ANALYSIS

FIRST RACE

DARK GEMINI went well when switched over to the jumps in a couple of tries last May; prepped over the flat off a long layoff then finished well to be 2nd to Unsinkable last time. WHITMAN’S POETRY defeated as they made their respective debuts over hurdles then returned to bump into a couple of blowout winners. prepped over the flat with a good effort, while SIXTY FIVE finished far behind in that same race.

SECOND RACE

HEAVEN’S CREATION just missed in a pair of dirt routes vs. MSW company last summer then returned to dirt earlier this year to easily handle Keeneland maidens first time for a tag; faced better horses in last two attempts vs. two-life claimers and acquitted herself well, and her new trainer is fine with new acquisitions (17%, $1.92 ROI over the past five years). EIGHT MINUTE ELLIE dropped and prevailed in a slower race at Gulfstream two back and she was off a bit of a layoff when finishing just behind HEAVEN’S CREATION after chasing a strong winner at Ellis last time; has the speed to race forward throughout. GIANT ENDING was no threat to the 1-2 finishers while clear in 3rd at this level in her most recent start at Belmont; posted a win and 5 2nds from her eight starts around two turns at Finger Lakes last year.

THIRD RACE

BROCKMONINOFF dropping off the layoff for a trainer who has been a bit quiet early, but who tends to point his horses to this meet; has the kind of speed that could put this field on the chase from the start and he earned a competitive figure in his lone turf start as a 2yo. FERRAD’S PARTY earned a 77 Beyer sprinting on turf that stands out in this field last November, but that figure hasn’t exactly been predictive and he had no excuse there after a perfect trip; dropped back to this level last time and ran one of the better races of his career while trying to close into a pace that wasn’t fast after being rated early. WILD WILLIAM drove around wide to the stretch as was leaning on stablemate GHOST GIANT as they both gave futile chase to the filly Dream Passage at this level last time; more lightly-raced than his barnmate and picking up Velazquez for his second start with blinkers and Lasix.

FOURTH RACE

BE COUNTED making his first start after a 430-day layoff but doing so for a top trainer after showing some potential in his first three career starts out of town, and this field, while solid for the level, is pretty hard to trust. BE COUNTED debuted sprinting on turf as a late 2yo and made a game run in the stretch while pushing his way out of traffic to prevail, and he was last seen making a big run from last in a race that didn’t appear to be falling apart over synthetic. GLENNRICHMENT’s last two turf efforts make him a dangerous horse in here but he has been laid up for over 100 days since his excellent effort over yielding ground back in April, and he has been scratched by the vet at least once in the interim. SOLUBLE taking a big drop for his third start off the layoff as a 6yo; infrequent winner is rock-solid and owns the best race available in this field, but he needs a trip.

FIFTH RACE

OUR CIRCLE OF LOVE has come up short in first two starts but she has run well both times while earning figures near par for the level and she has shown enough speed to be involved from the start; similar effort in this spot makes things hard on the first time starters. SMILE MORE the first foal to race from this dam, who was a multiple stakes winner in her career and was best in shorter oneturn races; trainer is excellent with his first time

starters. FACE IT and CARNIVAL LASS a pair of well-bred and well-connected fillies debuting as a team for a trainer who has been a bit quiet early in the meet. FACE IT is a half-sister the multiple Grade 1 winner It’s Tricky and may want more ground than this, while CARNIVAL LASS is out of a talented dam who is a sister to champion Royal Delta and a couple of other very good runners. SHE IS BEDAZZLING debuts for an underrated trainer with first time starters and she is a half to Grade 3 winner High Dollar Woman; appears to be training well up to her first start.

SIXTH RACE

JADED LADY debuted in the slop at Finger Lakes and chased a 2/5 favorite around the track to no avail after breaking a bit slowly from the rail; ships in switching to turf with some pedigree a half to one turf winner from a dam who is a sister to two graded stakes winners on grass. COREY SCORES debuts for Chad Brown with some pedigree of her own as a More Than Ready half-sister to two-time turf sprint winner Saratoga Dreamer, who was also a stakes winner sprinting on dirt; dam won her career debut sprinting on Saratoga turf. SASSY AGNES by a sire who is off to a good start and she is the first foal from her unraced dam, who is a sister to a very good horse in Stormy’s Majesty (better on dirt but handled turf in his only career attempt); appears to have missed some time training in June, but she has returned with four breezes leading up to this.

SEVENTH RACE

CROSSWAYS has not been seen in over three months since switching to turf and improving noticeably, just as his pedigree suggested he would, to blow out maidens at Aqueduct; limited recent work tab suggests that he has had an issue, which is a concern, but he was impressive winning his turf debut and his speed plays on the inner. STORMY JUSTIN getting a trainer change off the layoff for his 3yo debut after improving from start to start at the end of 2017 and breaking his maiden with a solid figure in November; well-bred colt can go on for his new trainer, who is apparently saddling his first starter here. TAKE IT TO SCALE defeated a weak field at a short price on dirt in his debut, then caught a wet track for his second start and failed to pick up his feet; switches to turf for a trainer who wins with horses like this and he has a great post, but he is not one to take at any kind of shorter price.

EIGHTH RACE

CAIRENN put in a pair of impressive runs to win back to back after chasing wide over a gold rail track at Aqueduct back in January and she has since acquitted herself well vs. better in three straight stakes, including that last one when finishing gamely up the rail to just miss vs. a solid field of MidAtlantic sprinters; a cut below graded stakes sprinters but she fits well here. COME DANCING back quickly after returning from a layoff to easily handle allowance rivals last week; striking while feeling good not a bad idea for filly who has been difficult to keep on the track while showing plenty of ability. HEAVENLY SCORE got loose on the lead and put up a 93 Beyer when switched back to dirt last December, then tried a tougher spot in the Interborough; turf to dirt again following a very good effort in Grade 3 company last time, and think she may be a bit better on this surface, though she clearly handles both.

NINTH RACE

FRISKY MAGICIAN dropping out of the Grade 2 Jaipur where he was simply in too tough and up against pace dynamics, as well; closer needs a trip but he may just be better than these horses in current form and figures tough with his best race. SAMADI SKY a maiden on turf but he handles it and is sprinting on this surface for the first time; better sprinting on dirt so this turn back may really help him out. CALLANT has improved noticeably since switched back to turf recently by his underrated trainer; keeps going off a big prices and keeps outrunning his odds. DOWSE’S BEACH hard on this field with his best race and he has speed, but his recent races are not close to his best and he’s dropping off the claim.

TENTH RACE

MONEY LAUNDERING has made only three starts on dirt and has actually run pretty well in all of them, including that last one off the bench when shut off early before being forced to chase a fast pace in a race that went to closers; got to the lead up here last summer and earned a figure that would make him hard on this field to break his maiden. ANALYZE YOUR LUCK dropping for the first time and turning back to sprint after earning a new top figure in his first start for this trainer at Finger Lakes two starts back; tried a couple of stakes following his debut win for Pletcher, and he had excuses the last time he sprinted. BRONZE AGE ships in with improved form since cutting back to sprint this year, but he has been short prices in those races; remains eligible for this after being disqualified at Prairie Meadows last time;