ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 6, YES DARLIN

FIRST RACE

BARBADOS KITTEN nailed on the money by last to first winner Court Central while easily best of the others, taken to make amends in current form returning vs. same kind. MS. VIOLETTE outran odds two back behind return winner Son of Tara, stepped up a bit out of her league next time. Back in proper spot today. BODIE’S VALENTINE could not repeat well graded maiden effort when tagged for local bow. Drops again, must be respected at this level.

SECOND RACE

SONG OF MELODY hard to look past even at the short price spotted here off lopsided tally, this distance, four weeks earlier. BODY HIGH exits best yet on graduation day while also proving mettle at 7 furlongs. STROLL ACTION a beaten favorite in both starts since well graded maiden score. Cannot ignore.

THIRD RACE

IN EQUALITY made a wide run around second turn, flattened out late when disappointing as tepid choice for twice this tag. Drops to winning spot, must avoid potential duel with KING POWER. The latter a total disappoint as 2-5 favorite vs. same kind, stays put off the claim, likely one to catch again. FOREVER DI a late running sort who figures to pick up a lot of pieces with all the speed types in this lineup.

FOURTH RACE

VISION PERFECT broke slow, checked early and got shuffled back to last near the quarter pole, still finished willingly behind next out stakes winner Hogy when turning back to five furlongs on Jan. 1 Could be the value play behind likely choices PAY ANY PRICE and BUCCHERO. Pay Any Price hard used contesting pace in the Turf Sprint. Fragile sort may have lost a step at 8 but still very dangerous if able to avoid similar conflict today. Bucchero got beat a length despite traffic on the rail two back in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, obviously one to beat if handling this course with equal aplomb, repeating effort in local bow. Should sit a stalking trip from the outside.

FIFTH RACE

HILLS POND was a bit keen behind the early leaders, checked sharply to the quarter pole, outfinish Armchair Jockey while turning in good effort behind even money Seattle Treasure when adding blinkers, tagged for first time since graduation day Might prove upset threat with cleaner sailing. WAKE ME UP AT NOON gelded since turning in disappointing try after being quite unsettled being the gate last time at Tampa. Drops, worth keeping tabs on prior to the break again today. ARMCHAIR JOCKEY fanned extremely wide turning for home before being outkicked by top choice under similar conditions five weeks earlier. Should be able to save a little more ground with inside draw in rematch.

SIXTH RACE

YES DARLIN second best after a race long duel with 6-5, class dropper Sonido while easily second best first off the claim for current connections. Should make amends if avoid potential duel with No Dinero. RUNNING TRAPPES steadied sharply

early, made a second run before clipping heels with tiring leader while showing speed, showing improvement last time. has since returned with a couple of decent a.m. trials. May have the potential to upset the apple cart with a clean run.

GODS GREATNESS goes turf to dirt since changing hands, can pick up the pieces in a field loaded with speed types.

SEVENTH RACE

REFLECTED STAR one of many win threats in this one. Gets shady nod on the class drop for suddenly hot barn. ABBOT dons shades after hanging late in each of last several tries while a beaten favorite on all 3 occasions. Main danger if the equipment change improves his focus at the end. BURNING WILD the best late running threat and while still a classic non-winning sort, hard to leave out of the equation at this level.

EIGHTH RACE

Looking outside the box a bit rather than settle for logical ones at short prices in this weak field. BEST OF ENEMIES might try to steal this one if away running from the rail on stretch to seven furlongs. ALWAYS PROUD beat several debuting for twice the tag now stretches out, drops, eligible for much improvement with the class relief. DIM SUM comes off improved showing last time, pretty logical off the effort as is Devuelta.

NINTH RACE

SUMMER SCAMP as good as any in a field full of contenders. Could not quite hold on to early advantage in a race that graded out extremely well and looks loose again in this spot. Might not look back today. SECOND STREET raced wide around second bend, finished with interest behind loose on the lead, next out winner Conquest Sandman, may prove a bit of a sleeper if this one ties up late. RAY’S THE BAR had no visible excuse last time stepping into open claiming company off N3L win but does figure forwardly place from the outset for new connections off the claim. Repeat of previous several tries put him in thick of it at the end.

TENTH RACE

BAKELITE ended up dueling GOING TO THE BEACH, fading late when pair met last time but gets better of the post position draw for rematch, could spring potential upset with the right trip. Going to the Beach the obvious choice again after failing to contain Soldats Storm who tripped out perfectly behind the dueling leaders on 2/23 but now a beaten favorite two times running at the same level. MY RULES finished in front of four of seven of 10 rivals debuting at 5/8’s and in new hands since the outing. Might move forward on the stretch.

ELEVENTH RACE

JOURNEY’S END holding form extremely well at the current time, missed a head despite trouble at the break when taking on open company for first time four weeks earlier. Returns vs. similar for new owner/trainer combo off the claim. Tough to beat with repeat of that last effort. PROMETE dropped badly when stepped well up off the claim on 2/7. Turns back in distance, drops to more suitable spot, one more chance if able to shake loose again with these. RUNAWAY BULL a good check getter at this level since the meet began. Can be along to fill out some of the gimmicks.

TWELFTH RACE

MATHEMATICIAN an improving sort who seems best suited to turf. Could not quite catch the leaders trying to rally off a slow pace in most recent try, might get a little more help up front today. PROUD NATIVE second best in turf bow behind a winner who had Beyered a solid 71 in previous grass try and 3rd finisher flattered race returning to beat $50K maiden claimers here in subsequent start. DAWOOD a $675K yearling purchase with plenty of miles under his belt in the a.m. in preparation for bow including a couple of moves over Payson turf Barn has sent out 3 maiden breakers over the last couple of weeks.

THIRTEENTH RACE

BLUE BAHIA was on way to what appeared certain victory in Lady’s Turf Sprint when stumbling badly, nearly going down in 2018 bow but appears none the worse for wear coming out of the race and well drawn on the rail, might be able to spring what would be mild upset over G3 winner MORTICIA. The latter a win machine at 3, loves the course, training well at PM for seasonal bow. Strictly one to beat. ALWAYS THINKING should be coming best of all at the end although was no match for Morticia following unlucky start in their previous encounter.