SIXTH RACE

SENSIBLE MYTH ran well in a pair of Monmouth turf sprints earlier this summer, including an easy maiden win while showing speed, then tried a stakes most recently to no avail; drops for a trainer who won three races here last weekend, all of them on turf. JAZZY JUDER didn’t move up on figures in her first start off the trainer change but she almost certainly ran the best race of her life in that spot while rated back early, before launching into a big, wide run to contention through the turn and flattening late; tough here if she can back that race up with a better trip. LUNE LAKE defeated weaker in her return to turf two starts back, and did so with a perfect trip, but she looked good winning that race with a strong finish and this is the surface she is bred for.

SEVENTH RACE

Y’ALL WICKED was out-broke from the gate in her dirt debut two back but she was game to chase forward to contest the pace and then to prevail in a stretch duel with a rival she will meet again in this spot; came right back with a new Beyer top when dominating open allowance rivals with Lasix on over a wet track last time. FAIR REGIS settled for second best behind a sharp winner when moved up to this level last time but that was another solid effort for a mare who has run nothing but good races for this trainer dating back to the end of 2017; still looking to break through at this level but she has some figures to back her up to go along with a versatile running style. LUCKY MOVE a new face to this group and one getting a positive trainer change for her first start with NY-breds; closer cuts back to sprint for the first time in a race that is not lacking for pace.

EIGHTH RACE

AVEENU MALCAINU hasn’t won since taking the Funny Cide up here as a 2yo with an 82 Beyer that remains the fastest race he has ever run, but he has actually run well in some much tougher spots along the way, and he took over after chasing a fast pace in the Mike Lee last time, a race that ultimately went to closers; figures tough dropping in to try his available condition with the blinkers coming right off. ULTIMATE ENTICEMENT was sent to the early lead in that Mike Lee and tired in the stretch after proving to be no match for AVEENU MALCAINU’s challenge, but he doesn’t have to be ridden that way in this spot, and his form has improved this year; ran well twice over this track last summer. STRETCH’S STONE was dropped in class for his first start off a long layoff and closed gamely into a pace to prevail, and he returned to back that race up well when bumped up into a tougher spot; turns back with some pace to run at.

NINTH RACE

HENLEY’S JOY overcame some early trouble and some late greenness to post an impressive debut score at Ellis Park last month; adds blinkers from a nice post on the inside as he steps right into stakes company off that first run that may be quite a bit better than it looks on paper. YES AND YES finished gamely to close down maidens sprinting first time out back in May then didn’t turn up again until 12 days ago where he chased a fast pace and tired in the stretch in a race that fell to closers; bred to stretch out as a half to Miami Cat, who was a stakes winner routing on turf up here a few years back, also for this trainer. SWAMP RAT a stablemate of YES AND YES sporting a similar profile after winning his debut with a late run sprinting and then not racing again until the Skidmore 12 days ago; closed gamely for second in that spot, and he is also bred to handle the added ground he takes on here.

TENTH RACE

JIMMY JAZZ has found a pair of tough spots for the level in his first two starts and he did some good things both times while looking a bit hard to handle, most notably in his debut when pulling early and restrained from going on, before racing on gamely late; makes third start as a new gelding with a positive rider change. THE SHEIK OF ARABY failed to factor in a pair of dirt routes last year as a 2yo but he was in a tough spot first time out, and he was wide to nowhere last time; starts back on turf for an excellent trainer and is bred to move up on this surface being out of a dam who was a graded stakes winner on turf. WHISKEY RUN has shown good early speed in a pair of starts sprinting on turf since switched over; dangerous stretching out if she can clear to the early lead without too much trouble.