ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 4, RADIO SILENCE

FIRST RACE

CLIFTON BEACH is the fastest in this maiden-20 sprint. The 10-start maiden is due for some luck. He defeated similar three starts back but was disqualified, he finished second two starts back behind a next-out winner, and last out lost his rider at the start. With a clean trip, he can beat these at a short price. TIZ INDY has speed and will be pressing the top choice from the outside. This is the first start in nearly three months for ‘INDY, whose best races have been at this five and a halffurlong distance. FLY PAPA FLY has upset potential, adding blinkers for the second “official” start of his career and first start since being transferred to trainer Jeff Mullins. Prior to his last-place effort Aug. 23 at Del Mar, he competed in an unrecognized race in Utah at Canyon Breeze Training Center. The gelding might be better than his only local start suggests. Or, he might be a bust.

SECOND RACE

Second-timer BUCK DUANE is poised to upset stablemate CAMPAIGNER, who finished seven lengths in front of him last month at Los Al. Workouts by BUCK DUANE into his debut suggested he needed a prep. He ran accordingly. He was not asked for speed, steadied while racing greenly on the turn, then went evenly late. The effort was inconclusive, at best. He adds blinkers for his second start, keeps the same top rider, and has an interesting pedigree. Sired by Into Mischief, he was produced by a dam whose foals include multiple winners Gracias, Hazardous, Grazenette, Cornbread Red and Shy Carmelita. Tab for an upset second out, stretching from five and a half furlongs, to six and a half. CAMPAIGNER, also trained by Steve Miyadi, finished far in front of the top choice last month. CAMPAIGNER has speed, decent figures, and will be among the frontrunners. SMART KNOWS SMART finished third in his debut at Indiana Grand, a mile race against open company. He shortens to a sprint and will roll late. Likely to improve for trainer Steve Asmussen. SHACKALOV has trained better than he has run so far. Late-running upset candidate?

THIRD RACE

MAKE IT A TRIPLE finished a respectable fourth two weeks ago vs. better. He drops to $25k claiming non-winners of two, and probably benefits by the slightly longer distance of six and one-half furlongs. BRADDOCK has held his sharp form all season. He runs virtually the same race every start (mid-70s Beyers), finished second two straight at this level, and gets an eight-pound weight break (125-117) over the top choice due to his age (3yo) and apprentice allowance. MOONLIGHT BLUE returns from a short freshening, and drops in class.

FOURTH RACE

Well-bred European shipper RADIO SILENCE makes his U.S. debut with a string of solid works for new trainer Richard Baltas. A son of War Front, produced by G1 winner Maryfield, RADIO SILENCE was Group-placed in Ireland, adds Lasix for his return, and based on his workout pattern should fire a big shot first start back in this N1X for older. AMPLE SUFFICIENCY was unlucky last out. He was blocked and steadied at the eighth pole, had to alter course in deep stretch, and finished well. That was his first U.S. start against winners, following a sharp maiden win. One mile could be shorter than AMPLE SUFFICIENCY prefers, but he will roll late. Front-runner LITTLE SCOTTY drops in class, shortens from a marathon, and will keep the pace honest. He is another that might find a mile shorter than preferred. But he has won at this class level. He is the only starter entered for the optional $40k claim tag. HARBOUR MASTER looms a contender based on his runner-up finish two starts back against N1X 3yos.

FIFTH RACE

Lots of possibilities in this maiden-20 route. One mile might be too far for SECOND GEAR. But the front-runner/presser has improved each recent start, including a runner-up finish last out in his first route. That was vs. similar company at Los Al. He has more speed than his main rivals, and gets a

seven-pound weight break with apprentice Ruben Fuentes. He should be challenging for the lead, or on the lead, turning for home. TOPGALLANT drops to the bottom level for the first time, with figures that make him one of the favorites. He will grind away late, same as HARD ARCH. The latter misfired last out at Los Al, but previous starts at Del Mar and Santa Anita are fast enough to make him a contender from off the pace. SUMDAY SUMDAY lost his chance at the break last out; his runner-up finish two back makes him a reasonable contender. SOONER BOOMER stretches back to two turns and is quick enough to set the pace. BIG DAY TOMORROW tried this class level once previously, runnerup with a relatively big number. Considering this is a rock-bottom maiden-20, this race is actually kind of interesting. Lots of contenders.

SIXTH RACE

The streaking sprinter MISS SUNSET enters this Cal-bred turf stakes with much in her favor. She won back-to-back dirt stakes at Del Mar, handles turf, has won on the downhill course, and showed versatility last out when she sat second behind the speed and cruised by nearly two lengths. Good speed figures, good works since raced for trainer Jeff Bonde, rock solid. LONG HOT SUMMER, a turf sprint stakes winner and two-time allowance winner on the hill, will roll from behind. She won a five-furlong stakes this summer at Del Mar, then was declared a non-starter last out when stewards ruled she had an unfair start. She actually ran well, fifth by only four lengths after being held up at the break. Good mare in good form, she is the best threat from off the pace. BAD JU JU chased Unique Bella six days ago; she finished behind MISS SUNSET and LONG SUMMER two races before. She was an excellent $40k claim, but seems a cut below others in this field. MOONLESS SKY goes route to sprint and will rally from the back of the pack; READY TO HULA LULA showed a new dimension last out when she took back early and powered home late. That was a Cal-bred N1X. These are tougher, but she is in good form. Upset candidate at a big price.

SEVENTH RACE

PICK ONE faced better his last two starts, and ran well finishing third and fourth. He drops to $12.5k claiming N2L and gets the tepid nod based mostly on relatively good recent speed figures. Minimal handicapping creativity to this selection. BUCKY

GOLDSTEIN finished eight lengths back his most recent start, but maybe the race was better than it looked. The one-two pacesetters dominated, none of the closers made up ground late. Surface switch to Santa Anita might benefit. INDAVIDUALIST drops from N1X to rock bottom for his first start since May. He once had speed, and his best race would bury this field. Five months off, and a precipitous class drop, indicates something has gone awry. He obviously is good enough to win. Or, was once good enough anyway.

EIGHTH RACE

This interesting, competitive N1X dirt route marks the comeback of graded stakes-placed WILD ABOUT DEB. His form tailed off late last year/early this year, but now he is back in the Phil D’Amato stable, his comeback works look solid, and he runs well fresh. First in four months, in the money three times last year in graded stakes, he enters as the “best horse.” SHEER FLATTERY stretches to two turns with a pair of even-paced sprints under his belt. His best races in winter were around two turns, on this racetrack. GROUND RULES misfired as the even-money favorite last out, but his romping $20k claiming win two back makes him a contender in this N1X/optional $40k claiming route. He won this condition two years ago. Frontrunners GOT EVEN and CHRIS AND DAVE will keep the pace honest.

NINTH RACE

Although she lost three of her last four as the favorite, HALO AHEAD is the choice to win this turf route for Cal-bred maiden fillies and mares. Two recent starts, she rallied into the fast pace before losing her punch late. She seems like a tricky filly to ride, but with a waiting ride she has enough ability to topple this field. Her new rider Corey Nakatani entered the week as the meet’s top turf rider, 5-for-14. ROLLING SHADOW improved second out, third while a half-length in front of the top choice. She is trained by Neil Drysdale, who also entered BATTLEGROUND STATE. The latter also improved her second start, runner-up behind a wire-to-wire winner. This is the first start since July for ‘STATE. GEE STREET has been knocking on the door.