ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 6, IRISH VALOR

FIRST RACE

SWEET DEAL ships from Gulfstream and adds blinkers for her first local start, catching a field of $8,000 maiden claimers that may be a little below average for the level; tactical speed adds to the appeal. TELLBUFFY had little chance to close in that paceless route last time, and she may fare better here cutting back to one turn; she has more speed than she showed in that one. MARIE JOELLE is the one to beat for high-percentage connections off that last Beyer but she figures to be a short price despite no real edge in sprint figures and the fact that she’s making her 2nd start off the layoff, a rare category where the barn doesn’t sport an above-average win percentage.

SECOND RACE

LA INDIA ANACAONA may fall into a favorable trip today, as she is at her best when she’s able to come from off the pace and there does seem to be enough speed in this field to set up a closer; overall win percentage is lacking but she fits well enough based on her Beyers. NADIAES IMAGE is easy to like after running 2nd in her latest, even if she failed there despite a seemingly ideal trip; needs to avoid getting caught up in early pace. MISS HIGH TIDE pushed the pace in a race where the closers held the edge last time; dangerous if able to take back and make one run.

THIRD RACE

ON THE HOP failed her turf test last time but she is back on the main track and she lands in a favorable spot in terms of race flow, as she should be well spotted behind a lively, perhaps contested pace; may be able to make the last run given a clean trip. HAY BABY GIRL is another who stands to benefit from the expected pace scenario; she was an easy winner at a short price against maiden claimers last time, and though her figure came in below par for the class and distance she has room to move up off the claim, and given a favorable set-up. R SWIFT TAYLOR could be best of the speeds, especially if she can finally break cleanly from the gate.

FOURTH RACE

HALFWAY DECENT is out of Half Heaven, a multiple stakes winner who posted four wins on the turf and earned over $495K, and she already produced three winners; barn always tough with debuting turfers. SPLASH FOR GOLD took some money for his first start but he ran into some trouble and lost his best chance; high percentage outfit always has to be respected. ALABAMA JACKS was behind a few of these same runners there but he may have been moving best of all in the lane.

FIFTH RACE

UNION GRACE was behind NICK THE CARDSHARK when they met last time out but they were only a half-length apart and UNION GRACE may have been at a disadvantage, as he was down inside and the rail didn’t seem to be the place to be; can turn the tables here, and he should offer a better price. NICK THE CARDSHARK comes off two straight wins, and he was sharp in that last one; obviously tough for a barn which has gotten off to a very quick start at the meet. MR MANNING went down as the favorite in his latest but he was involved in a duel from the start; return to six furlongs helps the cause.

SIXTH RACE

IRISH VALOR could only manage third in his turf debut but that was a fine try, as he was closing nicely late after getting away a step slowly; should be tough in the lane given a clean trip from the hedge. GREAT BEND comes out of the same race and he was also rallying with interest in the lane; game score in his only other try on the green. A. P. D’ORO has some speed and figures to be prominent from the start; he was wide early on in that last run, and that cost him.