ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 1, THORNY ISSUE

FIRST RACE

THORNY ISSUE probably wishes this race could be run on paper. If it were, we could all go to the windows now. He has hit the board in his past three starts, two routes at this bargain-basement level and a second here last time at the nominal bottom level. He has decent early foot, which is important at any level but especially at lower levels. But remember, he’s running on Tapeta today, not paper. LIL’ OLY has hit the board in both starts here when running for this level and has shown modest improvement in every start. He’s had a seven-week freshener but only one work in the past month. But it’s worth noting the barn’s big profit off similar respites. MOOKIE’S WISH has had many chances. Primarily a router, he’s sprinting today, but he has hit the board in seven of 11 starts here and will be worth watching in the lane.

SECOND RACE

GAMBLER’S APPEAL continues her descent down the class ladder. She has sprinted well on dirt and had decent fractions in a turf route. Would like her better if she hadn’t drawn the rail, but she has stalking speed and shouldn’t be hampered by the post. PATTYVILLE is unique in one sense in this field. She’s the only runner that is not her dam’s first starter. She’s her dam’s second starter and is a full sister to that winner. She’s cutting her claiming price in half today. She has been favored in both starts and did run better in her second start. CALIFORNIA FUSAICHI makes her debut today. Though sire is only 1-for-13 with debuting 2 YOs, the barn enjoys success with first-timers. Works have been steady and like the six-furlong drill followed by a solid half-mile gate work in her final two preps.

THIRD RACE

RULE NUMBER EIGHT runs for a tag for the first time as he returns from a six-weeks freshener. He went too fast early in his last start and paid the price late. He’s worked steadily since then and may not be involved in such a heated duel early. At his best, he’s too good for these, but he is drop- ping for a reason. HELLO BOURBON beat the top pick in his debut here when making his first start in 18 months. He is out of a productive dam and may appreciate the return to the main track today. STORMIN G A has earned checks each time he’s run for a tag, including a second at this level here last year in his first start in a claimer. Stalker is also out of a productive dam who has seen her first seven foals win and three earn six-digit bankrolls.

FOURTH RACE

AMERS was scratched from Saturday’s stakes to run here. She was second in her debut here and then pulled away from a similar field to win by eight at Fresno. Note the filly who beat her as the favorite as both made their debuts is in here, too, but this one really moved forward in her second start. TRUTH MATTERS followed a similar pattern as the top pick, running second in her debut and then stepping up a notch as she won her second start impressively. She was claimed that day and has a pair of easy works for her new barn. NATIVE JAYLO graduated on the turf at Santa Rosa in her first Nocal start as she qualified for this level. She was a strong second in her first try at this level at Pleasanton and has three bullet works since. She’s definitely the one to beat.

FIFTH RACE

SHEILA’S FOOTSTEPS gets the edge her because of his consistency since returning from a nineweek freshener. He was claimed when second here two back and romped for new barn as the favorite in Fresno. He’s running at his best distance. JASON X L is another legitimate contender. He’s making his first start in six weeks after upsetting the top pick here the day that one was claimed. He has better early foot and is the one the top pick will have to catch. STORM FASHION, like the top two picks, is coming off a victory. He scored a frontrunning win as the favorite at Pleasanton and now is cutting his claiming price in half. He’s been working steadily for barn that shows a nice ROI after similar fresheners.

SIXTH RACE

DEVIL’S BEAUTY makes her first start in two months, but she scored a game win two back and was a solid second at this level in her last start. She’s been working steadily to maintain fitness. She beat easier here in May and has never finished off the board in four starts here. CLASSY LADY LIZ steps up following a game, confidence-building win at Fresno. Prior to that she had picked up minor checks at this level, including a race here

when chasing the top pick. LACEY’S RAINBOW hasn’t sprinted in a while and has been running on the turf. She was favored on the turf when running for this tag two back. She has enjoyed success here and has won at this distance. She has a chance to win and could be helpful in exotics.

SEVENTH RACE

Since coming north and running at the bottom levels, AMERICAN RHIANNON has turned things around. She was second as the odds-on pick in a bottom-level maiden race here and then graduated at the bargain-basement level. She then ran second at this bottom level in her debut against winners at Pleasanton. She figures to get another good trip today and did have success against better down south. INFORMANT returned from a two-month freshener to run second at Pleasanton and has had three works in the five weeks since that comeback try. She’s stretching out but has handled the distance all right in the past. APRILS NOT FOOLIN makes her debut here after spending her career in Washington prior to this. She’s had three works to get acquainted with the track. Note that she graduated at this distance.