ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 3, KHALEESI KAT

FIRST RACE

BOSCO BOB’S BABY has a poor overall win percentage but he may be able to finally get that third career win with a late run here, if he does get a quick pace up front, as expected; tepid call given the 2-for-50 record but seemingly fits with this field. CABILDO settled for the place yet again last time out, for the 10th time in 36 starts; figures to be prominent from the start. LITTLE LEO benefited from the race flow in the win two back but he should be well set up again.

SECOND RACE

BOURBON TRACE, 0-for-35, is reluctant top pick, but this is another race lacking very good parimutuel alternatives; she actually ran quite well in defeat in her latest and her overall record looks a lot better when you ignore the 19 turf tries. GRAFTON STREET GAL has some early zip and could be the one to catch on the stretch-out; early duel cost her in that most recent run. PRINCESS OF JUDAH adds blinkers and has license to improve; decent work since the last race may suggest the equipment change agrees with her.

THIRD RACE

KHALEESI KAT was a sharp winner two back, and though she was behind a couple of these last time that was a deceptively solid effort, as she rallied nicely despite running against the race flow; can turn the tables with a clean trip from the rail, as today’s extra distance should work to her advantage. DESERT FOLLY is another who figures to benefit from the added ground, as she’ll once again be looking to make the last run; she also closed well in her two prior tries. JERMYN STREET benefited from a loose lead in her latest but she doesn’t necessarily need the lead; eyes her fourth straight score.

FOURTH RACE

DROP THE GLOVES was no threat when last seen but that wasn’t the best of set-ups for the closers, and that theory gained credibility when fellow closer My Charming Clyde returned to win here last week in impressive fashion; may find himself on the lead on the stretch-out today, as this race lacks an obvious race flow. MARRAKECH was a beaten favorite in each of his last two but those were both races where stone closers were up against it, as the latest field lacked speed and slow fractions hampered him two back; can atone here. BANCO DINERO did well to get the place in that last one, behind a front-running winner; race two back came up strong, with three next-out runner-up finishes.

FIFTH RACE

RUCKUS will be looking to make the last run and with the right set up he has license to do just that, as he ran well in defeat in each of his last two; latest proved this is the right level for him. HIGUEY was solid in defeat in that last one, closing with interest behind the 2/5 favorite who controlled the issue from the start; resulting Beyer puts him in the middle of this. WATCH CAPTAIN, cross-entered on Friday, will need help getting into the race as an Also Eligible but he will be a late threat today if he gets some pace help up front.

SIXTH RACE

ARABIAN QUEEN figures tough here with a stalking trip behind quick, contested fractions, something she didn’t get in that last one when she was behind a dawdling pace; clearly, she’s proven on the turf and winless on the main track but her dirt figures stamp her as a contender in this one. SCORPION ALY was a beaten favorite in each of her last three but she’s back in a route here and this does seem to be her best game; win percentage a little light

but certainly an exacta threat. RACINROSEMARY weakened after flashing speed against similar last time but she has to be respected off the effort / Beyer three back; wet track an easy excuse for the dull try two back, as she had already proven she likes a dry strip.

SEVENTH RACE

DIXIE LEGEND is the first starter from a dam who was best routing but this filly showed some breezes that hint at some ability; barn hasn’t had a starter since 2014 but trainer Gamaliel Vazquez registering 56 wins back in 2005. FEISTY CHI CHI was caught up in a duel and weakened late in her debut but she still posted a decent Beyer despite finishing off the board; slight move forward would make her tough. EXCLUSIVE EXPRESS was heavily favored in her 2nd career start but a race-long duel cost her her best chance; there’s other speed in here, too, but she merits respect based on her first start.

EIGHTH RACE

CELEBRITY WARRIOR was a strong 2nd in her latest, finishing only behind loose speed Repeat Repeat, who repeated in his next start; traffic trouble cost him three back, and he rallied with interest two back. WAGON BOSS has good tactical speed and may be in position to get first run on expected pacesetter CRIMSON HAYES; comes off a game score but he ran at least as well in the losses in both of his prior two starts. TAKETHATTOTHEBANK was behind a few of these in his most recent turf try but that may not have been a representative performance for him, as his prior Beyers were much better.

NINTH RACE

LEADING YOU ON faded late after setting the early pace in her first start off the layoff but she had to work hard to get to the lead in that sprint, which featured a good deal of speed, and the fact that she broke through the gate prior to the start didn’t help her cause; this looks like a much more favorable pace scenario for her. HER GRACE cuts back to seven furlongs and this does seem to be her best distance; makes her first start off the claim. J P’S GLADYS didn’t break well in that last start ad that cost her; she closed well through the lane there and she will be a late threat today, especially if she can get away cleanly from the gate.

TENTH RACE

FORTYTHREEOEIGHT N was a neck shy in a similar spot last time, unable to catch up with the pacesetting EPIC DRAMA, but this finale seems to feature a good deal of early zip, which could mean a faster half mile than the :44.53 he got last time; eligible to make the last run with a clean trip. VICI is hard to take seriously as a win candidate, given his overall record, but his best figures and the expected race flow give him strong credibility as an exacta threat; versatility a plus. GO CRISTIAN GO was a close-up third when in the same race as the top pick last time; has speed but can also rate if need be.