ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 7, MUSIC BABE

FIRST RACE

MONKEY MONEY weakened after setting a pressured pace in that last one, and he was also against the race flow three back, but he showed two back that he’s capable of putting up a Beyer good enough to win at this level; has speed but can also rate and make one run if need be. GREELY IS BACK is another with tactical speed, and that should mean he’s able to work out a favorable trip regardless of how the race shapes up; short price the main knock here. MILL HILL PLACE won two straight before running into tough spots in each of his last three starts, pushing the pace in races which set up well for the closers.

SECOND RACE

HALFBACK is easy to like off his last few, and that most recent Beyer stands out here; he was game in defeat in that one, a race run under conditions similar to today’s, and he’s the one to beat if he’s able to run back to that one. DO YAHWANNA SALSA hasn’t raced in two months but he has been working very well toward this return; expecting a big effort off the bench based on those breezes. UNION GRACE gets back on the main track and this is clearly his preferred surface; he’s widest of the six entered but he is quick from the gate.

THIRD RACE

PETIPA made a run at the lead in that last one, and though she weakened in the late stages that was a deep field, and she could have been closer on the wire given a better-timed run; drop in class may be all she needs. PURE MAGIC is also down in class after facing better in all of her first three starts, and she wasn’t badly beaten in those runs; logical enough on the strength of her figures. ATHENA’S REVENGE was game in defeat when in against similar in her latest; she drifted late there and was disqualified from 2nd to 3rd but that was a solid try nonetheless.

FOURTH RACE

TITAN CITY may have been caught too close to the pace in that last one, and she was also hurt by the race flow two back when she was trying to close in a race lacking speed; may get first run at expected pacesetter SHE’S HAD ENOUGH. The latter figures to be on the front end, and she’ll be tough to reel in if she’s allowed to set her own pace on a loose lead; drop in class off the layoff an obvious concern but she is clearly the one to beat at this level. J P’S GLADYS is up in class after beating non-winners of two in her latest but she merits a look based on her best Beyers.

FIFTH RACE

WAGON BOSS has some tactical speed, and that can go a long way against this short field, which is a little light on pace; expecting Gallardo to be aggressive with him in the early stages. NOBLE THOUGHT had little chance against Grade 3 company in that last one but he didn’t run badly at all; steady Beyers make him easy to like, though he will be a short price and he may have to overcome the expected race flow to win this. NATURAL ORDER has a bit of positional speed, and that, combined with his inside post, should lead to a favorable trip.

SIXTH RACE

JACKS A WARRIOR weakened after prompting the pace from the start in his latest but he seems better suited to taking back off the pace and making one run; hoping he reverts to those tactics today. HIGHLAND PARK HERO may be the one to catch, and he’ll be tough to reel in if he gets away with an uncontested lead; obvious threat after running 2nd in each of his last two, against similar. GALLOWS BAY adds blinkers and should be more involved from the start from his inside post.

SEVENTH RACE

MUSIC BABE was off the board when in against non-winners of three lifetime for the first time but that was a race that was better than it may appear, as she rallied some late despite no help from the frontrunners; should get an improved set up this

afternoon. DIVA CHICK is one of those fillies who should be a factpr from the bell; she was caught up in a race-long duel two back and she seemed to move too soon in her latest. DEVIL’S ROSE had early trouble last time but she closed with interest late; two back, she was against the race flow, which gave the speeds an edge.

EIGHTH RACE

DIVINE AMBITION was well off the pace in the Pelican Stakes but he figures to be on or near the lead on this class drop, due to the relative lack of pace in this field; he scored on the front end two back when able to take advantage of a similar situation in terms of the pace scenario. PALACE BARISTA scored from off the pace last time but he’s another who is likely to be more prominent from the start this time, given the expected flow; that last Beyer gives him credibility. LESS THAN PERFECT was re-claimed by the current connections when last seen, and this class rise off the layoff is encouraging; price should be more than square.

NINTH RACE

OUTRANK has been in good form all meet, and her versatility makes her tough in a finale that lacks a clear-cut pace scenario; should be able to use her tactical speed to work out a trip from just off the pace. JONIMARIE has some of the best figures in this field, and she has been very consistent in that department; hurt by a lack of pace in that last run, when she was caught well off the early leaders. SPEEDING STARLET removes the blinkers for the first time, and she’s also back in for a tag for the first time since the maiden score.