ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 8, CYBER WAR FIRST RACE

The 10-race Tampa Bay Derby Eve card will start at 12:44 ET and with many fans drawing a big red squiggly line through that first try by SOPHIE’S PRIZE for top conditioner Gerald Bennett, seeing how she stumbled badly at the start of that Feb. 21 dash; stands to benefit from the race, anyway, when facing a very soft crew on what amounts to a negligible raise. KWAINA returned with a new attitude last month when a much-improved 2nd at this same $12.5k mdn. level; something similar would make the top pick work. UNITED SONG has had plenty of chances (ugghh) but does come favorably drawn when shedding the blinks

SECOND RACE

Taking an educated guess that Kent Sweezey has GARON TOWER about as ready as he can get him after the NY-bred gelding took some major regrouping after being cast off following 2 poor tries as a 2yo; faces quite a few who’ve had *more* than enough chances to shed their maiden labels, including his own Sweezey stablemate, TEENERTOWN PRINCE, whose 0-for-19 mark includes a few major disappointments as a heavy favorite. Likewise, BRAVE REQUEST (0-for-18) has had every opportunity without cashing in; does get a pass for that Feb. 23 debacle on the grass.

THIRD RACE

Pretty solid last-out runner-up effort by NICO’S ON THE RUN going a tad shorter than these 7 panels at this same N2Y level is enough to make him the one to beat in his 2nd start for Justin Johns, who’s enjoyed quite a productive winter here; prominent from the bell. MY CHARMING CLYDE broke a lengthy skein when prevailing for a lesser condition last month and now comes well-drawn in the outer box; eligible to repeat. MIGHTY BITE was overmatched vs. open claimers and should fit better here with leading jock Gallardo back aboard.

FOURTH RACE

Throw out that off-the-turf misfire by CHANT DAVID CHANT last month and suddenly his form looks like he should fit quite well for this N3L condition on the grass, particularly when getting Centeno and the rail post; knows how to kick down the lane. CONQUEST STORMY earned a competitive BSF when in for a higher tag last out; patient handling would seem the key with this one. NAN THE MAN, WORD ON THE STREET, LONE TRADER, and THE GREAT LOUDINI are all slug-along types who’d stand to benefit if a free-for-all breaks loose if/when COOPER’S MARCK gets leg-weary after sailing off unfettered.

FIFTH RACE

It’s been a long time between proverbial drinks for SCORPION ALY, but maybe the money-burning 8yo mare has finally found a spot to emerge on top; figures to stalk the more faint-hearted ones here before looking to end the drought. KOWBOY’S DEELITE stretches out as a legit threat; likely must avoid engaging some of the other speeds for best results. CHIQUE TO CHIQUE got hot early last year but has somehow forgotten what it’s like to win; sudden class plunge seems to set off some warning bells and sirens.

SIXTH RACE

Wismer cuts MIDDLE OF NOWHERE in half in trying to elicit an overdue score out of a gelding who cost a pretty penny as a yearling; might well have caught the right group. HALFWAY DECENT looks just that, having run far more creditably in his first try off the Klopp claim; further improvement required. POWER HITTER was pretty disappointing

in his last two attempts in this same sort of race for leading trainer O’Connell but fits nonetheless here.

SEVENTH RACE

HIGH HEEL LADY met far better when breaking from the tricky one-hole in her first crack for the junior Bennett; can revert today to something resembling her 3 sharp prior tries at this ‘17-’18 meet when coming very well-spotted for the $6,250 tag. YOU LIE makes the third start in her form cycle for a stable (Texidor) that has made some impact at the meet; favorably drawn outside to set sail from the git-go. HE WEARS THE CROWN poses the logical late threat when getting Gallardo on this turnback from a pair of 7-panel races.

EIGHTH RACE

Even against one of those salty MSW groups that tend to convene on mega-Saturdays at Gulfstream, CYBER WAR drew big play in his Holy Bull Day debut for Clement, although he never got a call; Shel homebred from a classy family now adds blinks and faces considerably lighter after getting that valuable education across the peninsula; stark improvement fully expected. ECRU was a good third in his turf debut for Juddmonte and Mott; seems to be headed in the right direction. VITAL comes the obvious one to catch after running as well as he did in his first try for Ryan and Jesus.

NINTH RACE

The just-miss effort at this same $8k-N2L level by OH KANDRITA last month points her out as a very tough customer on this slightest of stretchouts; presses the issue from the outset as the outside speed. VIENNA ROSE, usually there or thereabouts, was in the mix at a critical juncture in the same 2/21 race contested by the top pick; some follow-thru obviously would do. GEMSTONE LINDA blew doors against weak mdns. when going turfto-dirt last month for Chuck Simon; interesting test on the requisite step-up for new conditioner.

TENTH RACE

Layoff of nearly 4 months is cause for pause, yet little doubt FIFTH TITLE would win this lastrace feature for Wilkes and Peter E. with his best; steady work pattern and a favorable draw is enough to grant him the benefit of the doubt in a pretty tough finale. HARV WON’T TAP is a winner over the course at this meet for Stidham, whose local string continues to produce with regularity; at least he stayed fit with that so-so off-the-turf

DECISInVE dTRIUMPH start last out. resurfaces as a gelding after going unraced the last 16 monthsplus; steady Palm Meadows work slate says he’s had the typical Motion treatment in vanning westward well-prepared.