ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 2, KING AND HIS COURT

FIRST RACE

MY SILENT PRESENT has yet to negotiate a middle distance on the grass, which is the specialty of her well-known half-brother, the G1-winning millionaire Heart to Heart. In a field without much speed, she could try to make all the running under bug Kimura. KADLEY and CAROLINA GRACE finished fourth and fifth in an N1X four weeks ago. The latter raced wide throughout then as the former saved ground. Consider ABBY GRACE for the lower rungs of the exotics.

SECOND RACE

KING AND HIS COURT rallied for a share in each of his last two outings in middle-distance N2X/ optional claimers. He finished a close third behind the future champion Channel Maker and Final Copy the only time he tried 12 furlongs in the 2017 Breeders’ Stakes. JOHNNY BEAR saved ground all the way in a stalking position when winning this marathon last year, and went on to double up in the G1 Northern Dancer Turf. He seems poised to fire one of his better shots following a third in the G2 Nijinsky. EMINENT FORCE faded to third after leading until mid-stretch in this event last year, and could take this field a long way again.

THIRD RACE

PINK LLOYD began another win streak last out in the G3 Vigil, after his 11-race win streak in stakes was snapped the time before in the Shepperton. He mounted a wide rally from fourth over a speedfavoring track in the Vigil, and it will be interesting to see what style he employs here after breaking from the rail. JACKS ESCARPMENT gave PINK LLOYD a run for his money when second in this event last year. He earned Beyers in the low 90s when second in the Shepperton and third in the Vigil, and can parlay another stalking trip into a high placing. CIRCLE OF FRIENDS faded to fourth racing prominently in the Vigil, which was his first start in two months.

FOURTH RACE

SOUPER HOT has worked well since his flat fourth in the five and a half-furlong Clarendon Stakes Aug. 5, and should be dangerous in this six and a half-furlong sprint for graduates of local yearling sales. His hot trainer doubled up last Friday. BLESSED TWO mounted a belated bid from last to finish a distant third on a speed-favoring track at first asking in a quick five and a half-furlong dash. This longer distance could be in his wheelhouse. MOON MAGIC stalked in second when he beat out the latter for second in his July 29 opener.

FIFTH RACE

KA GEE GEE pressed the pace while three-wide en route to finishing a clear second behind a nice prospect when debuting in an open maiden special on the grass Aug. 1. She may be meeting easier restricted company in this yearling sales stakes, and has always trained well on the Tapeta, according to her connections. SPEEDY SOUL went on to capture her opener after getting bumped and lugging in through the stretch Aug. 10, earning one of the best Beyers in this field in the process. SAILING BY folded in the final furlong after setting the pace in the Aug. 4 Shady Well Stakes. Consider her for the bottom of vertical wagers, along with EINSTEIN’S BABE and MOKSGMOL.

SIXTH RACE

KINGSPORT ended Pink Lloyd’s remarkable 11-race win streak in stakes when he rallied inside from off a contested pace to annex the six and a half-furlong Shepperton by daylight July 8. His previous race going long in the Steady Growth Stakes was disappointing, but his overall route form is good. Note that he defeated the gifted Mr Havercamp when triumphing in the Dec. 2 Sir Barton Stakes. MELMICH won this fixture in each of the past three years, but the millionaire is winless in four starts at the meet, and is exiting his worst performance in some time, a flat fifth in the G3 Seagram Cup. FREITAG, the 2016 Sir Barton victor, has worked extensively for his return from a long layoff, and could round out the tri.

SEVENTH RACE

MAISIE ran third in both of her Tapeta excursions here last year before going on hiatus, and was a

minor player in three Kentucky races in June and July. She worked fast here the other day, and should make some noise while dropping from maiden special company to this OS/$40K maiden event. PICTURES OF YOU is also descending from the maiden special ranks, and should be a factor with bar shoes. CAWAJA TIME is adding Lasix following a freshening, and wouldn’t be much of a surprise.