ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 5, CHOVANES

FIRST RACE

MISS FREEZE came up just short in that last sprint, her first start off the layoff, and that was a solid effort, as se was trying to run down the favorite, who was the primary pacesetter; dangerous here if she can avoid a regression. BODY HIGH is clearly going to be tough here off that easy score in her latest, where she posted a solid Beyer; light price ensured as she seeks eyes her fourth win in her last five starts for the meet’s top barn but she is the most likely winner. LADY RACER will be looking for the lead once again here after a duel cost her in her latest, a race where the pace scenario favored the closers; figures to face pressure from GATA’S APPLAUSE, and possibly others, but she is capable if able to shake loose.

SECOND RACE

RUNNIN FOR DACE goes long for the first time on the grass but her only turf races to date were not terrible and she meets a modest field; note the barn’s record with horses switching barns and surfaces. ANIMAL KINGSTON is the one to beat on the strength of his Beyers, despite the fact that he failed in his last two despite ideal trips; would be no surprise based on the figures, though. OLLYSILVEREXPRESS was 2nd against lesser when last seen, and while he meets better today he merits respect off that effort.

THIRD RACE

PAPADOPALOUS was a remote third when last seen but he was against a strong speed bias there, and he was trying to close; game score three back against DISCREETLY PLACED puts him in the thick of this. The latter is one of the main contenders here as he makes his first start off the claim by trainer Jorge Navarro; that fact alone makes him a threat by default, given the way the barn has performed at this meet. SILVER COWBOY was no match for the favorite in his latest but he was clear for the place in a solid effort; 80 Beyer he posted two back makes him the one to beat today.

FOURTH RACE

PRINCESS GEORGIA caught the eye with a strong late rally through the back of the field in that turf sprint two back, and she responded with a decent effort on the main track last time in a race rained off the grass; needs pace but she can make the last run given at least some help up front. DREAMER’S GETAWAY also ran well in sprints on the turf, including her latest, when in against the top pick, and though the Beyers are a little light she did look good closing in the lane; top two in that field were the two speeds, who controlled the issue from the start. MISS RADAR is the first starter from the dam, who won two dirt routes (0-for-two on turf), and she debuts on the turf for Navarro; that’s not the best angle for the barn yet she has to be considered a threat, though the board will yield more clues.

FIFTH RACE

CHOVANES looms the controlling speed in this route, which is otherwise light on pace; he certainly benefited from a lack of pace in that last win but this looks like it could be a similar situation, and he’ll be tough again if able to shake loose relatively easily. LOST IRON gets the rail and blinkers, and that should translate to a forward trip, which would be an edge if the pace is in fact controlled; barn does well with runners making this equipment change. ACT OF MADNESS has a hint of some early zip of his own, and he’s also drawn inside; needs to stay close early.

SIXTH RACE

SECOND MATE has been away for just under two months but he has been working well enough, and he lands in a seemingly good spot in terms of pace, with a couple of speeds signed on; he didn’t get a whole lot of pace help in that last one, nor in the prior try, at Gulfstream, when he closed well for the place. FUZZY MUZZLE was closing nicely in the Dan Horn, behind heavy favorite Irish Strait and Golden Brown; the latter returned to win the Kent Stakes on the turf before running 5th in Sunday’s Haskell. CHEYENNE BULL overcame mild splits to beat non-winners of three lifetime at Belmont; meets better today but he’s a threat and he could be a race square price for high-percentage trainer Jason Servis.

SEVENTH RACE

HANNA DUE had some trouble at the start in her latest and that cost her, as she does have positional speed given a clean getaway, and that was a day when closers had little chance to make up ground against an outside speed bias; expected a better effort here, assuming she can break with the field. SASSY CHUB was a game winner against statebred maiden claimers off the long break and now makes her first start against winners, and her first start off the claim for Navarro, who claimed her; proven ability to lead or rate a plus as she tries to work out a trip. SINGING SARAH was 2nd in her latest, closing well late, but the race flow was in her favor and she benefited from the trip, which helped her post a career-best figure; in all, she’s more likely to regress off that figure than move forward but it doesn’t seem she has to repeat that 66 Beyer to win this.

EIGHTH RACE

STARSHIP ROCKETTE ships in from New York and meets a weak field today, if she is able to draw in off the AE list; she’s had her chances but few were as soft as this spot, and she does have room to improve off her latest, when she was hurt by a slow start. HONEY HEARTS could be the one to catch; she set a decent pace under pressure last time and held well until the late stages. AIKEN TO BELONG is at her lowest level yet; figures to be well spotted off the speed, and if she can run to her last couple of Beyers she should prove a threat in the lane.