ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 1, MARTEN RIVER

FIRST RACE

MARTEN RIVER put up a big 88 Beyer two back when a front-running third behind Circle of Friends and Uncle B in an overnight stakes. He wasn’t as good in a subsequent turf experiment, but could wire this group on the Tapeta in the manner of his June 11 triumph. ROCK N’ CANDY was impeded in the stretch by the next-out winner Raface Macdougall before earning the victory by disqualification in his latest on the grass. He seems equally adept on either surface, and should be prominent from the outset. TOUGH EQUATION got an 80 Beyer when third the last time he saw action in a June21 N1X for sophomores.

SECOND RACE

CANADIAN EH dueled for the lead before fading to fifth with when stretching out from six to 10 furlongs following a break Aug. 19. The 4yo is taking a significant drop from maiden special company to compete with a $40K tag, and could find the mile and a sixteenth distance ideal for her. COURT REPORTER was in fine grass form prior to coming up empty in a nine-furlong route that was moved to the main track Aug. 2. BULLET THEBLUE SKY is moving up off a half-length loss vs. $32K maidens. Use her underneath in the exotics, along with HEADS ‘N TAILS, who has some turf breeding.

THIRD RACE

CIRCLE OF FRIENDS has won four in a row since ending up second in his debut, a streak which was capped by his first stakes score in an overnight event July 14. He earned Beyers in the low 90s in each of his two most recent excursions, and should take some beating. UNCLE B checked in second behind the top pick in the OJC Stakes, and his last dull effort on the grass is best forgotten. YORKTON lost all chance last time when he stumbled at the break in a one-mile stakes over Arlington’s Polytrack. He went coast-to-coast in the seven-furlong Queenston Stakes here in May, and could get back on track with Campbell taking over.

FOURTH RACE

BRAVE VOUKEFALAS flashed cheap speed in his six-furlong opener on the grass, an effort that he should be able to build on in this similar contest. The 4yo is by a good turf sire, and should be a juicy price. CRY IN THE WILD is shedding the blinkers off a front-running fourth going long. He’s versatile in terms of running style, and should be in the hunt with Husbands retaining the mount. CALL ME GIZMO placed in each of his last two outings at Fort Erie, including in a two-turn turf sprint. FLEET GIZMO is by the successful Giant Gizmo, whose progeny are 0 for 61 when trying the grass for the first time.

FIFTH RACE

PENNY STAMP drifted out in the stretch. while fading from third to fifth, when returning from a short layoff Aug. 26. She’s taking a noteworthy drop from $10K, and doesn’t have much to beat in this $6.25K tilt going seven furlongs, a distance over which she’s a three-time winner. LIGHT MY PATH finished second in her penultimate start at this class and distance, but is exiting a wide fivelength loss for $8K. Stretch-runner QUEENSTOWN can pick up some of the pieces under Hernandez, who was aboard for her last victory May 17. Toss PRIDDY FAIR in the super.

SIXTH RACE

CAPE ROCO just missed when second among two next-out winners in a similar $20K NW2 turf route July 28. He’s worked twice in the interim, and doesn’t have much to beat this time. LEOPARD CAT made up a little ground to end up fifth most recently on the Tapeta. He’s back on his favorite surface here with leading rider Da Silva retaining the mount. FOREST CASTLE should be a speed threat in the manner of his fading fourth behind the top pick July 28, from which the winner exited to beat $10K conditioned opposition.

SEVENTH RACE

COPPER FOX drew nicely outside the other speed in this $50K claimer, and could parlay an outside/ stalking trip into an overdue win. She’s dropping from N2X/optional-claiming company to compete with a tag for the first time. QUIDI VIDI is changing surfaces off a second on the grass, and could be