in disappointing performance two starts back, but she is tough with her good race. ORECCHIETTE cleared the front and did her best through the lane before succumbing to class-dropping Heavenly Score over course and distance last time; took a nice step forward there, and can continue her improvement as a lightly-raced 3yo.

EIGHTH RACE

BLIND AMBITION bred to be effective sprinting on turf, so it was no surprise to find him closing down the Quick Call over five furlongs last time, but he was also an impressive winner around two-turns in his only other turf start, and he projects for a nice trip from the rail in this race; will find these tougher, but think he fits. SNAP DECISION worked a clean trip and took his shot at the Hall of Fame before proving to be no match for better horses in that spot; horse to beat as he takes a proper step back in class. HOLIDAY STONE endured a tough and unlucky trip two starts back in the Penn Mile, and he was right there in contention deep in the stretch last time before failing to find enough; looks like a good fit here.

NINTH RACE

SARATOGA TREASURE debuts for trainer who is underrated with first time starters, and she is bred for speed on the dam side as a sister to a couple of multiple sprint winners, including two-time stakes winner April Gaze; sire Treasure Beach off to a good start with four wins from his first 12 starters in 2yo turf sprints. LADY OF MIRACLES debuted up here in a similar race on opening day and was in and among horses early from off the pace as the winner controlled the front, before finishing up gamely for 2nd; tough here with a similar effort. NAZAY doesn’t have much pedigree on the damside, but he is by the excellent turf sire Tizway, and his trainer has quietly been having a nice meet up here, as usual; shows a couple of breezes over turf on the way in.