ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 3, TANGLEFOOT

FIRST RACE

GIANT STORM has won two in a row at this optional starter level, and the McKnight charge should take some beating if he stays in the zone. MACHO DANCER rallied from off slow fractions to beat NW3 OS allowance/$40K claimers in his latest. DECISION DAY wound up second behind the top pick in each of his last two appearances.

SECOND RACE

DAN THE TIN MAN won a recent five-furlong turf dash at Fort Erie. The classy 8yo was previously just a minor player on the Tapeta, but he doesn’t have much to beat in this $6.25K sprint and could make the grade. BLUTARSKY is dropping from $12.5K, while switching from turf to his preferred surface. KITTEN’S SOLUTION is also coming off the grass, and is adding blinkers for the drop from $10K.

THIRD RACE

TANGLEFOOT stalked three-wide en route to a third-place finish in his first try at this $20K B class July 25. The turnback from seven to six furlongs should be to his benefit, since he graduated at first asking going three-quarters on the lawn. Note that Kimura was aboard for his June 30 score. STORM RULER is competing at about half the price for which he was claimed May 6, while dropping off a fade job in an N1X. WALL STREET WOLF could be the controlling speed, and PERLARANA can rally for a slice of the purse.

FOURTH RACE

VICTOR’S FLAG set sail on a clear lead along the inside before coming up a little short over an outside/biased track in a recent $20K route. He’s halving in price to meet much easier NW2 opponents, and should get the job done. HYTHE has changed trainers since his second straight competitive performance at this level. SHANTY TOWN comes off back-to-back thirds, most nota- bly behind the upwardly mobile Street Legal and Rocket Plan in his penultimate race.

FIFTH RACE

AUNTIE KATHERINE is dropping significantly from maiden special company to $32K. She figures to get back on track with the addition of blinkers and Da Silva. LA VIE EN ROSE was steadied on the turn in her recent subpar showing for $40K. She’s was previously in decent form. Use PEACE SEEKER and BEL TEMPO underneath in the gimmicks.

SIXTH RACE

SHARP BREW improved from seventh to second in his second try with Lasix a month ago. The son of Milwaukee Brew has worked twice leading up to this event, and seems poised to find the mark. MAKE MINE A MANHATTAN stalked a lively pace en route to ending up third behind the top pick July 22. FULL EXTREME saved ground until the far turn and then mounted a wide bid for fourth in the aforementioned race, in just his second trip postward.

SEVENTH RACE

FAMILY KITTEN is returning from a layoff, which began after he finished fourth in a $50K claimer for 3yos May 26 at Churchill. He’s been working fast, and this barn’s go-to rider Hernandez has the

mount. ROCKBARTON ran big in each of his last two outings, which included a runner-up placing over good ground going seven-eighths. A mile seems just beyond his optimum distance. OX TROT closed inside for third behind ROCKBARTON in his second local start three weeks ago, when the bug Kimura was aboard.

EIGHTH RACE

STREET LEGAL dominated $10K conditioned foes and open $20K company in his last two outings, earning an 81 Beyer most recently. The Beyer par for this N1X level is 84, and there isn’t much other speed to bother him here. PEPPERED rallied mildly for third over a speed-favoring track following a five-month absence two weeks ago, a race he probably needed. AMBERWOOD has improved with each subsequent start at the meet. Use him on the bottom of vertical bets, along with MATTHEW’S RIDGE.

NINTH RACE

SEEKING ALBERT got back into a closing mode last time in the G2 Nijinsky, in which he made up considerable ground from far off soft fractions to finish fifth. The large 4yo could make some noise as a longshot here in his fourth start off a long layoff. TIZ A SLAM won the 12-furlong Nijinsky, which was the second straight victory in which he got away with murder on the front end. He might have some company up front this time from Utmost. DANISH DYNAFORMER has been freshened since a disappointing run June 23 in the G3 Singspiel. His two previous efforts were good, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him make an impact.

TENTH RACE

JENNIFER LYNNETTE had a wide trip from post 10 last time when fourth in the G2 Royal North, a stakes which she won in 2017. Turf might be her favorite surface, but she’s no slouch on synthetics, and could mow down all the speed in this optional claimer. BLURRICANE rallied outside to drop a nose decision in a race at this level which was taken off the turf nine days ago. DUBLIN DIVA seems capable of sitting a stalking trip on the outside before making a bid.

ELEVENTH RACE

LET THE BIG HO SS ROLL has worked well since his overdue maiden score vs. $32K claimers July 28, which contained two next-out winners. He could strike again with his confidence on a high. Irish-bred CONQUEROR GALACTUS merits serious consideration in his first turf assignment. KAILI’S

BIG BOY faded to fourth behind two tough rivals after participating in a speed duel last out two months ago.