ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 3, RUBUS

FIRST RACE

OVER RIDER turf to dirt from a good post for his second start as a 3yo after losing all chance in traffic off the layoff; dirt form as a 2yo stacks up well with this field and he should have no problem with the distance. BON RAISON also turf to dirt for this and he is dropping sharply in class for Pletcher; posted his lone win so far vis disqualification in a race originally scheduled for turf, but he has faced better horses that this right along. PLAYWRIGHT was disqualified from a win in his first start for this trainer when loose on the lead as the lone MTO in a race rained off turf last December, and he came back to dominate a weak field two starts later; has speed and is at the right level but distance may be a question for him.

SECOND RACE

THERAPIST had a fast pace to close into when dropped back in with NY-breds last time, but he is just better than these horses and won that race easily - good setup or not; tough to go against in races like this right now, and the added distance should pose no problem. COLLECTIVE EFFORT has really improved since switched back to turf recently and he finished up well to be clearly second-best behind THERAPIST last time; can get more forward in this race if getting out of the gate better, and that would give him his best chance at an upset. TEN EYCK dropped in class and jumped up to an 80 Beyer when crushing maiden claimers over yielding ground last time; needs to come forward again in this spot.

THIRD RACE

RUBUS kept good company as a 2yo and he ran a fast race to break his maiden at Keeneland before getting chewed up on a fast pace going longer in the street Sense prior to the layoff; has to be ready off the bench but he is a bit threat here if improving on his 2yo form and he may be the main speed from the outside draw. AJNADEEN was unlucky last time while forced to chase wide after a moderate pace, but he once again finish gamely through the stretch to close into 2nd; cutting back to six may work against him a bit but he has talent and will be running late. HOLLYWOOD STAR sprinting for the first time here since finishing a good 2nd in the Saratoga Special last summer; didn’t quite class up with the better horses going long but he fits well here.

FOURTH RACE

CHESTNUT STREET a well-bred NY-bred by Scat Daddy who appeared to need her debut while racing on too late and then galloping out past the field and she was unlucky not to prevail last time, even with that race setting up well for her; figures tough if holding her form, but she will need a trip. STAR OF THE EAST does not sport a NY-bred pedigree being by Medaglia d’Oro and out of a dam who was stakes-quality on both turf and synthetic in her career; trainer just 2 for his last 31 with first-time starters in turf routes, but he has also had three other horses in that sample finish a close 2nd at big prices. CHICLET’S DREAM second off the layoff as a 3yo after taking a three-wide trip and chasing her stablemate Lovely La La home to no avail in her first start back; not sure stretching back out does her any favors, but she did run well in her turf debut over this distance.

FIFTH RACE

ANYTIME ANYPLACE held his own in a couple of tougher spots sprinting on turf last summer and he was off the layoff last time when off to a stumbling start and then tiring late after getting in a run at the leader; lands in a tough $25k claimer here but he fits with his best race. GET A VALENTINE was claimed for about this price last December and he immediately turned back to win back to back races