ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 9, SO HI SOCIETY

FIRST RACE

RAGAZZA DI PAPA dueled and paid the price here Jan. 15, fading to 7th. In her defense, not only did she duel, she was racing for nearly twice today’s tag and doing so after over 3 months off. The drop, a race over the course and a race under her belt after the layoff may add up to enough improvement to take this. ARIEL B looked good wiring maidens on the GPW turf at this trip Nov. 9, earning the field’s top Beyer. That being said, she must deal with a different course and winners for the first time, not to mention over 3 months on the bench. Of course, these are all maiden winnersonly so the class hike isn’t as big as it might otherwise be. DIVINE CAROLINE showed talent when an easy maiden winner at BEL in the fall but her 3 tries since vs. winners haven’t been very pretty. Cibelli claimed her 2 races ago and adds blinkers and maybe that can get her back on track.

SECOND RACE

BODY HIGH looks primed to break through. She wasn’t much of a threat in the lane in her first 3 starts, but all those came vs. tougher. She dropped to this level here Jan. 24 and was a sharp 2nd, beaten just a nose. That looks like a sign she’s ready to turn the corner. One of her 2 sibs is winner Aubrees the First (2 wins, $38K). DRA. PADILLA has flashed some ability and speed and is trending the right way. Four of her 6 sibs to race are winners including King Henry (14 wins, $462K, 2 SWs, 2 SPs). EMAIL was freshened and dropped off a dull debut at PRX in the slop in the fall and has come back a better filly. She’s shown speed and versatility. Her lone sib is full-sis Gratifying (2 wins, $29K).

THIRD RACE

R LIMO JOE has done his best work here (all 4 career wins have come here). He handled himself nicely in a couple turf sprint stakes here in the summer/fall (ran 2nd, 4th). He drops, return to the main track he loves and while he hasn’t run in over 4 months he’s run big before off the bench. RANGER IN PARADISE has been knocking on the door and may be ready to break through. He comes off a nice 2nd to a runaway winner at this trip and level here Jan. 29 and Hills saw fit to claim him. TOWN POLICY dueled before tiring to 3rd, just behind ‘PARADISE in a race like this here Jan. 26. He has ample speed to be in it from the start and a bullet work at GPW Feb. 9 says he’s doing well.

FOURTH RACE

JEREMIAH JEWEL may be putting it all together. The $215K daughter of Bodemeister didn’t do much in her first 7 starts but she moved back to turf at this level last time out Jan. 25 and ran on smartly to be 2nd. That was the first time Panici rode her and maybe he found the key to her. He stays aboard. LEDECKY performed swimmingly in her first try on turf here Jan. 28, finishing 3rd in a race just like this. That was not only her first start turf, it was her first action of any kind in nearly 10 months so she could improve. One of her 2 sibs is winner Mosconi (1 win, that on turf, $15K). UNTRUTHFUL SONNET showed talent in the summer/fall, though after a couple months off she came back with 2 so-so efforts here this meet. Those 2 did come vs. more expensive so maybe today’s drop can get her back on track. Her lone sib is My Music (2 wins, 1 on turf, $67K).

FIFTH RACE

PROPER PRINCESS was no factor at this level here last time out Jan. 10 but a she had a miserable start so you can be forgiving about that run. Her prior 2, both 2nds at this level, show her a good fit here. STORMBEAM looked good beating N2L foes for this price here Jan. 31. She’s on the improve and another step forward could mean she can beat these N3L gals. DREAMING OF ACA ran on

decently to be 2nd in a race like this here Jan. 26 and while she was no threat to a runaway winner (beaten by 7 3/4 lengths) she finished far clear of the others (4 lengths).

SIXTH RACE

The experienced hands in here don’t inspire a lot of confidence so that may mean it’s worth taking a look at firster LOVE NEST. The colt has lots of works, so he appears fit, and many of those works indicate ability. He’s bred top and bottom to handle turf. CAPE MARCO DRIVE has flashed ability at times, including a rallying 4th at this trip at this level on this course Jan. 6. His subsequent start here Jan. 25 wasn’t much (ran 6th) but he’s not facing much and a return to his Jan. 6 performance level can put him in the mix. LOVEWORSHIPSPEACE didn’t run badly going shorter at this level here last time out Jan. 20, stalking the pace before finishing 5th. That was a step forward and with the blinkers coming off he could move forward again and contend.

SEVENTH RACE

GORGEOUS KITTEN looked on his way last spring when he won an N1X on KEE turf. That led to a string of stakes assignments, many of them graded stakes. Well, those waters proved a tad too deep but he’s been freshened and drops, both of which may prove key. But this is no cushy spot. SQUADRON ran in nothing but stakes after his maiden win here in Sept. 16 and handled himself well. But after a 4th in a stakes here last July 4 he wasn’t seen for 6 months and then came back with a modest 4th here Jan. 17. He likely needed that race, Dibona saw fit to claim him (a super 35% off a claim) and adds blinkers. ADONIS CREED comes off a pair of strong frontrunning efforts (3rd, 2nd) for $30K here this meet. Casse gives him an encouraging step up in price and 2 smart works since including a bullet say he’s doing well.

EIGHTH RACE

WHAT ABOUT TONIGHT was claimed by Navarro, who’s superb off the claim. Navarro promptly moved her into a spot like this (where he couldn’t lose her via another claim) and she as a good 3rd. He keeps her at the same level and adds blinkers. She doesn’t have to be on the lead. In fact, her best work has come from just off the pace. SILENCER gamely beat maidens when last seen at MTH. Trouble is, ‘when last seen’ was June 24. The good news is it’s Mr. Mott calling the shots and he’s well known for his prowess off the bench. This $300K daughter of Quality Road has worked splendidly for this return, though besides have to deal with the layoff she faces winners for the first time.

THREE ILLUSIONS came back after 2 months to easily win a $25K sprint here Dec. 22 (the top pick ran 4th). She then moved to this level here Jan. 17 and was a good 2nd. That came sprinting but note she won her only prior start at this longer trip.

NINTH RACE

We’ve seen this picture before - a European import now under the care of Eclipse Award winner Chad Brown as SO HI SOCIETY makes her U.S. debut. Brown has routinely fired with this type and note they though enough of her to try a couple G2s in England. Oh, and the filly she chased in the G2 Duchess of Cambridge last July, Clemmie, was among Europe’s elite 2yo fillies. LENAMARIE looked good beating maidens on KEE turf Oct. 12. She didn’t do as well after a couple months off when 5th as the 8-5 favorite here Dec. 24 but she’s worked well since and could very well get back on track. PASS IT ON is headed the right way for Shug and usually once he gets his runners on the right path they tend to stay there.

TENTH RACE

STROLL ACTION may seem bred for dirt (daddy was a G1 turf SW, damsire was a 2-time winner of the G1 Arc) but she seems at her best sprinting on dirt. She looked good whipping maidens here Jan. 26, winning comfortably. The runner-up that day finished another 9 lengths clear of the field. SALSA RITA is heading the right way and like the top pick seems to have found a home on dirt. She was no factor in her first 3 starts, all on turf, but she moved to dirt for her last 2 and fared much better. In fact, when she broke her maiden here Jan. 13 the runner-up only happened to be today’s top pick. Levy also saw fit to claim her that day and is a terrific 3 for last 5 (60%) off a claim. INTACTUS had a troubled start for $25K here Jan. 18 but kept to her task to pass a few, ending up 4th. Today’s drop and a better start can surely help, and a bullet work since at GPW Feb. 9 says she’s doing well.

ELEVENTH RACE

SWAPL may be poised for an upset if they can get her to relax. She hasn’t done much in her 7 starts since winning for this price here 11 months ago but she was too keen early and pulling in her last 2 starts in January. To her credit, she kept to her task. It’s nice to see Ortiz Jr. stay and there’s a good work since. LINDA NIN comes off a couple decent outings going much shorter at this level here this meet after a couple months off. Today’s added ground may be a boon. HOLD THAT KITTEN has been knocking on the door with a couple solid 2nds at this level here in January. She has speed and versatility.