ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 3, FRANK THE BUTCHER

FIRST RACE

Nice race to start the day but a tough one especially with none of these every having won at a mile and one eighth and with not a lot of pace in the field either. KULIN ROCK inexperienced but obviously talented, exploded to win his maiden while continuing to show improvement at third asking, might just be good enough to handle jump to the next level. SOGLIO hard to fault in current form, figures forwardly placed from inside. Rallied off slow pace to win his last at a mile. GLOBAL ENTRY obviously knocking on the door with this kind but winless now since April.

SECOND RACE

BURTON a beaten favorite in each of his last two starts but ran into the red hot King Bili last time at this distance and should enjoy an early pace edge on chief rival GRAN KING OF KINGS. The latter continues to improve with every start, strictly the one to beat. HIGH RISK STRATEGY sheds the blinkers, might be best of the rest.

THIRD RACE

FRANK THE BUTCHER, the day’s best, took the worst of a slow pace scenario when unable to catch odds on, slow pace winner X Y Runner dropping to this level on 1/25. Saez stays, not catching that kind today. Should make amends. VIVE LE ROI gets some class relief while returning to dirt for second off the long layoff. One to fear. INTO BELIEF has held own vs. better but showing nary a single published work at entry time since his last start on Dec. 26 and by all rights should not be allowed to run.

FOURTH RACE

CLYDE’S QUEEN exploded from off the pace to beat a decent bunch of $50K starter foes off an extended vacation, the 3rd finisher winning and N1X allow. here earlier in the week. Might be able to handle the hike to this level with expected improvement. MAGICAL SKY made a middle move, flattened late trying to go nine furlongs in latest, should appreciate cut back to a mile and a better timed final run from Leparoux, who guided this one to victory at Keeneland last fall.STARSHIP TRIBBLES comes off her best yet returning to grass, might have a bit of a pace edge if handled aggressively enough from the outset.

FIFTH RACE

TIMBER GHOST training well for bow and bred to be a good one by Ghostzapper out of a G2 winning mare. ZIPPY WILLY by precocious sire City Zip and works have been decent if not spectacular for top debut barn. FIXED POINT Chased home 3/5 favorite in a much improved showing over the local turf, might be good enough at this point to handle switch back to the main track. Note he lured Vasquez off Belle Tapisserie whose last big Beyer Fig might be misleading, don’t think that race was run as fast as reported. Thor’s Hammer showed promise in latest gate work but with no subsequent works in the last 18 days.

SIXTH RACE

DUBAI BOB always tough to beat when able to get clear on the lead and relax a bit as he figures to do if away running in this spot. Will have to likely fend off OAK BLUFFS who owns a decided figure

edge on the field but pace and trip dependent due to his running style. ZANDAR in new hands off the claim. Tossing last when given little chance from the outset behind Dubai Bob. Best puts him in the mix.

SEVENTH RACE

DAZZLING PROSE no match for red hot Bannon under similar conditions last month while easily best of the rest and despite finishing on the wrong lead down stretch. Well posted to earn elusive diploma with a little improvement in this weak spot. THIRD REPUBLIC the one to beat dropping again and stretching out off decent showing in local bow. May stand some catching. TONY TOMATO adds blinkers, worked well enough for this level over muddy strip on 2/3 to merit consideration at the price making third start of his form cycle.

EIGHTH RACE

The pace scenario will be interesting with speedy pair of POWERLINE and MOONLIGHT BANDIT in the lineup. The former will surely offer the better value and is coming off a very impressive looking work for new connections off the claim. Moonlight B. logical off game win vs. same kind four weeks earlier. Guess he might try to take back off speedy top choice to avoid potentially suicidal early conflict. A battle between the two speeds could enhance chances of MARTINI KID who plummets to the bottom right off the claim but with some late running efforts on his resume’ that would make him dangerous if this one falls apart late.

NINTH RACE

BLOCKADE ran into a monster in his 2yo finale in Analyze It who flattered the effort returning to win a G3 on west coast. Third finisher Fast Boat also came back to win his maiden at next asking and finish a close fourth as the favorite in recent local stakes. Adds Lasix for 3yo bow, exits bullet work over Payson turf for this. BRAVE NATION broke slow and suffered through an eventful trip launching career on dirt as might be expected being kin to multiple G2 winner Good Samaritan. But mom was multiple stakes placed on turf so he could end up being a sleeper switching to sod for 2nd try. UNLEVERAGED did not have the best of trips when second best in his only previous starts and blinkers go on for 3yo debut. An obvious win factor if able to work out a trip from outside post.

TENTH RACE

MISS ALIPHANT dueled, succumbed grudgingly for $50K in turf bow, did not have the best of trips wheeling back for same tag next out. Plummets to the bottom, might just have enough of a class edge to graduate if able to avoid potential speed duel with stretch out sprinter Rahy Momenta. CLOSE THE DEAL dueled, succumbed late as the beaten favorite for nearly twice this price now tries bottom level claimers for the first time herself today. Irad stays, should sit a nice stalking trip if able to clear opening bend without any issue from wide post. MIDNIGHT BUFFET beat more than half her field in both previous starts, has since changed hands off the claim, expecting best yet in third start of her form cycle.

ELEVENTH RACE

Lots of contenders in this stakes caliber allowance feature. FUNTASTIC has been freshened since near miss in the Gio Ponti while earning career best Beyer in the proces. Looks ready off the bench for another top try. MCCORMICK hard to look past after posting career best number of his own returning to grass for first time since early in 2017. Main danger, perhaps, with a repeat try. SECRETARY AT WAR a little headstrong in latest when prompting pace in the Tropical Park Derby. Could not contain top one for place award despite getting loose on lead in the Gio Ponti but the shades come off today and work reports are quite positive for the rematch.

TWELFTH RACE

DIPLOMATIC SHAFT makes third start of his form cycle after altering course, firing hard late to just miss vs. same kind three weeks earlier. Need only get cleaner sailing to be along for the diploma in finale. PUT THE HAT BACK perhaps a sleeper if able to get loose early on stretch around two turns after chasing loose on lead winner in recent turf bow at one turn. RULE YOURSELF has the best numbers of the bunch going back to last season in Maryland and New York but will have to work out a trip from tough post at the distance at what figures to be a relatively short price.