ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 5, CROWN OF JOY

FIRST RACE

MONEY ILLUSION was off the board in his last route attempt but he did make a mid-race run there, and he tired only late; impressed in defeat in sprint tries. NATIONAL HONOR has tactical speed and an inside post, which should give him an edge in this opener, as the race lacks an obvious race flow; could be the one to catch. ALEXANDER DAVID rallied nicely for the place in his latest despite a lack of speed in the field; should be running late again.

SECOND RACE

MINDER is out of an unraced dam but if kin to five multiple winners, including Raybern’s Gold, who won 17 races; sports a couple of decent works for a barn which has posted a solid win percentage from a limited number of starters in 2018. MY BERNIE turns back to a sprint, and it was in shorter races that he ran his best races this year; away since May but trainer Luis Carvajal Jr. does well with horses off this type of break. FIELD ADVANTAGE has speed and the best Beyers in the field; certainly the one to beat but he did blow clear leads in each of his last two starts.

THIRD RACE

BALABAN is going to be very tough if he is able to scratch into this race off the Also Eligible list, as that debut try — against better — clearly makes him dangerous, as the Beyer he earned there makes him formidable; also, this barn is lethal with turf sprinters. FREELOAD cuts back in distance and may fare better going five panels; the Beyers he posted in his shortest sprints to date, at six furlongs, were his best figures. UNCLE POCKETS has shown some speed to date but he could flash some more early zip with blinkers added; like the top pick, from the barn of Jason Servis, who also excels with horses putting blinkers on.

FOURTH RACE

MOXIE jumped up and ran a very big race in her latest, just missing behind the big favorite with a nice late run, and she was flattered when that runner returned to score again; clearly a threat today if she’s able to run back to that effort today. BAMBOO GARDEN wheels right back after running a deceptively good race in her latest, as she made a menacing move on the turn before she weakened; should get ample pace. CRYSTAL CLEAR stretches out off an authoritative score against an overmatched field of sprinters; should be prominent from the start.

FIFTH RACE

CROWN OF JOY was caught wide on the first turn and though she was off the board she was moving well through the lane; slow fractions cost her her best chance two back. BEACH TAG has been in search of that elusive 2nd career win for some time but she seems to be in a good spot here, as she should be able to use her early speed to her best advantage; chance to steal this. BREXIT REVENGE has a solid late kick, and she has been steadily improving in terms of her Beyers; she’s widest here but she has the tactical speed to get position.

SIXTH RACE

PHONEMYPOSSEAGAIN weakened after chasing the pace on the turf last time but he figures tough to catch here on the move back to dirt and with the drop in class; will take them as far as he can on the front end, and an unpressured early lead will make him even tougher. LINO ROSE was hurt by the race flow in his latest but he has license to move up here given a better set-up; overall record makes him easier to like underneath for exotic play, however. X Y RUNNER has some early zip of his own and could well get first run at the top pick; may be the key to the race as the runner most capable of keeping PHONEMYPOSSEAGAIN honest on the lead.

SEVENTH RACE

AGONISTIC is a proven turf sprinter, and though he clearly has some issues as he makes only his

2nd start of 2018 he has been working splendidly, and he ran very well in his seasonal debut; now just needs to scratch in off the AE list. WHAT THE CHUB has speed and will look to shake loose in the opening stages; he was unable to last after shaking loose in his latest but the winner was sharp, and he verified his form by repeating in his next start. AMELIA’S WILD RIDE has lots of back class and a good late kick when right; not in for a tag in this claimer, as trainer Keith Nations takes advantage of the waiver rule for this ridgling’s first start since January.

EIGHTH RACE

GLOTONA AGAIN obviously doesn’t have the best of win percentages but she is better than her last couple of running lines would suggest — she was against the race flow two and three back, racing close-up due to a lack of speed in the fields when she’s at her best coming from off the pace; she chased a 1-10 winner who was loose on the lead in her latest. CHERI’S WIN just missed with a nice late run in her latest after two straight races where she didn’t get much pace help; should get at least an honest pace today. JUST SISTERS was a length behind CHERI’S WIN in her latest, closing some late; logical enough off that line.