ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 5, MEMORIZE

FIRST RACE

HASPEL didn’t run all that badly despite finishing off the board in her first start against winners, as she was trying to close in a race lacking pace; should get more help from the frontrunners this time around and an improved pace scenario would certainly move her up. ITSMYLUCKYCHARM merits respect based on the Beyer she posted in her maiden score last time; freshened since that win but trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. does well with horses off these intermediate breaks. PONTE REALE is the one to beat given the barn’s gaudy record in nearly all of the pertinent trainer categories; short price looms.

SECOND RACE

TRAPPED AT SEA should be in an ideal spot behind a contested pace, with speed to her inside and given her inside post; failed in her latest but the Beyer she posted in defeat there puts her squarely in the middle of this. SUPER DUPER GIRL has been in search of that elusive second win for some time but she does come off a solid try for 2nd, her best effort in some time; may be worth using, at least “underneath” in exotics. BRISTOL’S BROOKE will be prominent from the start in her first start off the claim by trainer Peter Walder, who excels with horses moving from turf to dirt, not to mention with new faces.

THIRD RACE

STILL THE ONE has been steadily improving in terms of Beyers, and that last effort was especially good because she was caught behind slow splits; has license to make the last run if she gets a better set up this time around. DOUBLE MEDAL, another filly meeting males, will be prominent from the start, and could in fact be the one to catch; very dangerous if she’s able to shake loose and back down the fractions on the stretch out to two turns. GOLDENLINEOF middle moved before tiring two back, and the Beyer he posted there puts him in the mix with these.

SILVER SHALIS has speed but he can also rate off the pace if need be, and he could find himself in a perfect spot behind a lively pace in this one; overmatched in his latest but he’s a better fit with these open claimers. PLAYERS LUCK has the best Beyers in the field, and he’s going to be tough if he’s able to run back to that last figure; obvious chances, though the wet track and favorable race flow did seem to help him there. SOUND OF THE TAP is widest but he’s quick from the gate and he could be fast enough to shake loose despite the post.

FIFTH RACE

MEMORIZE comes out of consecutive races where she was up against the race flow, trying to come from off the pace in races where a lack of pace gave the edge to speeds; stands to improve today, especially given the addition of blinkers. PLEASANT BUFFY gets back on the main track and this sure does seem to be her best surface; has speed and the rail. WHITE AS COTTON is another switching from turf back to dirt, and she too seems to

SIXTH RACE

SEVEN GEMS ships in from the Northeast and might be the main speed, and he may be quick enough to shake loose despite his outside post; impressive score in that last one, where he drew off late despite setting a quick early pace while under pressure. BLUE HARBOR didn’t break all that well when last seen but he recovered enough to run a decent third; best figures make him one of the main threats in this field despite the short respite. STRIKE MIDNIGHT makes his first start of 2018, and though he ran a sub-par race in his last start of 2017 he is confidently spotted here, back in at $30,000; could prove tough if ready, as his best figures fit well.

SEVENTH RACE

ROYAL HOLIDAY could be the deceptive clear speed in this relatively paceless field, and a loose lead would give him a big edge on the closers; moves from turf to dirt for a barn which is currently click-

EIGHTH RACE

COMPLETELY BONKERS was off the board in his delayed seasonal bow last time out but he didn’t run badly in defeat, dueling for the lead from the start and yielding only late; his early zip could go a long way in this finale, which is a little light on speed. JR‘ S HOLIDAY has some tactical speed but can also rate some, and he has some of the better figures in this field; clearly dangerous, especially if he can work out a forward trip from his inside post. REGAL FORCE comes off runner-up finishes in each of his last two, including a strong try for the place in his latest, resulting in his best Beyer in a few years.