ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 10, DIVINE MISS GREY

FIRST RACE

ROSEBUD’S HOPE ran very well in her first two starts on grass earlier this year. After a layoff he came here but the raced got washed off the turf and she was a non-factor 4th. If it stays on the grass she can bounce back, particularly with the class drop. PURE MAGIC comes off a solid 3rd vs. some tough gals for about this price at BEL. She gets blinkers and fits, though she’s stuck way outside. SWEETLY MAID, also mired outside, was a troubled, well-beaten 3rd in a race washed off the turf here at this level. As with the top pick she’d much prefer to see this stay on the sod.

SECOND RACE

NO MORE MUSIC not only showed heart to battle back and win for $5K here June 9, DeMasi saw fit to claim him and gives him a most encouraging multiple-level price hike. That June 9 win looks even better, too, when you note the horse he beat back into 2nd, Salem Loop, who finished 10 1/2 lengths clear of 3rd, came right back to win. DEFINITELY TONIGHT kept to his task decently to be 2nd vs. more expensive here May 26. That was just his second start after six months off so with two outings under his belt and the class drop he’s a danger. CASINO KING has perked up of late and the veteran figures to keep coming.

THIRD RACE

BUSINESS EXPENSE ships in from NY with the Brown crew and may have found a nice spot. He was only 6th in his last two on grass at about this level but that last run looks even better when you note winner Shahroze came right back to beat tougher. GLAD MOON was far from disgraced when 6th in a tough optional claimer at BEL June 7, beaten just 1 1/2 lengths despite being rank early. His Beyers continue to trend north. PASSPORT TO CHAOS held strong form from the winter of 2017 into this April. He’s been freshened by a barn having a huge meet. The question is, can he be as good on this course at he was at GP?

FOURTH RACE

GOLD SHOT has been knocking on the door and may be ready to break through. He comes off a decent turf race for twice this tag and today’s return to dirt with the price slash can get the job done for a barn having a big meet. PAPA JOEL has perked up of late with two good outings in May. That last 3rd here May 28 looks even better when you note two he faced that day came right back to win. HIGH FLYING GUY has had lots of chances (13) but at least some of his best work has come most recently. That 2nd here June 16 was his first try on this track so he could improve.

FIFTH RACE

WINTER UNION looks ready to turn the corner. He moved to grass for the first time at DEL May 31, stalked the pace and stayed on smartly to be a good 2nd. With that turf experience he might now be

primed for his best. PEACE OF EKATI was a sharp 2nd in his first turf try at LRL May 5. He left himself with too much to do there June 10 again on turf but ran on decently so he has some ability. MR.

DISCRETIONARY dueled and paid the price at BEL May 25. His previous good work came with stalking tactics so you’ll likely see a return to that strategy here. Cibelli pulls out all the stops as this runner comes back as a gelding and the blinkers come off.

SIXTH RACE

BUBBA’S WILL comes here sharp with seven top-3 finishes in his last eight starts. He has some speed and versatility and that might serve him well as he routes for the first time. AMATTEROFTIME showed heart breaking his maiden sprinting here June 9. It’s his first route and first time vs. winners but this son of G1 route SW Eskendereya may have turned the corner. POSTINO’S VOW ran on well to be third in a sprint here June 17, just a head behind BUBBA’S WILL. He has route experience so returning to this trip shouldn’t be a problem, though his lack of speed in last handful of starts may leave him with too much to do in the lane.

SEVENTH RACE

STEAMBOAT BILL looked good beating some of these when racing for a slightly cheaper tag here June 16 as he took over late and drew clear. That was his first try on this course so he obviously likes it, and the price increase encourages, too. RACINGS MY GAME set the pace and then couldn’t fend off the top pick in that same June 16 race but he stayed on well to be a clear 2nd. That was his second start back after a couple months off so he looks fully back on his game and is again the one to catch. LUCKY BALLADIER stalked the pace here June 16 before tiring a bit to end up 4th, but that was his first start in eight months so he can improve. Trainer Thompson is having a strong meet.

EIGHTH RACE

It may be hard to believe but it’s possible that at age 8 PAGE MCKENNEY is as good or better than ever. He finished strongly to win the G3 Salvator Mile here May 26, earning one of his best Beyers ever (101). The 22-time winner was racing here for the first time and obviously likes the place. IMPERATIVE is classy and scary as he’s a proven commodity against some top-level runners. Trouble is, he hasn’t raced in over 14 months so that’s a long layoff to overcome. He has fired fresh before, though those were much shorter layoffs. HARLAN PUNCH was sharp from last summer into this winter but fell off a bit this spring in NY. IN his defense, he was facing some toughies. He’s been freshened and if that gets him back to top form, look out.

NINTH RACE

Trainer Chad Brown appears to have them surrounded here as he ships in two quality distaffers. DREAM AWHILE comes off a good third in a tough Grade 2 at Churchill on Derby day and a bullet work since say she’s cranked. ELYSEA’S WORLD didn’t handle the bog-like conditions at Pimlico on Preakness day in the Grade 3 Gallorette. LIFT UP comes here razor sharp, having won five of her last six, though this is likely the toughest spot she’s seen. SPECIAL EVENT gave multiple Grade 1 winner New Money Honey fits at Belmont just nine days ago and the fact Shug wheels her back so quickly, with the class hike, is a great sign.

TENTH RACE

DIVINE MISS GREY dueled and faded in a very tough Grade 3 at Belmont last time out but likely doesn’t face that kind of power here. She probably doesn’t even need to be back to her best to topple thee. MOONLIT GARDEN looked super winning two dirt events before fading on Arlington’s synthetic track last time out. TOTAL CONTROL comes here sharp as a tack with eight straight top-two finishes. That said, she’s never faced a foe the likes of the top pick. But she’s never been better and if ‘GREY doesn’t show up for some reason, well...

ELEVENTH RACE

Again, it’s a turf graded stakes so it’s Chad Brown’s world and we just live in it. He sends out four of the nine in here and figures tough to deny. MONEY MULTIPLIER loves this course and looked good winning the Monmouth here last month. He was a good second in this race two years ago to eventual grass champion World Approval so he’s a proven commodity. KURILOV has knocked heads with some of the best turf middle-distance horses around and his ‘A’ game is formidable. He comes off a game deadheat win in a very strong optional claimer at BEL May 25, a run which looks better when you note the guy who finished third just a neck behind him (Highland Sky) came right back to win. SILVERWAVE may be ready to move forward. He faced some of Europe’s best before coming to Brown’s care this year. His first two U.S. starts weren’t bad and if ready to get back to his best look out.

TWELFTH RACE

WRONG BEN pressed a strong pace vs. tougher in the mud last time at Belmont and tired some in the lane. He’s been freshened and drops. CANDY ASSET ran on well for third in a turf route here June 9. He was claimed that day, gets an encouraging more-than-mandatory price hike and won his only prior main track start, albeit in slop. LUCKY SIX came back after a long layoff to be a solid second in a race like this here May 27.

THIRTEENTH RACE

DISTORTED ADMIRAL was in too deep last time out at Aqueduct April 6 but Levine claimed him, freshened him and brings him back with a significant drop. Levine has won with his only two starters this meet so he’s picked his spots well. SKIPPER DANCER kept to his task well to be second at this level here June 16 so he fits. He has the tactical speed to be in a good spot from the start. RIGHTEOUS looked super blasting maidens in his first route here June 16 and may have turned the corner.