ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 4, AZTEC WARRIOR

FIRST RACE

TOO MUCH IS NOT ENOUGH has bee nona downhill slide since winning a stakes at Sacramento in 2016. She was re-claimed in her last start when she missed by a head as the favorite. She’s been off six months since then, but recent works are steady and solid. Old barn probably has her cranked up for a good one. MOTUTAPU could offer some value here as she drops back into the claiming ranks. Her last win came at this level at Pleasanton in the fall as she stepped up a notch after winning here. As with the other picks here, she’s done some of her best running here. HER AGAIN did little at this level last time in a tough heat. Like the way she’s worked since then, including a half-mile bullet drill.

SECOND RACE

EIGHTY AND SUNNY has gone off at double-digit odds in al his starts. He ran third last time when he dropped to the bottom level but stretched out for his first route. Raced wide while stalking early and didn’t have much left late. He’s dropping to the bargain-basement level today and could be a value play. PEPPER SINGS is adding blinkers as he returns to the route game. He’s shown ability around two turns and has never had an easier spot. ACCELERATO is 0-for-33, but he’s hit the board in three of four starts since arriving here, including a second and third in his two tries at this level. He should appreciate today’s added distance.

THIRD RACE

LET’S PLAY BALL runs for the lowest tag of his career as he makes his third start following a seven-week freshener. His lone career victory came in his only start in a claimer. He’s cutting his claiming price in half from that maiden win and is running at his winning distance. COWLICK HERO just beat the top pick while running the best race of his career. Can he repeat or even improve? Or bounce? Has speed but is surrounded by runners that are also quick. TRUST N LIBERTY seems perfectly spotted here as he guns for a hat trick. He graduated for this tag and then repeated at this tag, beating several of today’s rivals. Plenty of speed for him to run at which works in his favor.

FOURTH RACE

AZTEC WARRIOR ran the best races of his career on the turf down south. He’s back on the turf for the first time in 13 months and is making his first start in 10 months. His works have been good, including a solid half-mile bullet drill, but condition is a legitimate question. Expecting a good effort as he runs for a tag for the first time. LION COMMAND is also running for a tag for the first time. He earlier had a pair of seconds here before disappointing badly last time. Should rebound against easier competition. WHITE FALCON likes running here, both on the main track and also the turf course. He ran third for this tag over this course last time after being the runner-up against slightly better on the main track.

FIFTH RACE

SHE SANG is a perfect fit here. When running for this tag, she has a win, two seconds and a third, and she loves this track. Talented filly has moved to new barn with solid trainer. She’ll be a pace factor. MYANGELCINDY has some speed, too. She tried tougher last time and failed to hit the board for the first time here, but she did pick up a check. Look for her to bounce back today. OUR RENEE has been a consistent check earner and came in a nose behind the top pick after finishing nicely as she dropped to this level. Look for her to be a factor in the lane again.

SIXTH RACE RIVER OF CHAMPAGNE bounced around the claiming ladder when sprinting. He had speed but could give way in the lane. He was asked to do two new things last time when stretched out for the first time while making his turf debut. All he did was run the race of her life against a horse who looks like a contender in allowance company in the eighth race. KITTENMEISTER is by a solid turf sire and is the brother of a stakesplaced turf runner. High percentage barn may have found out something last time when he sat far back and did close well even though he didn’t threaten. POST ROCK was third behind the top pick here last time, making up some ground late before hanging a bit. All of his siblings to try turf have scored wins. He’s shown a fondness for this course.

SEVENTH RACE

NICE ICE gave a strong effort in her debut when she ran second. She was willing to sit back and had to check when just starting to move before reaching the quarter pole. She overcame adversity and rallied nicely for second in a good heat. She’s worked twice since then, including a nine half-mile bullet. BLUE CHIP BETTY has been a factor in both starts. She has speed but has flattened a little late. She was run down late by the top pick last time, but she’ll likely be the one they are trying to catch again today with her rail draw. SILKEN QUEEN sparkled in her debut here, setting the pace before settling to be an easy second. She added blinkers and was the oddson favorite at Pleasanton in her second start but regressed. She’s been freshened for three months and takes off the blinkers here.

EIGHTH RACE

EXCAVATION is gunning for a hat trick today. He was claimed from a win at Del Mar and then stepped up into starter company to win here as the favorite. He steps up again today as he meets older again. Has shown a bit more speed in his past pair. He merits a long look based on current form. And check the result of Race 6 for how River of Champagne ran since he was second to this one here last time. TAIMA THE HAWK has hit the board in both starts since coming here, losing the two races by a combined length. He’s a stalker type when routing and has always been right there when stretched to a mile. TAELYNS PRINCE makes his third start after 5 1/2 months off. He lost photos both times, once at this level and later in a starter race. Watch for him in the lane.

NINTH RACE

SPOT N THE LINE is on a roll right now with exacta finishes in his past four starts. Three have been wins against runners one notch below this while the fourth was a head loss after leading in the lane for this tag. Stalker is sharp. PETE’S SLEW was favored when boosted to this level last time. He chased a fast pace and never really fired. He’s been freshened for six weeks but has been working steadily. He likes this track and could go over the $100K mark in earnings here today. PRINCE CHARMANT is a consistent check earner when running here. He’s run all right against better in his past two starts and could be sitting in a perfect spot to get first run on the leaders in the lane.