ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 7, GLOBAL POSITIONING

FIRST RACE

KING OF SPADES held his own over several different distances at this level throughout last year and he was unlucky in his 2018 debut when put in tight while in contention late and having to take up; got too far back in race that was dominated on the front end last time. SENTRY might have been 2nd in that last one had he not vacated the rail in the stretch allowing Not in Charge to get that perfect run up the inside, but like the others, he was never getting to that front-running winner; improving from race to race. CARRICK debuted for a $40k tag early in the meet and he was much the best there while putting in a good finish once clear in the stretch; logically spotted right back.

SECOND RACE

UNFORESEEABLE’s dirt races are nothing special, but he has faced some much better horses in limited opportunities on this surface, and he has yet to catch fast dirt to race over; good spot here to switch back as he faces maiden claimers for the first time on dirt. POTOMAC owns the best recent dirt figures by virtue of a pair of runnerup efforts at Keeneland for different trainers; turf to dirt for second start off the Diodoro claim. CURLIN’S NEW MOON has attained a level that is likely to continue to leave him wanting but, if nothing else, he seems to be a better horse on dirt than he is on turf; like the others exiting that third race from May 26th, he had his chance at that winner who was contesting the pace throughout, but couldn’t find enough.

THIRD RACE

TIZ NO BLUFF earned the top figure in this field while breaking his maiden in his final start in California, and he has run well in both NY starts since arriving, including that last one when chasing Stan the Man, who has earned a series of figures that are better than anything TIZ NO BLUFF will face in this spot. MAIMO showed signs of improvement when dueling the pace all the way in short sprint at Laurel three starts back, and he has come forward significantly to post back to back clear-cut wins since stretched out; steps up again. TRANSISTOR started to figure things out early this year for his prior trainer and, like the top one, he chased Stan the Man to no avail in his first start for Rudy; can do better back on fast dirt.

FOURTH RACE

BRIE’S LUCKY CHARM debuted over a tough distance and was taken back after breaking forwardly, before putting in a nice run around the turn and then finishing gamely after a sharp winner from the Chad Brown barn; Lasix on making second start for trainer who is in the midst of a solid meet here. MORE FUN AGAIN had a nice trip before finishing gamely for 2nd when stretched out at Keeneland for her third career start; wellbred filly is heading the right way for an excellent trainer. SUSAN B ANTHONY has a big pedigree for a top trainer and she wound up favored in her debut before racing being taken back in the field early and then finishing with some interest, before galloping out well after the wire; forward to go. SOAR FROM SHADOWS improved in that last one while finishing ahead of SUSAN B ANTHONY despite failing to hold off Complicit, who returned to post a very impressive win here last week.

FIFTH RACE

Taking a shot here with DIPLODOCUS, who has disappointed since dropped in class on turf in NY, but showed more positional speed last time and has faced much better horses in his limited opportunities on dirt. COOKIE CRISP didn’t run well on dirt in his first start off the claim for these connections, but that was a tougher field and he did improve a bit on turf in his next start, despite having no excuse in that race; handles either surface, and this class drop is a needed one for him. PLAYWRIGHT thas finished first in both claiming races for this trainer (he was disqualified from one of those wins over maidens), including a blowout score on the front end most recently; projects to be on the early lead

once again as he steps up.

SIXTH RACE

CITIZEN MATZO made a promising debut to win under strong handling sprunting on dirt at Tampa, and she then wound up taking part in a multihorse contested pace in a race rained off to the main track in her NY debut; bred to be a better turf sprinter for her underrated trainer. SARATOGA TREASURE closed gamely into a good setup to upset maidens in her debut last summer, and she backed that race up well when closing ground again in her only other start before getting a layoff; started back over a tough distance and weakened late after making a rail run in an effort she can build upon. HANNAH’S SMILE also started back at seven furlongs and made a run to contention before flattening out vs. a better horse in Mentality; factors with her typical effort in this spot. SCORPION BOWL closed down next-out winner Stonefactor to break her maiden in off-the-turfer last time; bred to improve on turf as a half to fourtime turf sprint winner New York’s Finest, who also races for this trainer.

SEVENTH RACE

GLOBAL POSITIONING trying to turn it around in loaded $25k claimer after closing ground from far back in pair of recent races vs. better, which followed a couple of solid efforts off the claim for this trainer, including lone start at this level when just failing to close down Brimstone on a slow pace; projects to have a better setup against that rival this time. SAL THE TURTLE returned from the layoff in a tough field for the level and was unable to make an impact after getting outrun early and then pushed wide; drops for second start looking to get back to his strong 2017 form. OSTROLENKA has faded in the stretch in five straight starts since taking the Hudson last October, and he takes the drop while in declining form for Jacobson; clearly a handful at this level if he can still run, but that is not a given at this point.

EIGHTH RACE

NEW MONEY HONEY a Grade 1-quality turf horse just getting started in this allowance field, but she is too good for these horses if even close to her best, and Chad has been bringing them back ready off the layoff. SPECIAL EVENT steps into a much tougher spot this time, but she improved considerably when switched to turf for the first time at Laurel; seems unlikely to be controlling the pace this time, but she won without the lead on the main track. AMABILIS failed to make an impact from last when cut back for her NY debut last month, but she ran well with a trip in her stateside debut and can have another chance as she stretches back out.

NINTH RACE

CON EM took no money for her debut then lost all chance when slammed by a rival after stumbling awkwardly at the start to wind up last; drops for second start with Lasix on. POWERSTROKE couldn’t keep pace with an easy winner and tired in the stretch of his first start back; has better races than that to get to as he drops for the first time. ROUGH JUSTICE raced greenly and without impact first time out for a trainer who doesn’t crank them up, but he was trying in the stretch and can do better with that one behind him as he drops in class; blinkers on.