ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 8, DANNY CALIFORNIA

FIRST RACE

SATIN SHEETS one of only two in the field to have not been entered previously for a tag and her last two races have both been okay, including that last one where she wound up at the back of the field early after getting bumped, before racing on gamely to the end; moves outside with enough speed to pull a better trip this time. EIGHTH COMMANDMENT’s lack of early speed in a drawback but her recent form is pretty good, and an effort like that dominant win over claiming company three starts back would give her a chance in here. STRAWBERRY TEQUILA has been racing in competitive form since switched back to dirt recently, though she has had her chance in each of her last three starts while failing to find enough at the end; tries again with another good trip likely coming. RIBBONITE could play out as the main speed here at a price, and while her recent form isn’t strong, she has run some good races vs. tougher competition in the past.

SECOND RACE

MOTOWN SOUND hasn’t been racing in his best form since claimed by these connections last summer, though in his defence he has caught a couple of wet tracks recently, including that race two back over a distance that is just too far for him, and he actually ran pretty well in his two starts at Saratoga last August, also over a distance that does not suit him; can win this with one of his better races. AMERICAN ROAD the horse to beat, but an unappealing short price considering his overall record, and the fact that he enters back for $10k after being re-claimed for $20k out of his last race; posted pair of faster wins out of town for Linda last year, but his races in NY haven’t been near as good, and he has hung more than once in his career. TWO DOWN ONE TO GO has lost his form since going back-to-back over an eight-day span at this distance last November; dangerous speed from the if he can find a way to turn it around.

THIRD RACE

SPINYATTA arrived from California with competi- tive dirt form, and she didn’t run poorly in her NY debut while contesting the pace ahead of an in-form Leah’s Dream; didn’t run as well last time when conceding the lead to the eventual winner, but she could easily bounce back here, and the trainer change helps the price. TOWN TART has the best back races to get to, and she has speed from the outside, but her form since returning from an extended layoff leaves plenty to be desired; did face better in her first two starts, though she was handed an easy lead in that first one before gave way readily, and she was bad when dropped to this level last time. SPECIAL RISK sat a perfect trip before taking aim at heavily favored Stay Fond on the lead, and could not get by in the stretch; cuts back.

FOURTH RACE

SPRING FOR MORE has managed to pick up some placings while doing her best vs. better horses over her last six starts; better than she looks and back to a competitive level for the first time in a while. FLICK OF AN EYE posted an easy win over $25k claimers two starts back, and she was way up against it last time while three-wide off a gold rail vs. a better field; horse to beat. MADDIZASKAR picked up an overdue win off the claim in a race that was changed by scratches, but she still doesn’t appear to be quite as good right now as she was when initially switched back to dirt early last year; plenty capable of a race that would do in this spot if that last one signalled a return to form.

FIFTH RACE

MIDNIGHT SKY got off to a terrible start before failing to reach contention in a race that came back relatively fast (72 Beyer for the improved and improving My Roxy Girl) in her first start down here after posting a solid maiden win at Finger Lakes, and she was no threat while getting up for