ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 11, NOTHINS FREE

FIRST RACE

WILDCAT SAINT exits a near miss behind Diamond Mint who came back and finished third vs. N3L company in his next start with the race also flattered by All Go’s victory around two turns last weekend. Need only repeat last to be along in time. SMART DUDE broke alertly to set a relatively quick pace, faded late behind preferred choice in latest, lures Jose O., one to catch again. RORY turns back to a sprint off steady series of two turn races, should be coming best at the end.

SECOND RACE

BODY HIGH dons shades, working well, drops to bottom, might fit with these. SOMEWHATOPTIMISTIC hesitated a bit at the start, took up sharply along the inside down backstretch losing any chance when well back for debut and in hot hands off the claim. Expecting better the second time around. LAWLESS LADY has been away since early November but showed promise in 12/8 work and gets Saez up. Should improve.

THIRD RACE

ROGUE PATRIOT has been on the fringes numerous times with this kind, re-claimed by current connections off latest when easily second best behind class dropping winner. Deserves one more chance for this tag. ADMIRABLE KISS back in less than three lengths off big effort on graduation day when running down loose but fainthearted winner. Saez stays off the claim. One to catch. ANONYM adds blinkers, switches to dirt, figures forwardly placed from the outset for high percentage barn.

FOURTH RACE

NICKY’S WARRIOR continues to improve showing best yet last month with addition of blinkers. Re-unites with Tyler. Slight edge with a trip. BAYLOR logical off near miss vs. similar 17 days earlier. Holding form nicely at this time. TEQUILA N TACOS looks like controlling speed on the stretch. Could get brave at a little price if able to relax long enough up front.

FIFTH RACE

STAR JUANCHO and FORTUNE COOKIE have one thing in common, both came out second best to in form Mucho Prospect during the recent session. Former showed big improvement last time, may prove right one with another forward move. Fortune Cookie contested soft pace last time, faded late when adding blinkers for stretch to seven-eighths. Figures to sit off, come running late on turn back to three-quarter’s. JALEN HURTS hung late at seven furlongs on New Year’s Day but earned career best Beyer in process. R Secret Life on the improve but perhaps destined for early battle with Scotuscare.

SIXTH RACE

TWO SEVENTY ONE dueled, succumbed grudgingly against the grain of the race when launching career against bottom level types on the main track 11 days earlier now returns on turf, looks loose with these, might not look back if handling switch to grass. ARCHITECTURAL comes off best y et vs. notch better despite wide run in 3yo finale. Logical with repeat of that try. VISIONS OF YOU has shown some good efforts with this kind but now a beaten favorite in each of his last four starts and still a maiden at 5.

SEVENTH RACE

ZIGARCH back to his favorite surface, would be tough to contain late if able to repeat that effort

last summer in N Y when running down Storm Prophet who was good enough to won a pair of races just last month at Aqueduct. BURNING WILD comes off arguably a career best effort when falling just short making first start off the claim for current connections. Non-winning sort still looks like a major player for top slot off his last. APPA has been entered and scratched five times since last cited vs. a notch stronger on 11/3 at GPW and with some decent works on the resume’ in the interim.

EIGHTH RACE

EMPEROR JOHN comes up tagged off a 17 month layoff for barn that has been winning with these types of maiden drops down this winter. Showed enough in 12/28 work to merit top billing at what is expected to be a short price. BLAKE’S LUCKY STAR also getting some class relief and draws a bit further outside after trouble at the start from inside posts in each of his last two tries. Improvement likely if able to leave with this group. DIXIE MAMBO back to the main track, should come running at the end for at least a share.

NINTH RACE

J R ‘S HOLIDAY improved with blinkers back on last time when beaten a length despite trouble by G1 placed and multiple graded SW March. Distance the question although not meeting that kind under these conditions. CULTURE CARRIER and KULIN ROCK a couple of impressive maiden winners last out but getting a bit of a class check stepping up with much stronger today. Snap another putting blinkers back on and a proven commodity around three turns. Cannot ignore.

TENTH RACE

SOLFATARA a win machine of late who catches a field of speed types, should be along on turn back to six furlongs. PURE BLISS the only winner along the inside part of track when taking an open $12,500 claimer on Dec. 31 and will certainly offer some value in this spot. Could surprise. Not sure where the race came from INDOMINUS ran in her most recent start but she’d be dangerous again if able to repeat and not bouncing off the effort.

ELEVENTH RACE

NOTHINS FREE, the day’s best, well spotted to earn diploma if able to repeat decent try two back when second best despite nd a bit of a tardy beginning. Figures forwardly throughout if able to leave with the field. DAWN LIGHTNING returns to what appears to be her favorite surface while RAHY MOMENTA looks like one to catch off improved showing back on grass three weeks earlier.